Thermal Analysis Engineer

About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in‑orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. From life‑saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth.

Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind. Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from Space

X, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world‑class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital. Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested.

Varda also has offices in Washington DC and Huntsville, AL (coming soon). Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in‑space ecosystem.

The Thermal Analysis Engineer serves as a key member of the vehicle engineering team, developing thermal architectures and providing hardware design requirements for all of Varda’s space vehicles. This position will drive spacecraft hardware design and testing, from the vehicle level down to the component level. A highly team‑oriented role, it provides exposure to all aspects of spacecraft analysis and design.

A proactive problem‑solving approach and commitment to meeting tight schedules are critical to supporting Varda's goals of expanding manufacturing capabilities and reentry systems.

• Develop and maintain integrated thermal analysis models for Varda’s space vehicles.
• Work collaboratively with other spacecraft disciplines to define thermal hardware requirements and iterate on designs based on simulation results.
• Publish flight predictions and provide actionable guidance to the larger engineering team.
• Ensure spacecraft remains within operating and survival limits during all mission phases via passive and active thermal control.
• Create and maintain tools/systems for thermal simulation and flight data processing.
• Inform component‑level acceptance and qualification tests and direct vehicle‑level TVAC test campaigns.
• Post‑flight correlations to assess performance and improve thermal models.
• Work on open‑ended problems to inform technical decisions, balancing efficiency and fidelity.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related discipline with a minimum of 3 + years of related professional experience.
• Familiarity with passive and active thermal control systems.
• Experience in detailed thermal analysis and troubleshooting in programs such as Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, ANSYS, MSC Nastran.
• Experience in MATLAB (or equivalent) for data processing and task automation.
• Ability to structure open‑ended problems and perform system balance sizing with hand calculations or simplified simulations.
• Experience in 0 D and 1 D thermal and/or fluid networks.
• Familiarity with thermal margins and qualification test requirements in SMC‑S‑016.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an aptitude for interdisciplinary technical communication (structures, avionics, software, production, GNC, etc.).
• Experience in project management/leadership for a multidisciplinary design or test campaign.
• Ability to successfully respond to evolving requirements in a fast‑moving organization.
• Excitement about making history at the forefront of both the space and pharmaceutical industries.

• Experience with the entire project lifecycle of a spacecraft, from initial concept to mission success.
• Familiarity with typical spacecraft thermal control technologies (e.g., heat pipes, pumped fluid systems, thermal blankets, optical coatings, etc.).
• Experience in thermal design…