Thermal Engineer

About Aerospacelab

Our mission is supported by an ambitious vertically integrated approach: design & manufacture of small satellites combined with development of earth observation services.

Since its creation in 2018, the company has already grown substantially. Our team gathers more than 25 engineering expertise, from hardware design to software development & data science.

In 2025, Aerospacelab counts offices in Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium), Toulouse (France), Lausanne (Switzerland) and US West Coast with more than 300 full-time employees, with the ambition to position itself as the European leader in small satellites.

Role overview

As a Thermal Engineer at Aerospacelab, you will play a critical role in designing and implementing thermal control solutions for satellites across various missions. Utilizing your expertise in thermal engineering, you will be key in ensuring that all components remain within their operational temperature ranges throughout their missions. Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, you will guide the thermal design from concept through launch, focusing on thermal stability and performance.

Key activities

• Drive the architecture, sizing, and development of thermal control systems
• Develop thermal models and perform analyses to predict the thermal behavior of satellites and subsystems
• Offer guidance on design choices to hardware development teams
• Define and assist in thermal and vacuum testing for satellites and their subsystems
• Perform thermal model validation using test and in-flight data
• Create and update technical documentation, such as design specs and test reports
• Communicate with external vendors and partners

Must have

• MSc degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related field
• Experience in thermal system design and analysis
• Good knowledge of the space environment
• Experience in thermal modeling and analysis using Systema-Thermica or ESATAN
• Proven ability to independently lead thermal design projects to completion
• Excellent communication skills
• Fluency in English

Nice to have

• Experience with FEM analysis software (e.g., Simcenter)

• Good knowledge of the ECSS standard

• Ability to automate tasks using scripting languages like Python

• Department

  Mechanical, Structural & Thermal

• Office

  Belgium

• Contract type

  Full Time

What we offer

Build your own career path

Direct impact on the growth of the company

Flat hierarchy

Fast-paced environment

Flexible ways of working

Salary package consistent with your experience