About the role
Your missionWe're looking for a hands-on Structural & Thermal Engineer to take full ownership of structural analysis and thermal subsystem design for our instruments. You'll turn CAD into analysis models, tell us whether the design survives launch and orbit, and shape the hardware when it doesn't. From the first FEM mesh to the last thermal-vacuum cycle, this is your domain.
What you'll doStructural
Define requirements and load levels for payload units
Build structural FEM models of satellite systems and subsystems directly from CAD
Run static, modal, random vibration, sine and shock analyses at the relevant qualification and acceptance levels
Feed results back to the mechanical engineers and drive design changes where margins aren't there
Own, plan and run environmental test campaigns (vibration, shock, thermal cycling, thermal vacuum): test plans, fixtures, facility coordination, execution and test-to-model correlation
Thermal
Build and run satellite thermal models based on CAD, thermal interfaces and power consumption profiles
Evaluate power and heat balance across hot and cold cases and mission phases
Feed results back to mechanical and electrical engineers and drive design changes where margins aren't there
Define the thermal control strategy, including MLI design, manufacturing and integration
Decide where temperature sensors and heaters go, and size the heater circuits
Document analyses and test results to support design reviews and launch provider requirements
Your profileBachelor's or Master's in aerospace or mechanical engineering, or a related field
4+ years of experience in structural and/or thermal analysis for space hardware
Hands-on FEM experience (e.g. NX, Ansys, Femap/Nastran, Abaqus) including modal, random vibration and shock analysis
Thermal modelling experience with tools such as ESATAN-TMS, Thermal Desktop or Systema
Experience planning and running environmental qualification or acceptance tests
Working knowledge of ECSS standards and launcher environment requirements
Comfortable working from CAD (e.g. SolidWorks, Siemens NX) and owning decisions end-to-end
Fluent English
Nice to haveFlight heritage: you've seen your hardware through launch
Experience with small satellites or airborne payloads
Test-to-model correlation of both structural and thermal models
Scripting (Python) to automate analysis and post-processing
Optical or detector thermal stability requirements (e.g. LiDAR, hyperspectral instruments)
Why us?Real ownership: the structural and thermal design of our satellites is yours
Hardware that flies, on a mission that matters for the climate
A small, hands-on team where your analysis directly changes the design
Benefits such as Gym and Deutschlandticket subsidy.
Office in the heart of Berlin
Find Jobs in Germany on Arbeitnow