Lead Aerothermal Engineer at Helogen · LumiJobs

Responsibilities

Helogen is seeking a Lead Aerothermal Engineer in Los Angeles, California to design, develop, and deliver thermal systems for advanced spacecraft and reentry vehicles. You'll be joining a scrappy, highly collaborative team that includes a Lead Vehicle Design Engineer, a Systems Architect, a Chief Technology Officer, and two technicians. We value execution over perfection, clarity over complexity, and ownership over handholding. We move quickly, learn fast, and adapt as the company evolves.
As our Lead Aerothermal Engineer, you'll own thermal and aerothermal design and analysis across spacecraft components, payloads, and reentry systems. You’ll select materials that balance thermal performance, mass, and cost, develop high-temperature systems, and support testing and qualification efforts to ensure our vehicles can withstand the extreme conditions of space. This role is ideal for a hands-on engineer who understands manufacturing constraints, can evaluate complex tradeoffs, and has deep technical expertise in thermal systems. As an early member of the team, you'll play a critical part in building the spacecraft and systems that will shape Helogen’s future.
How You’ll Make An Impact:
Design and analyze the thermal management systems for satellite bus components, spacecraft subsystems, and payloads, and aerothermal systems for hypersonic reentry vehicles
Own CAD assemblies, heat and mass transfer analyses, material selection, thermal budgets, and component layouts
Partner with systems architects and design engineers to balance thermal requirements against vehicle-level demands, cost, and design constraints
Develop and evaluate thermal management materials and solutions, including radiators, coolant loops, heaters, heat exchangers, and insulation systems; select appropriate suppliers
Design thermal protection systems, heat shields, and advanced materials for high-temperature applications
Lead the assembly, integration, and testing of thermally sensitive hardware
Manage TVAC chambers and oversee thermal vacuum testing to validate hardware performance and reliability
Support arc jet testing and other environmental test activities to evaluate thermal protection systems and materials
Support the development of high-temperature systems, thermal protection approaches, thermal management solutions, and advanced material applications

Lead Aerothermal Engineer

Responsibilities

Qualification

Required

Preferred

Benefits

Company

Helogen

More roles at Helogen