Job Description
As a Level 2 Thermal Engineer, you will serve as a technical leader driving the thermal architecture of advanced missile systems from concept through qualification and production.
This position supports spacecraft, missile, hypersonic, or other advanced aerospace platforms operating in extreme and highly dynamic environments.
What does this role look like?
As a member of the thermal engineering team, you will support high-fidelity thermal analyses across missile components, subsystems, and fully integrated systems - including ground support equipment - throughout the entire lifecycle.
Your impact will include:
• Owning end-to-end thermal modeling strategy using tools such as NX, Simcenter, SINDA/Fluent, and Thermal Desktop
• Developing preliminary hand calculations and reduced-order models to inform early design trades before advancing to detailed simulations
• Accounting for all relevant heating environments - conduction, convection, radiation (solar, Earth IR, albedo), aerodynamic heating, free molecular heating, and transient mission effects
• Translating program requirements into actionable thermal design criteria and verification strategies
• Driving thermal support for Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) and environmental testing, including instrumentation strategy and data correlation
• Partnering across structures, materials, propulsion, manufacturing, and quality to develop producible, cost-effective thermal solutions
• Coordinating TPS design, material selection, and component-level thermal integration
This is a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment where your technical judgment and leadership will directly influence system-level performance.
Basic Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline
• Experience in thermal/thermofluids analysis (thermophysics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, etc.)
• Experience using industry-standard thermal analysis tools such as NX/Simcenter, Thermal Desktop, SINDA, ANSYS
• Strong mathematical, analytical, and problem-solving skills grounded in mechanical engineering fundamentals
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance, thus US Citizenship is required
Desired skills
• Experience modeling complex missile or aerospace thermal environments in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) across full mission profiles
• Expertise in integrating transient and steady-state data from cross-functional teams into high-fidelity models
• Experience coordinating with test teams to define instrumentation plans, conditioning approaches, and correlation strategies
• Proficiency performing 1D models and first-principles calculations (bulk temperatures, backside temperatures, ablation, erosion, etc.)
• Experience influencing material selection and TPS design from a thermal performance perspective
• Strong executive-level communication skills with the ability to translate complex analysis into clear, actionable insights for both technical and non-technical stakeholders
#SpaceFlightScience
Work Schedule Information
Lockheed Martin supports a variety of alternate work schedules that provide additional flexibility to our employees. Schedules range from standard 40 hours over a five day work week while others may be condensed. These condensed schedules provide employees with additional time away from the office and are in addition to our Paid Time off benefits.
National Pay Statement
Pay Rate: The annual base salary range for this position in California, Massachusetts, and New York (excluding most major metropolitan areas), Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington or Washington DC is $70,100 - $123,625. For states not referenced above, the salary range for this position will reflect the candidate's final work location. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market and business considerations when extending an offer.
Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays.
(Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.
This position is incentive plan eligible.
Premium Pay Statement
Pay Rate: The annual base salary range for this position in most major metropolitan areas in California, Massachusetts, and New York is $80,600 - $139,840. For states not referenced above, the salary range for this position will reflect the candidate's final work location. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market and business considerations when extending an offer.
Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays.
This position is incentive plan eligible.
