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Engineer VII

General Atomics

Englewood, COFull-time$131–228K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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At a glance

Compensation
$131–228K/yr
Location
Englewood, CO
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
US work authorization required

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Top Secret clearance

Job overview

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems is seeking an experienced Sr. Space Thermal Engineer in Englewood, Colorado. The role focuses on thermal system engineering for satellite studies and missions, from bid generation through launch and operations. The engineer will design and analyze thermal subsystems, support testing and documentation, coordinate with program teams and customers, and may guide less experienced staff. The position is onsite and offers a 9x80 schedule.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Satellite Life CycleEnvironmental TestingTVAC TestingThermal Balance TestingInstrumentationModel TuningTest PlanningThermal AnalysisSatellite Thermal DesignOrbit MechanicsThermal DesktopSINDAFLUENTThermal ManagementCommunicationComputer SkillsDocumentationPresentationInterpersonal SkillsIndependent WorkTeamworkOpto-MechanicsImaging SystemsDirected Energy SystemsCustomer Focus

Qualifications

Bachelor's in Engineering or RelatedMaster's in Engineering or RelatedPhD in Engineering or Related15+ Years Engineering Experience13+ Years Engineering Experience10+ Years Engineering ExperienceDoD Security Clearance EligibilityActive Security ClearanceU.S. CitizenshipAbility to TravelAbility to Work Extended Hours

Benefits

Relocation Assistance

Full job description

58640BR

Job Summary:

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs and manufactures first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS’ expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions support critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Sr. Space Thermal Engineer to join our team located in Englewood, CO. With limited direction, this position exercises considerable latitude in determining technical objectives for the review, research, design, development, and/or solution to advanced technical engineering problems).

Evaluates the integration of the engineering solutions within the overall engineering environment; and ensures that appropriate documentation, testing and engineering updates completed. Communicates with engineering professionals, solution users, and management throughout the development cycle, represents the company as a prime technical contact on contracts and/or projects, interacts with senior external personnel on technical matters requiring coordination between the organizations, and participates in the development of new or expansion of existing business.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • System engineering, technical design and analysis for studies and missions from bid generation, through to launch and operations, with a thermal system focus.

  • Perform thermal subsystem level design, including requirement analysis, mission analysis, and design trade-offs.

  • Design, specification for heat pipes, phase-change material systems, conduction bars, radiators, heaters, and cryogenic systems as well as test and ground support equipment.

  • Provide thermal test support including planning, writing test plans, predictions, testing, evaluation and correlation.

  • Responsible for authoring, review and release of various thermal CDRLs, reports and trade study documents.

  • Support the wider team in mission and operational concept development for satellite missions.

  • Liaise with all levels of program and engineering staff on thermal design and test matters and support other teams / disciplines as necessary.

  • Represents the organization as a prime technical contact within the engineering team for assigned project(s)/program(s) and with supplier or customer meetings and presentations.

  • May function in an advisory or leadership role for a project/program and provide direction and guidance to less experienced professional staff or team of professional staff.

  • Formulates plans and guides the development and implementation of engineering solution(s) including deployment, resource requirements, testing, documentation, integration and compliance and safety.

  • We offer a 9x80 work schedule where you will have every other Friday off.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications:

  • Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; fifteen or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, thirteen or more years of experience with a masters degree, or ten or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.

  • Familiarity with all aspects of the satellite system life cycle, including environmental test, launch, commissioning and operations.

  • Experience with TVAC and thermal balance testing, instrumentation, model tuning, test plans and procedures.

  • Experience with thermal analysis of satellites and related materials including interface resistances, coatings, radiators and solar panels.

  • Understanding of orbit mechanics and the impact of different orbits on satellite thermal design.

  • Experience with thermal analysis and software tools such as Thermal Desktop, SINDA and FLUENT

  • Familiarity with passive and active thermal management techniques.

  • Must possess the ability to understand new concepts quickly and apply them accurately and organize work assignments to meet established timetables.

  • Strong communication (written and verbal), computer, documentation, presentation, and interpersonal skills are required, as well as the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

  • Previous experience and exposure to opto-mechanics, imaging and directed energy systems is beneficial.

  • Must be customer focused and able to work on a self-initiated basis or in a team environment and able to work extended hours and travel as required.

  • Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance is required, active security clearance desired.

Job Category:

Engineering

Experience Level:

Senior (8+ years)

Workstyle:

Onsite

Full-Time/Part-Time:

Full-Time Salary

Pay Range Low:

130,500

Pay Range High:

228,375

Travel Percentage Required:

0% - 25%

Relocation Assistance Provided?:

No

US Citizenship Required?:

Yes

Clearance Required?:

Yes

Clearance Level:

Top Secret

General Atomics is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, transitioning status, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, medical condition, mental disability, physical disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. In accordance with applicable federal law, General Atomics takes affirmative action to employ and advance the employment of qualified protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. We also prohibit compensation discrimination under all applicable laws. U.S. Citizenship is required for certain positions. To learn more, please review the EEOC’s "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal" poster.

How this job compares

Set against the 11,656 open Systems Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 7, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$131–228K/yr
  • Colorado median$115–178K/yr939 salary ranges
  • US median$116–190K/yr8,675 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $179K, is 21% above the Colorado median midpoint ($149K) — in the top quarter of Systems Engineer salary ranges in Colorado.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 1,085 open Systems Engineer jobs in Colorado and 11,656 across the US. 5% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Colorado
Experience
This posting asks for at least 10 years of experience — more than three in four Systems Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 9,735 postings).
Education
4,448 of the 11,656 open Systems Engineer jobs (38%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 7, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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