Job Description
Job Description
Thermal Engineer II in Pasadena, CA — $43.90–$60.50/hr DOE, 1st shift, temporary contract. Design and analyze thermal control systems for spacecraft hardware.
THE BASICS
Pay: $43.90–$60.50/hr, depending on experience
Shift: 1st shift, 9/80 schedule, 6:00 AM start; exact workdays and end times confirmed before submission
Location: Pasadena, CA 91109 (on-site)
Type: Temp — full-time contract
Start: 10/27/2026 (estimated)
Expected assignment end: 12/27/2027
ABOUT THE ROLE
Space hardware has to survive its thermal environment. Your analysis helps establish how it will.
Develop thermal designs and models for space-based technology demonstrations, using analytical and computational methods. Support thermal control studies, model integration, and technical reviews.
This is an on-site cleared assignment. Active Top Secret clearance and eligibility for SCI access are required; the 9/80 schedule includes extended workdays. This temporary assignment is currently scheduled through 12/27/2027. The 9/80 schedule includes extended workdays; exact daily hours and the alternating day off will be confirmed before submission.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Design thermal control hardware and control approaches
- Analyze radiation, conduction, convection, and single- or two-phase heat transfer
- Build and maintain system thermal models
- Integrate subsystem thermal models
- Evaluate thermal control design studies
- Prepare technical analyses and support milestone reviews
WHAT YOU NEED
- B.S. in aerospace, mechanical engineering, or a related technical discipline with 4 years of experience, M.S. with 2 years, or a related Ph.D.
- U.S. citizenship, active Top Secret clearance based on an SSBI within a 5-year scope, and eligibility for SCI access
- Spacecraft thermal control engineering experience in Earth-orbit environments
- Working knowledge of orbital mechanics and space thermal environments
- Thermal Desktop geometric and thermal modeling experience
NICE TO HAVE
- Active SCI access
- TD Direct, Domain Tags, and Xrefs in Thermal Desktop
- Structural-thermal-optical performance analysis for precision optics
- Active or passive cryogenic cooling of space hardware
WHY CONTRACTORS CHOOSE FLAG
- Weekly pay, every Friday — direct deposit or pay card
- Medical benefits available to eligible contractors
- Paid sick leave in accordance with California law
- Referral bonuses — get paid when you bring in good people
- A recruiter who actually answers — you get a direct line, not a call center
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Use a computer to review detailed models, drawings, calculations, and technical records, and participate in on-site engineering and design reviews. Any hardware-handling or facility-access demands will be reviewed before submission.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
On-site engineering offices and laboratories, with technical reviews and coordination around developmental or flight hardware. Follow laboratory and facility access procedures. PPE is required and provided where applicable, and all site safety procedures apply.
HOW TO APPLY
Hit Apply and a FLAG recruiter will review your background within one business day. If you're a fit, we'll call you to talk through the work, the shift, and the pay before anything gets submitted to the client — no surprises.
Questions first? Call 562-242-7655 or email inquiries@flag-solutions.com.
ABOUT FLAG SOLUTIONS
FLAG Solutions is a Southern California staffing firm with offices in Fullerton and Long Beach, specializing in skilled manufacturing and professional placement across aerospace and defense, food and beverage, automotive, pharmaceutical, and electronics.
FLAG Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The pay scale stated above is the range FLAG Solutions in good faith expects to pay for this position at the time of posting. Actual compensation depends on experience, skills, and other job-related factors.
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act and all applicable local fair chance ordinances.
FLAG Solutions is the employer of record for this position.