Staff Mechanical Engineer - Thermal

Firestorm

Firestorm

Other Engineering

San Diego, CA, USA

Posted on May 27, 2026
Staff Mechanical Engineer – Thermal
San Diego, CA
Engineering
In office
Full-time

Who We Are

At Firestorm, we are building the future of expeditionary defense manufacturing and autonomous systems. Modern conflict has exposed a fundamental problem: the systems needed most by operators are often too expensive, too slow to produce, and too difficult to sustain at scale. Firestorm exists to change that.
We develop mission-adaptable aerial systems and deployable manufacturing infrastructure designed to put capability directly into the hands of the warfighter. From modular unmanned aircraft to xCell — our deployable microfactory — our goal is to make defense systems rapidly deployable, adaptable, and producible at the point of need.
We are looking for builders, operators, and problem-solvers who want to work on meaningful technology with real-world impact.

About the Role

As a Staff Thermal Engineer at Firestorm, you will own the thermal architecture, analysis, and validation of the systems that keep our sUAS platforms—and the high-power payloads they carry—operating reliably across the full mission envelope. You will design the cooling solutions for engines, batteries, avionics, radios, and electro-optical payloads, balancing thermal performance against the brutal SWaP-C constraints of small unmanned aircraft.
This is a hands-on, full-time role with end-to-end ownership: define thermal requirements, build analytical and CFD models, design heat rejection hardware, specify surface treatments and thermal interface materials, and run benchtop and environmental testing through flight qualification. You will be the thermal authority across all air vehicles, working shoulder-to-shoulder with propulsion, electrical, structures, and payloads engineering to make sure nothing on our aircraft ever fails because it got too hot.

What You'll Do

  • Develop thermal architectures for sUAS platforms covering engines, fuel systems, batteries, ESCs, flight computers, radios, EO/IR payloads, and other mission electronics.
  • Build and run thermal analyses—from first-principles hand calculations to detailed CFD and FEA (Ansys Icepak, Fluent, Thermal Desktop, or equivalent)—to predict component and system-level performance.
  • Design active and passive cooling solutions, including forced-air ducting, cold plates, heat sinks, heat pipes, and conduction paths into airframe structure.
  • Select and specify thermal interface materials, gap pads, potting compounds, and surface treatments; perform α/ε trade studies for radiative surfaces and anodized enclosures.
  • Own the thermal qualification campaign: define thermal test plans, instrument prototypes with thermocouples and IR imaging, run environmental chamber testing, and correlate models to data.
  • Partner with electrical engineering on PCB thermal design, component derating, and enclosure heat rejection.
  • Support payload integration by characterizing thermal performance of EO/IR sensors, RF emitters, and other heat-dense modules at altitude and in hot/cold soak conditions.
  • Generate and maintain thermal engineering documentation: analysis reports, test plans, qualification reports, and thermal budgets tracked at the system level.
  • Travel to test sites and customer flight events to instrument aircraft, capture thermal flight data, and validate models in operational conditions.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field (Master's degree preferred)
  • 7+ years of experience in thermal engineering, preferably in aerospace, defense, automotive, or high-power electronics
  • Deep proficiency in CFD and thermal analysis tools (Ansys Icepak, Fluent, Thermal Desktop, Star-CCM+, or equivalent)
  • Strong fundamentals in heat transfer—conduction, convection, radiation—and ability to validate models by hand
  • Hands-on experience designing forced-air and conduction cooling solutions for embedded electronics and/or propulsion systems
  • Experience designing, modeling, or validating oscillating or copper/water heat pipe systems for highpower electronics or aerospace applications
  • Experience selecting and qualifying thermal interface materials, coatings, and surface treatments
  • Demonstrated history of running thermal test campaigns: instrumentation, environmental chambers, IR thermography, and model correlation
  • Familiarity with environmental qualification standards such as MIL-STD-810 and DO-160
  • Proficiency in Python or MATLAB for thermal data reduction and analysis
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail
  • Strong communication and teamwork skills
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic startup environment
  • U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with small piston engine thermal management (heavy fuel or gasoline)
  • Experience with lithium-ion battery thermal design and runaway mitigation
  • Experience with EO/IR, EW, or other heat-dense payload integration
  • Background in UAS, Aircraft, missile, or other SWaP-constrained airborne platforms

Work Environment

  • This role is based in San Diego, CA.
  • We welcome candidates who are local or open to relocating; relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer package where appropriate.
  • Willingness to travel up to 20% domestically for testing and demonstrations
This position typically operates in a standard office setting and manufacturing environment. This role requires use of standard office equipment and the physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Ability to sit, stand, bend, reach and move about regularly throughout the day. Must have manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment.

Compensation

US Salary Range: $145,000 - $165,000 USD
The posted salary range reflects an estimate based on a variety of compensation factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, education, certifications, specialized skills, geographic location, and business needs. Actual compensation may vary, and this range is subject to change as our compensation structure or market conditions evolve.

Benefits & Perks

Our culture fosters collaboration, respect, and trust, empowering passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:
  • We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
  • 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals
  • Equity grants for new hires
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in November & December
  • Generous Parental Leave
  • Lifestyle Spending Account
  • FSA
  • DCFSA
  • HSA
  • Hospital Indemnity insurance
  • Critical Illness insurance
  • Accident insurance
  • Basic Life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% covered by Firestorm. Plus, the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your family.
  • Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well.

Export Control Compliance

To conform to U.S. government export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Firestorm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and upholding equitable hiring practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process.
Firestorm is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require accommodations or assistance during the application process, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected] so we can provide the support you need.
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