Sr Specialist, Thermal Analyst Mechanical Engineer (Space Systems)
L3HARRIS Technologies
Fort Wayne, IN · Posted October 29, 2026
Just laid off? Start here: a plan for the first weeks
See every open role at L3HARRIS Technologies
More in Indiana job market · All Sr Specialist jobs (56) · Aerospace & Defense · Engineering jobs
More roles at L3HARRIS Technologies
- Senior Specialist, Mechanical Engineer · Sterling, VA
- Senior Specialist, Supply Chain Management · Camden, AR
- Director, Business Development - Exquisite Imaging Systems - TS/SCI Clearance · Rochester, NY
- Senior Specialist, Electrical Engineering · Carlsbad, CA
- Principal, Program Management Excellence- Operations · Palm Bay, FL
- Senior Specialist, FPGA Engineering · Carlsbad, CA
Similar jobs
- Senior Manufacturing Engineer · MRINetwork · IN
- Senior Engineer · Terracon Consultants · Tucson, AZ
- Senior Software Engineer, Cloud Applications · Temporal
- Staff Solutions Architect, Majors (US) · Temporal · San Francisco, CA
- Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE), Life Sciences - NYC · OpenAI · New York, NY
- Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE), Life Sciences - SF · OpenAI · San Francisco, CA
Where Fort Wayne, IN ranks
Where Fort Wayne, IN placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #10Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the Great Lakes113 openings · of 48
- #14Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the Great Lakes3% · of 38
- #14Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Great Lakes32 jobs · of 36
- #14Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the Midwest113 openings · of 59
- #18Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the Midwest3% · of 52
- #19Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Midwest32 jobs · of 51
Rankings about engineering jobs
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs #1 San Francisco (3,412 openings)
- Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($216k)
- Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (6.1%)
- AI tools named most often in engineering jobs #1 Claude (1.7%)
- Employers with the most engineering jobs #1 Amazon (2,992 roles)
Skills this job asks for
Say which you have and which you want to build. We use it to match you to jobs like this one.
About the job
Job Title: Sr Specialist, Thermal Analyst Mechanical Engineer (Space Systems)
Job Code: 45380
Job Location: On-site in Fort Wayne, IN or Palm Bay, FL
Job Schedule: 9/80 - Employees work 9 out of every 14 days- totaling 80 hours worked - and have every other Friday off
Relocation: Relocation assistance is available for qualified applicants
Job Description:
L3Harris is seeking a Thermal Analyst for spaceborne precision optics, mirrors and cryogenic optical systems for IR payloads. This role includes completing thermal analysis of entire payloads as well as detailed module analysis and support of the thermal architecture development and supporting trade studies. This role will include leading small teams of thermal analysts in accomplishing the above assignments. The role includes thermal analysis of circuit cards and chassis with medium to high thermal density in Spaceborne applications.
Essential Functions:
Responsible for thermal analysis of precision optics for IR payloads including optical mirrors, mirror mounts, windows, filters, focal plane mounts and telescopes for cryogenic applications.
Develop detailed thermal models and analyses for all mission phases, including worst case hot/cold environments, eclipse conditions, orbital variations, and mission specific scenarios
Direct development of thermal math models using industry-standard tools such as Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, ESATAN TMS, or equivalent
Provide leadership during spacecraft hardware build, integration, and test—including thermal vacuum (TVAC) planning, execution, anomaly resolution, and correlation of test results to analysis
Collaborate with design engineering and test engineering for the build and test of subsystems and payloads.
Leadership of thermal analysis teams for IR payloads and mechanical subsystems
Author thermal analysis sections of PDRs, CDRs, and other required design reviews
Author thermal analysis sections of CDRL’s and SDRL’s and other compliance documents for customers.
Assist with schedule, cost, and technical leadership of major subsystems and payloads
Complete cost estimation of thermal analysis BOE’s for proposals
Participate in risk assessment and development of mitigation strategies for complex optical payloads.
Collaborate across functions to minimize gaps in requirements, responsibilities and payload performance.
Ability to obtain and maintain DOD Security Clearance
Up to 10% of travel may be required
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in STEM and minimum 6 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 4 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 10 years of prior related experience.
4+ years experience in thermal analysis and testing for aerospace environments (temperature and vacuum)
3+ years experience with Thermal Desktop (TD) thermal analysis tool
Preferred Additional Skills:
Experience with circuit card and chassis level thermal analysis for Space
Experience with Creo 4 or Solidworks
Prior IR/cryogenic optical / thermal analysis experience including STOP analysis.
Prior experience in developing thermal control structures and systems such as Radiators, heat pipes networks, thermal straps, cryocoolers or thermal sub-assemblies is strongly desired
Prior experience doing thermal analysis of optical payloads supporting the optimization of heat rejection, power consumption and low mass.
#LI-RK1