Senior Thermal System Engineer

ICEYE is a Finnish space technology company that owns and operates the world's largest commercial synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation. The company delivers continuous, all-weather, day-and-night Earth observation capabilities, enabling persistent monitoring and rapid detection of changes at any location on the planet. Its core offerings span SAR data products, mission systems for sovereign governments, defense and intelligence solutions, and natural catastrophe monitoring for the insurance, banking, and public sectors. ICEYE plays a significant role in climate resilience and disaster response by providing near real-time, observed data on natural catastrophes such as floods, wildfires, and hurricanes. Unlike traditional modelling approaches, ICEYE delivers actual satellite-derived flood extents and depths, empowering governments, insurers, and utilities to respond faster and more accurately to climate-driven disasters. This capability supports community resilience, more precise insurance claims processing, and informed policy decisions in the face of increasing climate risk. What distinguishes ICEYE is its combination of the largest SAR constellation globally, sub-meter (25 cm) resolution imagery, and an end-to-end operational intelligence infrastructure that includes deployable ground units capable of compressing collection-to-dissemination timelines to minutes. Founded with a mission to make Earth observation data continuously available and actionable, ICEYE serves defense, intelligence, government, and commercial clients worldwide, positioning itself as a critical enabler of both national security and climate adaptation efforts.

Role highlights:

• Senior Thermal System Engineer

• Location: Valencia, Spain

• Department: Space Systems

• Reports to: Mechanical Engineer Lead

• Employment type: Permanent

• Workplace model: Hybrid / Office

• Employment is subject to applicable security screening (incl. SUPO)
  

Why this role matters:

Every ICEYE satellite depends on precision engineering and rock-solid reliability. As we grow our operations and expand our spacecraft platforms to meet increasingly demanding mission requirements, we need an experienced spacecraft thermal control engineer to help lead this effort - someone who also brings hands-on experience testing, verifying, and qualifying space hardware. You'll join our Espoo, Finland team as a Senior Thermal System Engineer, supporting the company's continued growth.

Who We Are

ICEYE is the world leader in sovereign intelligence from space. We deliver persistent monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to changes in any location on Earth.

ICEYE owns the world's largest and most advanced SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellite constellation. To our customers we provide intelligence with unmatched quality, latency and revisit times, in any weather, day or night. To governments who choose to operate their own constellation we provide this proven capability as a sovereign system.

ICEYE-built constellations serve customers in defence and intelligence, environmental monitoring, insurance and emergency management. We enable fast decisions that contribute to a safer future.

Founded and headquartered in Finland, ICEYE operates globally with over 1000 employees across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.

Your day-to-day responsibilities

• Design and implement full spacecraft-level thermal models for current and next-generation spacecraft

• Specify and support qualification testing at subsystem and system level

• Own thermal hardware end-to-end: propose new thermal design concepts to improve performance, identify new suppliers, and test and validate component designs

• Perform thermal analysis of passive and active thermal control components, electrical assemblies, subsystems, and systems

• Support assembly, integration, and test (AIT) activities, including maintenance of thermal control components

• Support operations teams in resolving thermal issues during Launch and Early Orbit Operations (LEOP) and beyond

• Ensure smooth, on-time product delivery from concept through qualification

• Contribute to continuous improvement of our existing products

• Partner closely with all hardware engineering domains, AIT engineering, and QA to ensure products meet specification

• Work with system and subsystem engineers to define requirements for new products

• Collaborate with internal and external engineering and AIT teams during integration and build to confirm thermal solutions meet requirements and targets
  

What we’re looking for

Must haves:

• 6+ years of experience in thermal simulation as a Thermal Engineer in the space industry

• Experience with TVAC testing and model correlation

• Proactive, self-directed working style

• Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills

• Based in Espoo (most of the team works from Finland); up to 30% remote work is acceptable for this role

• Experience working in multi-disciplinary environments (electrical, AIT, mechanical, propulsion, RF)

• Experience with thermal control of satellites at system and subsystem level, or comparable complex aerospace systems

• Comfortable working cross-functionally with systems, electrical, and manufacturing teams

• Strong teamwork, analytical, documentation, and communication skills

Nice to haves:

• Hands-on experience with spacecraft thermal hardware: surface treatments, MLI, passive and active thermal control components, heat pipes

• Experience with Systema-Thermica, ESATAN, and/or Thermal Desktop

• MSc in Aerospace Engineering

• Knowledge of SAR satellite technology, lifecycles, and the space environment

• Experience with Python

• Familiarity with industry standards such as ECSS and NASA standards

• Solid understanding of spacecraft configurations, orbits, and STK

Application Process

• Recruiter screening

• Hiring manager interview

• Technical task

• Technical panel interview

• Director interview
  

Working at ICEYE

At ICEYE, you’ll join a diverse and highly engaged team united by the ambition to make the impossible possible. As a global scale-up, we combine speed and ambition with the opportunity to take real ownership from day one. Your growth, wellbeing, and success are a priority, with continuous professional development, training opportunities, and a culture where collaboration is how we win.

How We Work (Our Values)

Make the impossible possible: We set ambitious goals and stay calm under pressure. We bring grit, optimism, and ownership when things get hard, and we keep moving until we find a way.

• Be curious: Go deep, ask questions, listen carefully, and think critically. Understand the “why” behind decisions.

• See the big picture: Stay close to what’s happening across the company so you can make better decisions. Consider how your work affects others.

• Drive effective teamwork: Create psychological safety, invite different perspectives, and build inclusive teams. There are no bad questions.

• Act as one team: We win together. We match tasks to the right owner and stay agile as priorities shift.

• Have fun: What we do matters—and it should be enjoyable. Celebrate progress, take pride in results, and share the wins.
  

Benefits

Our benefits are designed to support your health and wellbeing, at work and beyond. We keep improving them based on employee feedback, and offerings vary by location. Talent Acquisition will confirm what applies for this role and location during the process.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We want ICEYE to be a place where people can be themselves and do great work. Different backgrounds and perspectives make us stronger, which is why we work to create an environment where people feel included, respected, and able to speak up. Whatever your background, we want you to bring your authentic self to the table.

We’re committed to fair, inclusive hiring and equal opportunity. Everyone is welcome to apply. If you need any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, tell us—we’ll do our best to help.

Apply now to start your ICEYE journey, and help us continue to make the impossible possible together. Read more about ICEYE and working with us at iceye.com.