Senior Thermal Engineer

The posting, as Panthalassa wrote it

About the Company

We are a renewable energy and ocean technology company committed to rapidly developing and deploying technologies that will ensure a sustainable future for Earth by unlocking the vast energy potential of its oceans. Our focus is on capturing civilizational levels of ultra-low-cost renewable energy for applications including computing and affordable renewable fuels delivered to shore.

The company is a public benefit corporation headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and backed by leading venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, university endowments, and private investment offices. We operate as an idea meritocracy in which the best ideas change the company’s direction on a regular basis.

Our staff have worked at organizations such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing, Tesla, Apple, Virgin Orbit, Astra, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, New Relic, Bridgewater, Raytheon, Disney Imagineering, and the US Army and Air Force, as well as research universities, startups, and small companies across a range of industries.

About the Job

We are looking for a Senior Thermal Engineer who will own the end-to-end thermal simulation workflow for low- and high-power electromechanical systems operating in harsh marine environments, with a strong emphasis on rapid design iteration, first-principles thinking, and high-fidelity CFD where it adds real value.

You will work closely with mechanical engineers, payload architects, electrical engineers, applied physicists, and the prototype team to evaluate concepts, improve designs, define thermal requirements, debug issues, and help move hardware from early architecture through prototype and field validation. The ideal candidate is an expert in thermal CFD and modern simulation workflows, including GPU-accelerated solvers or other methods that enable fast turnaround without sacrificing engineering accuracy.

Candidates should have strong interpersonal skills and be able to thrive in a creative, scrappy, and collaborative environment in which the best ideas change the company’s direction on a regular basis. You will own your designs cradle-to-grave, from first concept through fabrication and deployment at sea. If you are an excellent engineer, regardless of your background, we want you to apply.

This is an on-site role based in our Portland office.

Responsibilities

• Own thermal simulation and analysis workflows for onboard payloads, electronics, cooling systems, pressure-contained assemblies, and related mechanical systems.
• Build and execute fast, reliable thermal CFD workflows that support rapid design iteration in close collaboration with mechanical design, electrical engineering, payload architecture, and prototyping teams.
• Translate component-level thermal inputs, power maps, packaging constraints, and environmental conditions into actionable system and subsystem thermal requirements.
• Analyze unit- and payload-level thermal architectures to define required airflow, liquid flow rates, heat s

[…]

• Thermal margins, risks, and design sensitivities are identified early enough to influence architecture and hardware choices.
• Simulation workflows become increasingly automated, reusable, and robust across payload and onboard system programs.

Working Style

We are looking for someone who combines deep technical judgment with practical engineering speed. You should be comfortable working from first principles, challenging assumptions, spotting bad simulation results, and choosing the simplest model that can answer the question. You should also be able to go deep when the problem demands it, including detailed CFD, conjugate heat transfer, design optimization, and validation against real hardware.

This role will work closely with applied physicists, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, payload designers, and prototype teams, so clear communication and strong technical range are essential.

Compensation and Benefits

If hired for this full-time role, you will receive

• Cash compensation of $155,000–$200,000.
• Equity in the company. We’re all owners and if we’re successful, this equity should be far and away the most valuable component of your compensation.
• A benefits package that helps you take care of yourself and your family, including:
• Flexible paid time off
• Health insurance (the company pays 100% of gold-level PPO plan for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents)
• Dental insurance (the company pays 100% for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents)
• Vision insurance (the company pays 100% for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents)
• Disability insurance (the company pays 100% for a policy to provide long-term financial support if you become disabled)
• Ability to contribute to tax-advantaged accounts, including 401(k), health FSA, and dependent care FSA
• Relocation assistance to facilitate your move to Portland (if needed).

Location

Our offices, lab, and shop are located in Portland, Oregon.