- Lead thermal architecture for advanced avionics, ensuring electronics meet performance and reliability targets across worst-case mission environments (hot ramp, cold soak, high altitude).
- Deliver flight-worthy, integratable thermal designs (conduction, convection, liquid/air cooling) that reduce risk, rework, and schedule impacts during integration and test.
- Own end-to-end analysis and validation (CFD/FEA, derating, margins, qualification) to prove compliance with customer/airworthiness requirements and program commitments.
- Drive DMSMS-aware modernization by selecting COTS/MIL-spec components and thermal solutions that improve sustainment, maintainability, and lifecycle cost.
- Mentor teams and set technical standards for thermal design reviews, test readiness, and production transition, accelerating delivery of high-confidence avionics solutions.
Hot Job of the Week
Salaried Positions
LEAD ENGINEER - PRINCIPAL ENGINEER
Avionics Thermal Design Engineer
Job Code: 16-01534
Who we are:
The Strategic Aerospace Department within the Defense & Intelligence Solutions Division delivers cutting-edge engineering services to enhance the warfighter’s capabilities across bomber, tanker, and heavy aircraft platforms. We specialize in world-class research, design, and support, providing innovative solutions to modern challenges and legacy systems for the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command, Department of Defense, allied nations, and the U.S. Government, ensuring mission readiness and technological superiority.
Objectives Of This Role:
Daily/Monthly Responsibilities:
- Lead thermal trade studies for avionics (air/liquid cooling, conduction paths, materials), set margins, and resolve heat/airflow issues with electrical, mechanical, and systems teams.
- Build/update CFD/FEA models, power maps, and derating analyses; document assumptions, sensitivities, and results to support rapid design decisions and integration readiness.
- Support lab bring-up and troubleshooting—instrumentation, data review, root-cause of hot spots, and corrective actions for hardware and packaging changes.
- Plan/execute thermal verification (TVAC/temperature rise, airflow tests), define test procedures, analyze results, and produce compliance evidence for reviews and airworthiness artifacts.
- Drive design reviews and configuration control—approve drawings/BOM impacts, coordinate suppliers, and mentor engineers on thermal standards, best practices, and lessons learned.
Education/Experience:
- Requires a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering or related engineering degree with directly related experience.
- 11+ years: Expert thermal engineering for avionics: heat transfer, thermal networks, component derating, and margining across flight and ground extremes; strong fundamentals plus practical packaging insight.
- 11+ years: Advanced analysis skills: CFD/FEA (e.g., Flotherm/Icepak/ANSYS), model correlation, uncertainty/sensitivity studies, and turning results into clear design decisions and requirements.
- 11+ years: Requirements-to-results driver: translate customer thermal/performance requirements into actionable design constraints, lead trades to meet SwRI design standards, and deliver verified thermal margin with clear compliance evidence.
- 11+ years: Systems integration skills: partner across EE/ME/SE, manage interfaces and configuration, drive technical reviews, mentor engineers, and communicate effectively with customers and program leadership.
- A valid/clear driver's license is required.
Special Considerations:
Applicant selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Applicant must be a U.S. citizen.
Job Location:
San Antonio, Texas Or Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
CONTACT HUMAN RESOURCES
+1 210 522 2223
Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, Texas 78238-5166