Outpost · 2 hours ago
Thermal Protection System Engineer (TPS)
Los Angeles, California
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$130K/yr - $160K/yr
10+ years expOutpostspace is pioneering Earth return logistics for space, building vehicles that can safely return payloads from orbit. The Sr. Thermal Protection System Engineer will lead the design and analysis of heat shield technology, ensuring the vehicles can survive extreme re-entry environments while collaborating with cross-functional teams to integrate thermal protection systems.
Advanced MaterialsAerospaceLogisticsManufacturing
No H1B
Security Clearance Required
Responsibilities
Lead TPS Architecture: Define the thermal protection strategy for the Deployable Aerobrake and Carryall vehicle, selecting materials and stack-ups that balance thermal performance, mass, and mechanical flexibility
Aerothermal Analysis: Perform and guide high-fidelity aeroheating analysis (CFD) and thermal response modeling to validate specifications and predict performance under re-entry loads
Material Qualification: Lead the testing and characterization of novel flexible and rigid TPS materials, including arc-jet testing, radiant heat testing, and mechanical load testing
Design for Manufacturability: Oversee the transition from theoretical design to flight hardware, managing vendor relationships for high-temperature fabrics, coatings, and insulation
Cross-Functional Integration: Collaborate with structures and avionics teams to ensure TPS integration does not compromise deployment mechanisms or vehicle stability
Validation & Verification: Develop and execute the verification plan for the TPS subsystem, ensuring all requirements are met prior to flight
Technical Leadership: Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the technical roadmap for future re-entry vehicle generations
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree or higher in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Materials Engineering (or related field)
10+ years of experience in the development of thermal protection systems, hypersonic aerodynamics, or high-temperature structural materials
Deep understanding of heat transfer mechanisms (convection, radiation, conduction) specifically during atmospheric entry
Simulation expertise: Proficiency with thermal and ablation modeling tools (e.g., FIAT, CMA, Thermal Desktop, or custom solvers) and analysis software (ANSYS, MATLAB/Python)
Hands-on experience with hardware testing, specifically environmental or arc-jet testing of TPS materials
Proven ability to manage complex trade studies involving mass, volume, and thermal performance
Strong written and verbal communication skills to articulate complex thermal risks to the broader engineering team
Comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment where requirements may evolve and urgency is key
Preferred
Active U.S. Government Security Clearance (Secret or Top Secret)
Advanced Degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in a relevant field
Experience with Deployable Aerodynamic Decelerators (HIAD/ADEPT) or flexible thermal protection systems for reentry at extreme thermal heat
Direct experience with re-entry vehicle flight hardware from concept to post-flight analysis
Familiarity with government or commercial spaceflight standards (NASA/DoD) for thermal protection
Experience in a 'Design, Build, Fly' environment with rapid iteration cycles
Benefits
Incentive Stock Options
Annual Performance-Based Bonus
Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
Life Insurance
PTO
401k with Company match
Subsidized daily catered lunch, snacks and coffee
Company
Outpost
Outpost is a logistics company that uses a platform that launches on commercial rockets and glides back from orbit to deliver tons of cargo.
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageTotal Funding
$32.5MKey Investors
Moonshots Capital
2024-12-01Grant· $18.5M
2024-09-15Seed· $6.9M
2022-08-30Seed· $7.1M
Leadership Team
Amir Blachman
President
Jason Dunn
Founder
Recent News
2025-11-25
2025-11-01
2025-09-17
Company data provided by crunchbase