Senior Thermal Systems Engineer

We are developing the Kea Atmos - a solar-powered, remotely-piloted stratospheric aircraft designed to fly continuously for months at a time. Operating at around 20km altitude, it will deliver aerial intelligence for maritime surveillance, environmental monitoring, disaster management, and more. We are a mission-driven team based in Christchurch, pushing the limits of what's possible in unmanned aerospace. What You'll Do Lead design, analysis, testing, and optimisation of thermal management systems operating in harsh stratospheric environments across the entire aircraft. Develop lightweight, high-efficiency, and cost-effective thermal control solutions using detailed analytical and numerical modelling. Clean-sheet thermal management engineering - see the full design cycle through from initial concept through to deployment on the aircraft. Perform hand-calculations, reduced-order modelling, and advanced multiphysics CFD simulations to de-risk system performance before hardware build. Develop thermal system designs with a focus on mass and energy optimisation - actively managing SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) trade-offs across system architectures to meet the demanding performance envelopes of high-altitude, long-endurance platforms. Represent the thermal management system in cross-disciplinary program reviews, providing clear and structured technical reporting to engineering leadership and stakeholders. What We're Looking For Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related discipline (or equivalent experience). 10+ years of experience in thermal management engineering, ideally within electronics, avionics, or aerospace systems. Demonstrated experience in reduced-order modelling, including hand calculations and the development of scripts and first-principles models using programming languages such as Python or MATLAB. Strong expertise in multiphysics CFD tools and associated modelling workflows. Proven experience in testing and validation of thermal systems. Track record of delivering clean-sheet thermal management systems from concept through to simulation, testing, integration, and verification. Working knowledge of electrical power systems and their thermal interactions. Strong attention to detail with the ability to integrate multidisciplinary inputs and take a systems-level view to optimise performance and reliability. Self-motivated, with the ability to take full ownership of complex, technically challenging engineering work. What Will Give You A Headstart Proven experience operating in high-altitude, stratospheric, low-pressure, space, or other extreme environments. Breadth across multiphysics disciplines (FEA, structural dynamics, aerodynamics) is highly valued - we’re a small team, and engineering versatility is a major advantage. Strong mechanical design capability with advanced CAD proficiency (SolidWorks preferred), with a track record of turning concepts into robust hardware. Deep understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, and DFM principles, with the ability to design for integration within complex, high-performance systems. For security and safety reasons, police vetting will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. Job applications should also include confirmation that the applicant has a valid New Zealand work visa or New Zealand residency or citizenship. #J-18808-Ljbffr