Overview
Frontera Space, an aerospace-focused startup, is seeking a Thermal-Fluids Analysis Engineer II as the company scales its aerospace engineering, manufacturing, and cyber/IT services businesses. Founded by Firefly Aerospace founder Tom Markusic, Frontera Space is building next-generation aircraft and spacecraft with the goal of creating a highly successful, multibillion-dollar company. Help Build the Team That Builds Spacecraft.
The Analyst II is responsible for the analysis, modeling, design, support testing analysis, and optimization of aerospace fluid systems used in aircraft, spacecraft, launch vehicles, and propulsion systems. This role applies advanced computational and analytical techniques to evaluate fluid flow, heat transfer, pressure dynamics, and system performance throughout the product lifecycle. The analyst collaborates with multidisciplinary engineering teams to ensure fluid systems meet performance, safety, reliability, certification, and manufacturability requirements. We encourage those with experience and significant interest in fluid-thermal and combined fluid/thermal modeling to apply!
This is a full-time exempt position reporting in person to the Project Manager/CE at the North Austin, TX office.
What You’ll Do
· Develop analytical models of aerospace fluid systems, including fuel, hydraulic, pneumatic, cryogenic, thermal management, and environmental control systems.
· Perform Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analyses to evaluate internal and external flow characteristics.
· Analyze transient and steady-state fluid behavior, pressure losses, flow stability, cavitation, and thermal performance.
· Conduct system-level simulations using one-dimensional and multi-physics modeling tools.
· Support design trade studies to optimize weight, efficiency, reliability, and performance.
· Develop fluid system architectures for aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, launch vehicles, or propulsion systems.
· Evaluate component performance
· Support verification and validation through laboratory testing and flight qualification.
· Interpret test data and correlate analytical models with experimental results.
· Develop technical reports, engineering documentation, and design recommendations.
· Perform Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and root-cause investigations.
· Support system integration, certification, and customer technical reviews.
· Ensure compliance with aerospace standards, safety requirements, and quality processes.
What Success Looks Like
· Improve fluid system efficiency while reducing weight.
· Reduce pressure losses through optimized system design.
· Validate CFD and system models against test data.
· Resolve fluid-related design issues before qualification testing.
· Deliver technical analyses on schedule while meeting aerospace quality and regulatory standards.
Employment Details
Qualifications
What We’re Looking For (Requirements)
· Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
· Direct experience in aerospace fluid systems analysis
o Strong understanding of:
o Fluid mechanics
o Thermodynamics
o Heat transfer
o Compressible flow
o Multiphase flow
o Hydraulic systems
o Pneumatic systems
· Experience with aerospace design methodologies and engineering documentation.
· Can explain or demonstrate previous success in implementing CFD to improve and optimize systems
· Ability to analyze complex engineering problems using numerical methods.
Bonus Points (Preferred)
· Master's or Ph.D. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering.
· Experience with aircraft, spacecraft, missile, or launch vehicle development.
· Familiarity with propulsion feed systems.
· Experience supporting system certification or flight qualification.
· Professional Engineer (PE) license or eligibility.
· Active security clearance (if required for defense programs).
· Prior experience with mechanical and structural finite element analysis
Technical Skills
· Proficiency in Fluent/CFX
· ANSYS Fluent CFD software
· Complex CFD analysis
· STAR CCM
· SolidWorks CAD software
· MATLAB/Simulink
· Python or MATLAB scripting
· Modelica or Amesim
· NPSS (Numerical Propulsion System Simulation)
· Thermal Desktop or SINDA/FLUINT
· Finite Element Analysis (ANSYS Mechanical or Abaqus)
Working Conditions
· Engineering office with occasional laboratory and manufacturing floor support.
· Periodic travel to suppliers, test facilities, or customer locations.
· May support ground testing, flight testing, or launch operations.
Export Control Eligibility
Certain positions supported by this role may involve work subject to U.S. export-control laws and regulations. Candidates for those roles may be required to meet applicable U.S. export-control eligibility requirements.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Frontera Space is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment and consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information
Why Join Us?
Join Frontera Space at an early stage and help create a transformational aerospace platform designed to change how high-speed aircraft and access-to-space systems are developed, manufactured, and operated.
You will have the opportunity to influence the vehicle architecture, solve foundational technical challenges, and see your work move rapidly from analysis and design into hardware, testing, and flight. As an early team member, you will take on broad ownership, help establish the engineering culture, and directly shape both the product and the company.
Frontera Space offers meaningful equity participation and the chance to create lasting value while working on technology with the potential to redefine aerospace performance, affordability, and operational capability. This is an opportunity to do more than contribute to an established program—it is a chance to help build the vehicle, the team, and the company from the ground up.
Pay: $85,352.00 - $128,028.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
