---
title: 'Senior/Principal Thermal Engineer at AscendArc'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-principal-thermal-engineer-ascendarc-beaverton-78r3q5ngpyfd'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# Senior/Principal Thermal Engineer at AscendArc

- **Company:** AscendArc
- **Location:** Beaverton
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** remote
- **Posted:** 2026-08-20
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://jobs.gem.com/ascendarc/am9icG9zdDqxCqnHtPj8fkU5xrCS6Vbk

## Job description

Come join us in shaping the future! Get in on the ground floor as an early member of our Mechanical Engineering team as a Thermal Engineer developing a revolutionary satellite communications system. Connect the vision to the hardware, build it, test it and fly it.

AscendArc is a startup founded to revolutionize the satellite communications industry. We are looking for doers who want to work in a ground-breaking and fast-paced environment. Our success will depend on your energy, skill, and creativity.

## Responsibilities

- Lead the development of global spacecraft thermal models and subsystem trade studies.
- Define and implement thermal control system specifications and test requirements.
- Translate mission environments into thermal design requirements, balancing heritage systems with first-principles analysis.
- Influence hardware qualification plans and support test campaigns with analysis, instrumentation planning, and data interpretation.

## Qualifications

- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, with a focus in thermal sciences or related discipline
- 5+ years of experience in thermal analysis, preferably in spacecraft or aerospace applications
- Proficiency with industry-standard thermal modeling tools, Ansys Thermal Desktop preferred
- Strong understanding of thermal control systems, space environments, and heat transfer fundamentals
- Hands-on experience supporting thermal testing, including instrumentation planning and data analysis

Who We’re Looking For

We’re searching for exceptional talent at any career stage — from early-career engineers to senior and staff-level experts. Compensation will be adjusted accordingly. More than years of experience, we value high-caliber individuals with the drive and creativity to help launch Oregon’s first commercial communications satellite.

We’re looking for people who:

- Thrive in a cradle-to-grave design environment and take ownership from concept through launch.
- Bring energy, curiosity, and a responsible engineering mindset.
- Want to work alongside other exceptional people in an environment where great ideas rise to the top.

Hybrid Work This position is based at our Beaverton office. We value the collaboration that comes from working together in person, while also supporting flexibility. Team members typically spend three days a week in the office and may work from home up to two days each week.

Base Salary

The base salary range for this position is $180,000 - $210,000/year. When determining an individual’s compensation, we consider several factors including skillset, experience, job scope, and current market data, so pay for this role may vary from the amounts listed.

Legal Eligibility to Work

Due to U.S. export control regulations, this position is only open to “U.S. persons.” That means you must be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or have refugee/asylee status. Unfortunately, we cannot consider applicants on temporary work visas (such as H-1B, TN, O-1, etc.) for this role.

## Equal Employment Opportunity

AscendArc is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor or legally protected status.

## About AscendArc

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: AscendArc is revolutionizing satellite communications by designing and manufacturing low-cost, high-bandwidth, volume-produced small geostationary (GEO) satellites for military and commercial customers.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Seed Stage)
- **Headquarters**: Beaverton, Oregon, United States
- **Founded**: 2023
- **Founders**: Chris McLain

## Core Business
- **Primary Industry**: Satellite Telecommunications / Space Technology
- **Target Customers**: Military/Defense organizations and commercial telecommunications providers (B2B, Government)
- **Mission/Purpose**: To fundamentally change the economics of the satellite communications industry by making geostationary satellites faster to build, easier to scale, and dramatically more cost-effective — applying the scalability and production efficiency of LEO manufacturing to high-performance GEO satellites [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/).

## Products & Services
- **Small Geostationary Satellites**: Volume-produced, small GEO satellites that deliver high bandwidth at a fraction of the cost of traditional GEO satellites. They are highly reconfigurable and highly maneuverable, designed for rapid deployment and volume production [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding of $7.75M across multiple rounds [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/ascendarc).
- **Funding History**:
  - Pre-Seed Round (Jan 2024): $505,000
  - Seed Round (Mar 2025): $3.5M from 6 investors
  - Total raised: $7.75M (conflicting reports show $4M on some sources, $7.75M on others) [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/ascendarc) [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/ascendarc)
- **Notable Investors**: Hunter Communications, Everywhere Ventures, Portland Seed Fund, Thermo Capital Partners, Seraphim Space [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/ascendarc)
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Headcount grew 80% YoY, now at 22 employees [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/ascendarc)
  - LinkedIn followers grew 94.1% annually [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/ascendarc)
  - Filed at least 1 patent related to stackable satellite design and antenna technology [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/ascendarc)
  - Active job postings for senior engineering roles (Avionics, Thermal, Test, Structures) [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/ascendarc)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Cost Disruption**: Applying high-volume, low-cost manufacturing principles from LEO satellites to the GEO market, traditionally dominated by expensive, bespoke spacecraft.
- **Speed to Market**: Designed for rapid deployment compared to traditional GEO satellite development cycles (years vs. decades).
- **Reconfigurability & Maneuverability**: Satellites are designed to be highly adaptable in orbit, serving evolving military and commercial needs.
- **Small Team Agility**: A lean, driven team of ~22 people with a "cradle-to-grave" design culture where every person has real ownership [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers).

## Strategic Focus
- **Scaling Production**: Moving from design to volume manufacturing of small GEO satellites.
- **Talent Acquisition**: Actively hiring senior engineering talent across mechanical, thermal, test, and avionics disciplines to support growth [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/ascendarc).
- **Commercial & Military Expansion**: Targeting both government/defense contracts and commercial telecom applications for secure, resilient connectivity [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/).

## Why Work Here
- **Hands-On, High-Ownership Culture**: "Cradle-to-grave" design culture where ideas are built, tested, and launched — not just sketched on paper. Every voice shapes the mission [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers).
- **Hybrid & Remote Flexibility**: Most roles follow a hybrid schedule (3 days onsite in Beaverton, OR; 2 days remote). Some roles are fully remote within the US depending on position [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers).
- **Benefits**:
  - Competitive salary and equity [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers)
  - Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employee and family [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers)
  - 3 weeks paid vacation to start, with additional time for tenured employees, plus 11 paid holidays [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers)
  - 401(k) plan [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers)
- **Fast-Paced, Groundbreaking Work**: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge space technology in a startup environment that is lean, driven, and collaborative [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers).
- **Office Location**: Beaverton, Oregon — part of the Portland metro area's growing aerospace and tech ecosystem.

## Sources
1. [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/)
2. [ascendarc.com/careers](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers)
3. [linkedin.com/company/ascendarc](https://linkedin.com/company/ascendarc)
4. [cbinsights.com/company/ascendarc](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/ascendarc)
5. [builtin.com/company/ascendarc-1](https://builtin.com/company/ascendarc-1)

## Other roles at AscendArc

- [Executive Assistant & Office Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/executive-assistant-office-manager-ascendarc-beaverton-jgbbscxwqtn8) — Beaverton
- [Supply Chain Manager/Director - Aerospace](https://feeny.ai/job/supply-chain-manager-director-aerospace-ascendarc-beaverton-cz5x48rfp945) — Beaverton
- [Senior RF Board Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-rf-board-engineer-ascendarc-beaverton-bhc2ednb1qng) — Beaverton
- [System Integration and Test Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/system-integration-and-test-lead-ascendarc-beaverton-man25wyp4y02) — Beaverton
- [Propulsion Engineering Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/propulsion-engineering-lead-ascendarc-beaverton-pn99802wf8zq) — Beaverton
- [Senior/Lead Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-lead-mechanical-engineer-ascendarc-beaverton-j17f7ewzay7a) — Beaverton
- [Senior/Staff Test Engineer - Structures and Mechanisms](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-staff-test-engineer-structures-and-mechanisms-ascendarc-beaverton-5ywyfz5x79hz) — Beaverton
- [Senior Avionics Mechanical Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-avionics-mechanical-design-engineer-ascendarc-beaverton-19mjvbrxrp5e) — Beaverton
- [Composite Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/composite-technician-ascendarc-beaverton-0aayb9nagjva) — Beaverton