--- title: 'Staff Thermal Engineer at CHAOS Industries' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/staff-thermal-engineer-chaos-industries-el-segundo-d8e6shhaqs26' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-16' --- # Staff Thermal Engineer at CHAOS Industries - **Company:** CHAOS Industries - **Location:** El Segundo, CA - **Posted:** 2026-10-16 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-16 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/chaosindustries/jobs/5267154007 ## Job description CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantage—domain dominance. The company's products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats. CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors, including 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, and London. For more information, please visit [www.chaosinc.com](https://www.chaosinc.com). Role Overview: CHAOS is seeking a Staff Thermal Engineer to perform thermal and fluid-flow analysis of electronic components, circuit card assemblies (CCAs), and electronic enclosures. The role spans design trades, detailed analysis, hardware integration, qualification, and production support. You will analyze heat transfer and internal fluid flow, including air and liquid coolants in cabinets, coldplates, and heat exchangers. You will work closely with electrical and mechanical designers, providing technical guidance to improve thermal performance and resolve design challenges. You will plan and support tests, perform data reduction, and correlate thermal models with test results. - This is a full-time, on-site position in El Segundo, CA. - This requisition is open to candidates who may be considered for a lower or higher job level. Final level and grade will be determined based on relevant experience, skills, and qualifications. Responsibilities: - Perform hand calculations and detailed thermal analyses of electronic components, CCAs, and enclosures - Develop and use ANSYS Icepak models for electronics cooling and internal air and liquid coolant flow - Analyze cooling systems that include cabinets, coldplates, heat exchangers, and related hardware - Assess temperatures, flow distribution, pressure drop, and thermal margins across expected operating conditions - Define model inputs, assumptions, and boundary conditions, and communicate their effect on results - Provide practical thermal design guidance to electrical and mechanical designers - Identify thermal risks and recommend design changes in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams - Participate in design and peer reviews - Plan and support thermal tests, analyze test data, and correlate models with test results - Support board and system bring-up, qualification, troubleshooting, and production issues - Document analysis methods, assumptions, results, and recommendations Minimum Requirements: - Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related STEM field and 7+ years of relevant experience - Hands-on experience performing electronics thermal analysis using ANSYS Icepak - Strong working knowledge of heat transfer, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics - Experience analyzing thermal performance of electronic components, circuit boards, or enclosures - Ability to perform engineering hand calculations and assess when detailed simulation is needed - Experience analyzing liquid-cooled coldplates and heat exchangers - Experience with forced-air cooling, flow distribution, pressure-drop analysis, and fan performance - Strong technical communication skills and ability to work independently across engineering disciplines - Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance Preferred Requirements: - Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field - Experience with Macroflow, STAR-CCM+, NX thermal, or other thermal or CFD software - Experience planning or supporting thermal tests, reducing test data, or correlating analysis models - Experience with aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability electronic systems - Familiarity with MIL-STD-810, RTCA/DO-160, or VITA-48 Why CHAOS? - Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company - Additional benefits: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more - Our Perks: Free daily lunch while you're working onsite, fully-stocked kitchen, unlimited PTO, casual dress code - Compensation Components: Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonuses - Team Growth: 500+ employees and counting across 5 global offices Salary Range: $150,000 - $230,000 The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Recruiting Agencies: CHAOS Industries does not accept unsolicited resumes or outreach. Unsolicited submissions will not be reviewed or compensated. #LI-onsite ## About CHAOS Industries ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: CHAOS Industries develops multi-application defense technologies, including radar, detection, and electronic warfare systems powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), to deliver domain dominance for warfighters and critical infrastructure. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series D, Unicorn) - **Headquarters**: Los Angeles, California, United States - **Founded**: 2022 - **Founders**: John T. (CEO), Bo Marr (Co-founder & CTO), Brett Cummings (Co-founder & President) ## Core Business - Primary industry: Defense and Space Manufacturing - Target customers: U.S. Department of Defense (Army, Air Force, Navy), allied governments, border protection agencies, commercial air operators - Mission: Redefining modern defense by giving warfighters and operators the ultimate advantage through faster sensing, detection, and effects. ## Products & Services - **Hydra Platform**: A multi-application software-defined platform providing land-based, sea-based, and air-based detection, communications, and electronic effects. It is the core operating system for CHAOS’s product portfolio. - **VANQUISH**: A distributed early-warning radar system designed for air defense and counter-UAS (CUAS) missions. It provides long-range detection (up to 250 km) at a low cost per square kilometer ($100/km²). - **Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™)**: The proprietary technology that enables time-synchronized networking of sensors and effectors, improving sensing, detection, and engagement capabilities across a wide area. ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: $4.5 billion (as of November 2025, per Series D announcement) - **Total Funding**: $1.002 billion across four rounds - Series A (March 2023): $70M led by 8VC - Series B (November 2024): $145M led by Accel - Series C (May 2025): $275M led by New Enterprise Associates and Accel - Series D (November 2025): $510M led by Valor Equity Partners, with continued backing from 8VC and Accel - **Annual Revenue**: $75M (estimated) - **Notable Investors**: Valor Equity Partners, Accel, 8VC, New Enterprise Associates, AFWERX, Overmatch Ventures - **Key Partners**: U.S. Army (added to G‑TEAD Marketplace in December 2025) - **Growth Signals**: - Headcount grew 100% YoY (to 143 employees) - Active job postings increased 534.8% YoY - Acquired Ziva Corporation (November 2025) and CHAOS INDUSTRIES UK LIMITED - Added to the U.S. Army’s G‑TEAD Marketplace for accelerated acquisition - Expanded presence to Washington DC, San Francisco, San Diego, London, and Amman ## Competitive Advantages - **Proprietary CDN™ Technology**: A unique time-synchronized networking approach that enables a distributed, software-defined sensor grid, replacing monolithic Cold War-era radar systems. - **Speed to Market**: The company’s products are being added to government acquisition marketplaces (e.g., G‑TEAD) within months of launch, demonstrating rapid fielding capability. - **Talent Density**: Strong hiring from top defense tech companies (Anduril, Palantir, Epirus, RTX, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman) and a high proportion of technical staff (36% of workforce). - **Government Traction**: Direct integration with the U.S. Army and Air Force acquisition pathways, plus a dedicated federal lobbying team. ## Strategic Focus - **Scaling Production**: Moving from R&D to mass production of radar and effector systems, with a focus on cost reduction ($100/km² protection). - **International Expansion**: Building business development teams in Europe (London) and the Middle East (Amman) to capture allied defense markets. - **Product Portfolio Diversification**: Expanding beyond radar into electronic warfare, communications, and effector systems through the Hydra platform and acquisitions. - **Talent Acquisition**: Aggressively hiring across engineering, business development, and operations to support rapid growth. ## Why Work Here - **Mission-Driven Work**: Employees work on “the world’s most urgent problems”—restoring American air superiority and protecting critical infrastructure. - **Rapid Growth Trajectory**: The company has grown from a startup to a $4.5B unicorn in three years, offering significant career advancement opportunities. - **Engineering Culture**: 36% of the workforce is in technical roles, with a focus on cutting-edge radar, signal processing, and machine learning. Key leadership includes a VP of Machine Learning. - **Location Flexibility**: Offices in Los Angeles (HQ), Washington DC, San Francisco, San Diego, London, and Amman. Roles span multiple locations. - **Compensation**: Employee reviews rate compensation at 4.5/5.0. - **Veteran-Friendly**: The company actively recruits veterans. - **Recent Departures Note**: Some senior leaders (VP ML Infra, Operations Partner) have left in early 2026, suggesting a high-intensity environment. ## Sources 1. [chaosinc.com](https://www.chaosinc.com/) 2. [Greenhouse Careers](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/chaosindustries) 3. [CB Insights](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/chaos-industries) 4. [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/chaosindustries) 5. [chaosinc.com/team](https://www.chaosinc.com/team) ## Other roles at CHAOS Industries - [Quality Control Inspector Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/quality-control-inspector-lead-chaos-industries-el-segundo-97qavmmcc906) — El Segundo, CA - [Production Test Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/production-test-engineer-chaos-industries-el-segundo-a9yga8qcsras) — El Segundo, CA - [Technical Operations Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-operations-engineer-chaos-industries-london-qsx9yz2sgwh3) — London, United Kingdom - [Facilities Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/facilities-technician-chaos-industries-washington-hf4jpkqryd0a) — Washington, DC - [Head of Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-environmental-health-safety-ehs-chaos-industries-el-segundo-rvpf4tzkbt4m) — El Segundo, CA - [Senior Manager, Space Planning](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manager-space-planning-chaos-industries-el-segundo-cb3b4xgydfar) — El Segundo, CA - [Executive Assitant](https://feeny.ai/job/executive-assitant-chaos-industries-washington-909z502xbypf) — Washington, DC - [Guidance Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/guidance-software-engineer-chaos-industries-el-segundo-bsvqq0fmb9a4) — El Segundo, CA - [Senior/Principal Radar Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-principal-radar-software-engineer-chaos-industries-el-segundo-1sa91mkjhx2w) — El Segundo, CA - [Systems Development Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/systems-development-engineer-chaos-industries-el-segundo-j5mbyhd4hsjv) — El Segundo, CA