---
title: 'Thermal Engineer at NewOrbit Space'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/thermal-engineer-neworbit-space-reading-wj21yv8e55nv'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-06'
---

# Thermal Engineer at NewOrbit Space

- **Company:** NewOrbit Space
- **Location:** Reading, United Kingdom
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-11-04
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-06
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/neworbit/de618493-6c0a-4dc8-89de-c737bbb08940

## Job description

Company NewOrbit builds satellites that fly in very low Earth orbit, below 300 km, along with the electric propulsion that keeps them there. Flying closer to Earth means sharper imagery from smaller optics, and an orbit that cleans itself: our satellites de-orbit within a month at end of life, leaving no debris. Our AURA family of RF gridded ion thrusters powers our own NEO-1 satellite, with first flight planned for Q3 2028, and is also offered to other operators. Electric propulsion is what lets our satellites hold very low orbits, and our AURA RF gridded ion thruster is at the centre of it.

## Role

We are looking for a skilled Thermal Engineer with experience in spacecraft thermal management at both the subsystem and spacecraft level. You’ll work closely with a cross-functional team - including mechanical, propulsion, electronics, and mission planning - to ensure reliable thermal performance of our satellite throughout all mission phases: from launch to operation in orbit and end-of-life. You should be capable of delivering a thermal control system from scratch and taking full ownership of it, ensuring the success of our mission.

## Key Responsibilities

- Perform steady-state and transient thermal analysis of the spacecraft across all mission phases (TVAC testing, launch, orbit).
- Model and validate heat management strategies in the harsh environment of vacuum, where conduction and radiation are dominant
- Identify and manage worst-case scenarios in extreme thermal conditions (both hot and cold), accounting for on-orbit environmental factors and internal power dissipation
- Design and implement thermal control solutions such as multilayer insulation (MLI), radiators, heaters, thermo-optical coatings, thermistors, and thermal straps
- Develop and support thermal vacuum (TVAC) test procedures, instrumentation setup, and post-test data analysis.
- Be hands on in hardware testing for validation of processes, instrumentation, and materials and components chosen for in house developments

Fundamental Requirements

- Solid understanding of thermal engineering principles in the context of spacecraft systems.
- Hands-on experience with thermal simulation tools such as Systema, Thermal Desktop, ESATAN, or equivalent.
- Experience with environmental and lab testing (TVAC, thermal cycling, AIT process validation).
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, iterative development environment.

Nice-to-Haves

- Experience designing or testing spacecraft thermal systems.
- Exposure to multidisciplinary space system development or mission analysis.

Why NewOrbit Space?

- Pioneering space technology - Your work on our RF gridded ion thrusters and VLEO satellite platform will redefine satellite operations and challenge traditional LEO.
- Ownership and impact - You'll have a level of ownership that's rare in the space industry, and you'll take part in the full lifecycle of satellite technology.
- Equity and competitive salary - Alongside a competitive salary you receive a company ownership stake, so you share in the technology you help build and in our collective success.
- Comprehensive benefits - Private health insurance with dental and optical cover, and annual health check-ups.
- Hybrid working - One dedicated remote day per week.
- Visa sponsorship and relocation support - We sponsor visas and provide relocation support for candidates moving to join us.

## About NewOrbit Space

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: NewOrbit designs and builds the world's lowest orbiting satellites for very-low Earth orbit (VLEO), enabling enhanced Earth observation, direct‑to‑device connectivity, and advanced weather forecasting.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series A)
- **Headquarters**: Reading, England, United Kingdom
- **Founded**: 2021
- **Founders**: Anatolii Papulov (CEO) and Ruslan Rakhimov (CTO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Space technology / Satellite manufacturing
- **Target customers**: Commercial and government organisations needing high‑resolution imagery, atmospheric data, and global connectivity (B2B, Enterprise)
- **Mission or purpose**: Engineering Earth’s lowest orbiting satellite to advance global connectivity and insight, while keeping space clean for future generations.

## Products & Services
- **[NEO-1]**: A very‑low Earth orbit satellite capable of sustained operation at ~200‑300 km altitude. It delivers drone‑quality imagery (20× cheaper than conventional satellites), direct‑to‑device 5G‑equivalent internet, and precise atmospheric data for weather forecasting. The satellite uses a proprietary air‑breathing electric propulsion system, tailored attitude control, and advanced materials to overcome drag and atomic oxygen. It operates in a naturally self‑cleaning orbit (deorbits within a month after decommission).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding raised – **$18.77 M** (Series A of $18.5 M closed June 2026)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**:
  - Lead: Voyager Ventures
  - Participants: Atlantic VC, Lifeline Ventures, Illusian, Custos Family Office, David Kirk (former Nvidia chief scientist), Lawrence Leuschner (co‑founder of TIER Mobility)
  - Advisory board includes Jean‑Jacques Dordain (former ESA Director General) and Sir Chris Deverell (former UK Joint Forces commander)
  - Partners: European Space Agency, UK Space Agency, SPRIND
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Headcount of ~25 employees (as of mid‑2026), with yearly growth of +45 % and monthly growth of +7.4 %
  - Plans to open the NEO Production Complex in 2027, scaling from 10 satellites/year to several per week
  - First commercial flight targeted for 2028
  - 5 active job postings, with a strong pipeline of engineering hires

## Competitive Advantages
- **Altitude advantage**: Operates at one‑third the altitude of conventional satellites, enabling 20× cheaper imagery, higher‑resolution data, and 5G‑equivalent direct‑to‑device bandwidth.
- **Proprietary technology**: Built‑from‑scratch subsystems (attitude control, propulsion, electronics, thermal, embedded software) that handle the extreme conditions of VLEO (aerodynamic drag, atomic oxygen, torque).
- **Self‑cleaning orbit**: Satellites deorbit naturally within a month, mitigating space debris – a key regulatory and sustainability differentiator.
- **Sovereign industrial asset**: Positioned as Europe’s largest dedicated VLEO production facility, supported by UK and European space agencies.

## Strategic Focus
- **Current priorities**: First mission in 2028, ramp‑up of satellite production, and establishment of a scalable manufacturing facility. The company is building a product platform for any customer to “fly at VLEO” with integrated payloads.
- **Direction for growth**: Expand from Earth observation into global telecom (direct‑to‑device) and weather services, while securing defence and national‑security missions.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: A “make it happen” ethos with high ownership; engineers design, build, and test hardware in weeks rather than years. Cross‑disciplinary collaboration driven by a shared mission to solve one of space’s toughest engineering problems.
- **Facilities**: State‑of‑the‑art testing facility for multi‑propellant ion propulsion systems, and purpose‑built labs for satellite subsystem development.
- **Work style**: Based in Reading, UK – likely on‑site due to hardware‑intensive work. The team is small (~25), flat‑structured, and encourages rapid iteration.
- **Notable perks**: Chance to work alongside world‑class engineers and advisors (former ESA Director, UK military leaders), lead a function from day one, and directly impact the opening of a new orbital regime.

## Sources
1. [neworbit.space](https://neworbit.space/) – Company homepage and product details
2. [neworbit.space/about](https://neworbit.space/about) – About page, founders, advisory board, partners
3. [neworbit.space/careers](https://neworbit.space/careers) – Careers page, culture details
4. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/neworbit-space) – Funding, headcount, headquarters
5. [linkedin.com](https://uk.linkedin.com/company/neworbit-space) – Employee growth, open positions, talent sources
6. [spacenews.com](https://spacenews.com/uk-startup-neworbit-raises-18-5-million-in-series-a-round/) – Series A announcement, first mission details (cited via cbinsights)

## Other roles at NewOrbit Space

- [Graduate Mechanical Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/graduate-mechanical-design-engineer-neworbit-space-reading-m4cjt7f165j0) — Reading, United Kingdom
- [AIT Systems Integration Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/ait-systems-integration-engineer-neworbit-space-reading-hpv8edcj9s4k) — Reading, United Kingdom
- [Electric Propulsion Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/electric-propulsion-engineer-neworbit-space-reading-e2zsfjp3m1sx) — Reading, United Kingdom
- [Commercial Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/commercial-lead-neworbit-space-reading-m8h1174kagff) — Reading, United Kingdom
- [Satellite Mechanical Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/satellite-mechanical-design-engineer-neworbit-space-reading-b87twktm156f) — Reading, United Kingdom
- [Manufacturing Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-technician-neworbit-space-reading-df8j5mkw2n7z) — Reading, United Kingdom
- [Spacecraft Structural Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/spacecraft-structural-engineer-neworbit-space-reading-eqthy390xbdg) — Reading, United Kingdom
- [Lead Flight Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-flight-software-engineer-neworbit-space-reading-jmfg9e7vae5t) — Reading, United Kingdom
- [Thermal Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/thermal-engineer-last-energy-austin-z94r02xvm7r5) — Austin, TX
- [Thermal Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/thermal-engineer-array-labs-redwood-city-kc8jaevmygrk) — Redwood City, CA