Hybrid Thermal Protection Systems Engineer

at Destinus

• Job title: Thermal Protection Systems Engineer
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Mid level, Senior
• Salary: Not specified
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Payerne, Switzerland

About the role

• Thermal Protection Systems Engineer designing ablative thermal protection systems for aerospace. Join Destinus to develop cutting-edge UAVs for the defense industry.

Responsibilities

• **What You´ll Do**
• Design and size ablative thermal protection systems for rocket motors, propulsion components, and high-temperature structural assemblies
• Perform transient thermal analyses including ablation, pyrolysis, char layer evolution, and bondline temperature prediction
• Develop coupled thermo-mechanical FEM models to evaluate insulation integrity, thermal stresses, and structural–thermal interactions
• Select and characterize ablative materials such as EPDM-based insulators, carbon–phenolics, and high-temperature composites
• Validate analysis models against test data including recession measurements, thermocouple profiles, and subscale firing results
• Define, support, and participate in TPS-related test campaigns, including material testing, flame exposure, and propulsion firings
• Translate thermal and mechanical analysis results into actionable design requirements, TPS layouts, and manufacturable solutions
• Produce technical documentation including analysis reports, TPS specifications, drawings, and verification plans
• Work closely with propulsion, materials, and manufacturing teams to ensure TPS integration aligns with system requirements and mitigates thermal and mechanical risks
• Support non-conformance assessments, failure investigations, and updates to TPS design or processes based on test outcomes

Requirements

• **What You’ll Need**
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Materials Engineering.
• 3–7 years of experience in ablative TPS, high-temperature insulation, or thermal protection design.
• Hands-on experience with ablative materials, transient thermal analysis, or pyrolysis/ablation modeling.
• Familiarity with thermo-mechanical FEM tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, COMSOL) and TPS integration best practices.
• Experience with high-temperature or propulsion testing, including data interpretation and correlation.
• Strong analytical and documentation skills, able to interpret complex thermal data, produce clear reports, and justify design decisions.
• Willingness to travel between Swiss facilities (up to 20%).
• Comfortable working across disciplines. Propulsion, materials, manufacturing, and test engineering.

Benefits

• **Why Join Us?**
• **✨ The Thrill of the Future – Work on cutting-edge projects that redefine aerospace.** ✨ Global Innovation Hub – Collaborate with top engineers from all over the world.** ✨ Fast-Paced & High-Growth – Experience the rush of working in a rapidly expanding company.** ✨ Real Impact – Your work won’t be theoretical—it will shape the future of flight.