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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal Thermal Protection System Engineer (TPS) - **Company:** The Outpost - **Location:** Los Angeles, CA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $230,000.0 - $270,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Data Analysis, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Data Centers, Python (Programming Language), Load Testing, MATLAB, Systems Architecture, Hardware Testing, Ansys - **Published:** September 11, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.thejobnetwork.com/job/da544d27-861c-445e-a993-b3c7be1cca55/principal-thermal-protection-system-engineer-tps ## About the Role * Bachelor's degree or higher in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Materials Engineering (or related field). * 10+ years of experience in the development of thermal protection systems, hypersonic aerodynamics, or high-temperature structural materials. * Working knowledge of heat transfer mechanisms (convection, radiation, conduction) specifically during atmospheric entry. * Proficiency with thermal and ablation modeling tools (e.g., FIAT, CMA, Thermal Desktop, or custom solvers) and analysis software (ANSYS, MATLAB/Python). * Hands-on experience with hardware testing, specifically environmental or arc-jet testing of TPS materials. * Proven ability to manage complex trade studies involving mass, volume, and thermal performance. * Strong written and verbal communication skills to articulate complex thermal risks to the broader engineering team. * Comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment where requirements may evolve and urgency is key. Preferred Experience * Active U.S. Government Security Clearance (Not required, but beneficial) * Direct experience with hypersonic vehicle flight hardware from concept to post-flight analysis. * Familiarity with government or commercial spaceflight standards (NASA/DoD) for thermal protection. * Experience in a "Design, Build, Fly" environment with rapid iteration cycles. ## Description Outpost is building the missing infrastructure between orbit and Earth: reusable vehicles that can bring payloads back from space and deliver them to a precise location within hours. We call it exologistics, space-to-Earth logistics at planetary scale. This is not a paper concept or a distant roadmap. Our system is in active development, with core technologies advancing toward flight readiness. The need is already here and the market has responded. We have validated demand through multiple defense and civil agreements, and a growing pipeline across government and commercial customers. Outpost is building the logistics layer that makes space economically useful in a new way: the ability to move material from orbit to Earth quickly, reliably, and affordably. Over time, that supports point-to-point logistics, 10 tons of cargo, anywhere on Earth in an hour. It also creates the foundation for a reusable reentry network and enables new categories of space activity, including in-space manufacturing, supporting AI data centers, advanced manufacturing and novel materials. We have a strong foundation, clear demand, and a technical path in front of us. Now the company is scaling rapidly. We are expanding the team, growing our operational footprint, and building the systems needed to execute at the next level. This is a chance to join a company with real traction, working on a problem that matters, at the point where execution and scale begin to define the outcome. The Role The Principal Thermal Protection System Engineer (TPS) will lead the design, analysis, and implementation of the (TPS) for our Carryall reentry vehicle. This role sits at the intersection of high-temperature materials science, aerothermal analysis, and mechanical design. You will own the primary barrier that allows our vehicles to survive the extreme environments of reentry, turning the "impossible" physics of returning from orbit into a repeatable, reusable operation. You will work closely with engineering leadership and the mechanical engineering team, to architect a TPS that is robust enough to handle hypersonic heat fluxes and flexible enough to stow and deploy on orbit. This is a hands-on technical leadership role for someone who is ready to take ownership of a flight-critical subsystem from design through to flight qualification. Responsibilities * Define the Thermal Protection System architecture and thermal protection strategy for the Carryall vehicle, selecting materials and material stack-ups that balance thermal performance, mass, and mechanical flexibility. * Support and work alongside our aerothermal dynamics team to guide high-fidelity aeroheating analysis (CFD) and thermal response modeling to validate specifications and predict performance under reentry loads. * Lead the testing and characterization of flexible and rigid TPS materials, including arc-jet testing, radiant heat testing, and mechanical load testing. * Oversee the transition from theoretical design to flight hardware, managing vendor relationships for TPS materials including fabrics, thermal barriers, and adhesives. * Develop and support the verification plan for the TPS subsystem, ensuring all requirements are met prior to flight. * Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the technical roadmap for future scaled up re-entry vehicle generations ## Related Videos - [PET ARENA Season 2.](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100237-pet-arena-season-2) - [Cloud Vendor Lock-In - Is it just a new version of the Database Abstraction Layers?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1185-cloud-vendor-lock-in-is-it-just-a-new-version-of-the-database-abstraction-layers) - [Leveraging Large Language Models for Legacy Code Translation: Challenges and Solutions](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1157-leveraging-large-language-models-for-legacy-code-translation-challenges-and-solutions) - [The Sustainability Race: AI's Promises, Pitfalls and Potential](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100155-the-sustainability-race-ai-s-promises-pitfalls-and-potential) - [Building a hypercar from scratch](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/607-building-a-hypercar-from-scratch) - [Successful talent development: A joint journey of executives and talents](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1002-successful-talent-development-a-joint-journey-of-executives-and-talents) ## Related Articles - [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again) - [Latest Technology Trends 2023: 8 New Inventions That Will Change The World](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/164-latest-technology-trends-2023-8-new-inventions-that-will-change-the-world) - [A Guide to Green Tech and Green IT Careers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/374-a-guide-to-green-tech-and-green-it-careers) - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers) - [Best US AI Conferences for CTOs in 2026: Build vs. Buy, Vendor Evaluation, and Peer Intelligence](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/736-best-us-ai-conferences-for-ctos-in-2026-build-vs-buy-vendor-evaluation-and-peer-intelligence) - [Dev Digest 134 - Where pixels sing?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/477-dev-digest-134-where-pixels-sing)