Thermo-Mechanical Engineer

Your (space) mission

As the Thermo-Mechanical Engineer at cosine you help shape the next generation of space-borne optical instruments that push the boundaries of Earth observation and planetary science. Working from our Italian team, you contribute to missions that will fly on satellites and asteroid explorers, where performance, precision, and reliability are critical for success in orbit.
You join a small, international, high-level team with a start-up mindset, where engineering decisions directly influence hardware that will operate in the most demanding environment imaginable: space. From early design choices to final qualification testing, your work ensures that our instruments survive launch and perform flawlessly in orbit, enabling new scientific discoveries and commercial applications in the rapidly evolving New Space sector.

Tasks & responsibilities

In this role you will:

• Lead and contribute to the thermo-mechanical design of high-precision optical instruments for space applications
• Perform thermal and structural analyses to ensure performance under launch and orbital conditions
• Support the full development cycle from concept design through to assembly, integration, and qualification testing
• Collaborate closely with optical, mechanical, and system engineers in an international multidisciplinary team
• Contribute to solving complex engineering challenges in a fast-paced, project-driven environment

Your profile

We are looking for candidates with the following qualifications:

• A Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
• Experience in thermo-mechanical design and analysis, ideally within space, aerospace, or high-tech precision engineering
• Strong understanding of thermal and structural behavior of complex systems under extreme conditions
• Hands-on mindset with experience in hardware development, integration, and testing
• Ability to work effectively in small, international teams with a proactive and collaborative attitude
• Strong communication skills in English, both written and spoken

What we offer

At cosine, we highly value our employees, and we will support your professional and personal development. We also provide our employees with:

• A unique, international working environment at the intersection of physics and engineering
• The opportunity to deliver end-to-end solutions in autonomous project teams, in close collaboration with customers
• A competitive salary with an annual bonus based on individual and company performance
• 20 days of annual leave (based on full-time employment)
• 13th month salary payment
• Hybrid working options, including the possibility to work partially from home
• A personal development budget
• Initial one-year contract, with the aim of long-term collaboration

About cosine

Founded in 1998, cosine is a world-leading developer of space instrumentation and measurement systems, making the invisible measurable and the complex actionable.

Its expertise spans High-Energy Optics, including optics developed for ESA's future NewAthena X-ray observatory, as well as remote sensing solutions for Earth Observation and planetary science.
With over 25 years of experience and advanced cleanroom and assembly facilities across the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy, cosine brings deep scientific and engineering expertise to some of the most demanding missions in space and on Earth.

What makes cosine a unique place to work is that your work goes end-to-end: from concept and design to building, testing, and delivering hardware that actually flies in space. You work in small, highly skilled teams where you have real ownership and impact, alongside experts in optics, physics, nanofabrication, and systems engineering. 

cosine is committed to providing an inclusive and equal opportunities work environment where everyone can thrive. As a proud member of the Women in Aerospace community, we recognise the importance of diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity in the workplace.