Nathan Todtenhagen
Summary
Accomplished Spacecraft Thermal Engineer with expertise in Thermal Desktop and cross-disciplinary collaboration in a dynamic, rapidly evolving startup environment. Successfully led thermal design initiatives, enhancing spacecraft performance and efficiency. Proven ability to simultaneously manage multiple programs and engage with customers and vendors to ensure optimal thermal solutions for high-powered electronics and optical systems.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Thermal Engineer
York Space Systems
Denver, Colorado
09.2022 - Current
- Lead spacecraft/space vehicle thermal design and analysis efforts for multiple programs serving commercial and government customers
- Created Thermal Desktop models of spacecraft and components, integrated vendor models into space vehicle-level model
- Developed space vehicle-level TVAC test plans/procedures including temperature profiles, test thermocouple locations, temperature limits, and test success criteria
- Interfaced with vendors to levy requirements for thermal analysis and testing, emphasizing effective thermal testing without compromising cost and schedule
- High-fidelity thermal environment modeling through collaboration with Systems Tool Kit (STK) engineers
- Collaborated with other subsystem engineers to ensure successful thermal management of high-powered electronics boxes and optical subassemblies
- Analyzed on-orbit data to better inform thermal model assumptions and improve thermal performance of future missions
- Presented spacecraft/space vehicle thermal solutions to customers at TIMs and design reviews
- Developed robust results post-processing tools to increase workflow efficiency
- Managed requirements flow down and decomposition for thermal control subsystem
- Managed procurement of thermal hardware (heaters, MLI, temperature sensors) and software (Thermal Desktop licenses)
- Worked with company leadership to justify head count increases to ensure adequate staffing for success on current and future programs
Thermal Engineer
Ball Aerospace
Boulder, Colorado
03.2019 - 09.2022
- Thermal Desktop design and analysis of spacecraft, involving radiator and heater sizing, selective surface coatings, and thermal isolation schemes to meet program temperature requirements
- Collaborated with Structural, ADCS, and Systems Engineers to develop and execute models, validate results, and present to customer review board
- Lead mechanism-level thermal design, analysis, documentation, and test procedure development
- Performed Thermal Desktop spacecraft/observatory modeling, supporting program lifecycle phases ranging from proposal through post-TVAC model correlation
- Supported TVAC testing on 24/7 console coverage, responsible for ensuring thermal health and safety of hardware, ensuring tests were executed in accordance with test procedure to buy off thermal test requirements
- Responsible for thermal hardware procurements and supply chain management (heaters, thermistors, thermocouples, etc.) for the Thermal Solutions group
Education
M.S. - Mechanical Engineering – Thermal-Fluid Systems
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO05.2019
B.S. - Mechanical Engineering
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO05.2018
Skills
- Thermal Desktop
- SINDA/FLUINT
- AutoCAD
- Grafana
- LabVIEW
- MathCAD
- SolidWorks
Timeline
Senior Thermal Engineer
York Space Systems
09.2022 - Current
Thermal Engineer
Ball Aerospace
03.2019 - 09.2022
M.S. - Mechanical Engineering – Thermal-Fluid Systems
Colorado School of Mines
B.S. - Mechanical Engineering
Colorado School of Mines
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