Principal Thermal Engineer

Blue Origin; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 237,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Education Support Program

Job summary

Blue Origin in Seattle is seeking a Senior Thermal/Fluid Analyst to lead analysis for New Glenn thermal and propulsion environments. You will own models, coordinate cross-team analysis, and implement aerothermal and rocket plume heating across flight phases.

You will document inputs and results, review colleagues' work, and contribute to safe, reliable spaceflight. 15+ years in thermal/thermodynamic analysis required; advanced modeling tools preferred.

Qualifications

• BS degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• 15+ years of experience in the fields of thermal or thermodynamic analysis.
• Demonstrated expertise with one or more thermal/fluids modeling tools is required
• Experience reviewing and critiquing models and results developed by junior engineers

Responsibilities

• Analyze thermal and fluid environments for launch vehicle systems.
• Coordinate analysis questions across multiple teams.
• Implement aerothermal, rocket plume heating, and natural environments during all flight phases.
• Own the documentation and maintenance of analysis inputs, models, and results in reports and data books.

Skills

Thermal analysis

Thermo-fluid modeling

Team mentoring

Education

BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

MS or PhD in related field (preferred)

Tools

Thermal Desktop

SINDA/FLUINT

ANSYS Classic

Job description

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We're working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!

This role supports the development and operations of New Glenn, a single-configuration, heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle capable of routinely carrying people and payloads to low-Earth orbit, geostationary transfer orbit, cislunar, and beyond. Its first stage is fully reusable, and the vehicle was designed from the beginning to be human-capable.

As part of a small, passionate and accomplished team of engineers and analysts, you will support all aspects of thermal and fluid system design for various New Glenn spaceflight systems. You will share in the team's impact on the systems through their entire lifetime from early conceptual design and configuration through flight operations and sustaining engineering. The responsibilities of this position will be analysis intensive, primarily supportive of development and verification of launch vehicle component and vehicle thermal and fluid environments and performance requirements. You will be expected to coordinate analysis questions from multiple teams and help define the scope for the requisite analysis. You will implement aerothermal, rocket plume heating, and natural environments during all phases of flight. You will own the documentation and maintenance of analysis inputs, models, and results in reports and data books.

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of BS degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• 15 or more years of experience in the fields of thermal or thermodynamic analysis.
• Demonstrated expertise with one or more thermal/fluids modeling tools is required
• Experience reviewing and critiquing models and results developed by junior engineers

Preferred Qualifications

• 20 or more years of experience and an MS or PhD degree
• Demonstrated expertise with Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, ANSYS Classic
• Experience analyzing booster and upper stage of rocket systems
• Experience analyzing cryogenic fluid systems
• Experience with insulation and TPS on launch and re-entry vehicles
• Demonstrated expertise using MATLAB, Python and Git for automating workflow
• Knowledge in the use of 3D CAD tools (CREO is preferred)

Base Pay Range for:

• CO applicants is $160,618.00 - $224,864.85
• WA applicants is $169,624.00 - $237,473.25
• Other site ranges may differ

Don't meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check

Required for all positions: Blue's Standard Background Check

Required for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation

Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing, vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.

Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

Benefits

• Medical
• dental
• vision
• basic and supplemental life insurance
• paid parental leave
• short and long-term disability
• 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%
• an Education Support Program.
• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)