Propulsion Thermal Engineer III

Blue Origin LLC; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 121,000 - 169,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Stock options

Paid time off

Holidays

Education support program

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC is seeking a Thermal Analysis Engineer to support design and development of thruster systems. You will perform detailed thermal analyses, build detailed models, and validate results through testing data, influencing design decisions across the full development cycle.

You will collaborate with propulsion, materials, manufacturing, and test teams, lead design reviews, and drive improvements in modeling approaches while ensuring safety margins and system reliability.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of professional experience related to thermal analysis.
• Strong fundamentals in fluids and thermodynamics.
• Experience with industry-standard tools: Thermal Desktop, SINDA FLUINT, ANSYS.

Responsibilities

• Perform detailed thermal analysis of thrusters and subassemblies, including design trade studies, component sizing, and design verification.
• Develop detailed thermal models using industry-standard tools to predict thruster and subsystem thermal behavior.
• Analyze thermal test data to anchor, validate, and refine thermal models and analyses.
• Support component design from a thermal perspective throughout the development cycle.
• Lead and support thermal design reviews and verification activities throughout the product lifecycle.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with propulsion, materials, manufacturing, and test teams to ensure designs meet thermal margins and safety requirements.
• Document analysis methods, assumptions, results, and recommendations.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of thermal analysis processes, tools, and best practices within the team.

Skills

Thermal analysis

Heat transfer

Thermodynamics

Thermal modeling tools

Thermal Desktop

SINDA FLUINT

ANSYS

1-D/0-D thermal/fluid analysis

Hand calculations

Project leadership

U.S. citizenship or permanent resident

Education

MS degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

Thermal Desktop

SINDA FLUINT

ANSYS

Job description

Application close date: Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed. 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 is part of the Blue Origin Engines business unit, where our focus is the design, development, manufacturing, and testing of engines and propulsion systems. Built for multiple uses, our family of engines is powering the next generation of rockets for commercial, civil, national security, and human spaceflight. As part of a small team of engineers, you will perform thermal analysis to support the design and development of our thruster systems. This role supports the full development cycle, from early design trades through hot-fire testing and hardware qualification, and gives you direct influence over how thruster hardware is designed and verified. The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in heat transfer, thermodynamics, and numerical analysis and can solve complex engineering problems from initial concept through qualification. You should be comfortable working independently, contributing to design decisions, and communicating results clearly to the rest of the team.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Perform detailed thermal analysis of thrusters and subassemblies, including design trade studies, component sizing, and design verification
• Develop detailed thermal models using industry-standard tools to predict thruster and subsystem thermal behavior
• Analyze thermal test data to anchor, validate, and refine thermal models and analyses
• Support component design from a thermal perspective throughout the development cycle
• Lead and support thermal design reviews and verification activities throughout the product lifecycle
• Collaborate cross-functionally with propulsion, materials, manufacturing, and test teams to ensure designs meet thermal margins and safety requirements
• Document analysis methods, assumptions, results, and recommendations
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of thermal analysis processes, tools, and best practices within the team

Minimum Qualifications

• 4+ years of professional experience related to thermal analysis
• Strong technical fundamentals in fluids and thermodynamics
• Experience with Thermal Desktop, SINDA FLUINT, and Ansys
• Proficiency with 0-D and 1-D thermal/fluid analysis
• Able to perform hand calculations to validate and improve models
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects and work independently
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. degree or higher in mechanical or aerospace engineering
• 6+ years of thermal analysis of propulsion systems and components

Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $121,023.00 - $169,432.20 Other site ranges may differ

Culture Statement

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%, and an Education Support Program
• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays
• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

Affluent Action and Disability Accommodation Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affandiive Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at [e-mail]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request. We’re committed to building the road to space so our children can build the future. We are a mission-driven company focused on ideas and innovation, and encourage fresh perspectives from bold voices. At Blue, our team is building the future as their unique selves.

Blue Origin was founded with a vision to enable a future where millions of people are living and working in space to benefit Earth. In order to preserve Earth, Blue Origin believes in the need to enable humanity to expand, explore, find new energy and material resources, and move industries that stress Earth into space. Blue Origin believes it has an important role in building a road to space and lowering the cost of getting there. At Blue Origin, we’re working on this today by developing fully reusable launch vehicles and systems that are safe, reliable and affordable. Every launch vehicle is designed for human spaceflight from the beginning and able to ferry payloads to space.

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