Senior Thermal Engineer – Space Systems & High-Power Payloads

Blue Origin; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 144,000 - 202,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Up to 25% travel

Job summary

Blue Origin in Colorado is seeking a Senior Thermal Engineer to lead the thermal design and analysis for satellite payloads and in‑space constellation solutions. You will develop thermal models, manage interfaces, and collaborate with payload, mechanical, power, and systems teams to ensure reliability across mission profiles and environmental conditions.

The role seeks deep experience with spaceborne thermal design, radiation heat transfer, and qualification testing, with opportunity for

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, physics, or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in thermal engineering for aerospace systems and/or high‑power electronics.
• Experience with spaceborne thermal design, vacuum environments, radiation heat transfer, and flight hardware qualification.
• Experience with thermal modeling tools (Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, ANSYS Icepak).
• Knowledge of environmental standards (NASA, ESA, MIL‑STD) and qualification testing.
• Ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead thermal design & analysis for satellite‑based, high‑power payloads and associated power electronics.
• Develop thermal models using tools like Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, or ANSYS Icepak.
• Define and manage thermal interfaces across payload subsystems and radiators.
• Perform transient and steady‑state thermal analyses for mission profiles and environmental conditions.
• Develop thermal architecture for reusable bus/payload configurations across production blocks.
• Define thermal model correlation strategy with limited test data and extend to production blocks.
• Address LEO thermal cycling fatigue on joints, solder, TIMs, and coatings.
• Drive manufacturability of thermal hardware and parametric modeling workflows.
• Evaluate COTS components and manage heater power budget as a fleet driver.
• Support design‑for‑demise and material selection for disposal risk.

Skills

7+ years experience

Spaceborne thermal design

Thermal modeling tools

Environmental standards

TS/SCI clearance

US citizenship/perm resident

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical/aerospace/physics

Tools

Thermal Desktop

SINDA/FLUINT

AN SYS Icepak

Job description

Blue Origin in Colorado is seeking a Senior Thermal Engineer to lead the thermal design and analysis for satellite payloads and in‑space constellation solutions. You will develop thermal models, manage interfaces, and collaborate with payload, mechanical, power, and systems teams to ensure reliability across mission profiles and environmental conditions.

The role seeks deep experience with spaceborne thermal design, radiation heat transfer, and qualification testing, with opportunity for