Sr Principal Thermal Engineer

BLUE ORIGIN; Denver (CO); In loco; USD 206.000 - 288.000; Tempo pieno

Vantaggi offerti da questo lavoro

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid parental leave

Short and long-term disability

Stock options

Paid time off and holidays

Education support program

Descrizione del lavoro

BLUE ORIGIN is seeking an experienced Thermal Engineer to own the spacecraft thermal architecture and lead the thermal engineering team for a high‑power space data center subsystem. You will design, test, and validate thermal control from computing interfaces to radiators, with hands‑on leadership and rapid prototyping in a demanding environment.

The role emphasizes architecture through qualification and flight, mentoring junior engineers while delivering reliable, manufacturable solutions for

Competenze

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years hands-on thermal engineering experience including design, analysis, hardware development, and test.
• Proficiency with Thermal Desktop, Ansys, or equivalent tools.
• Experience with passive/active thermal control in challenging environments (space, data centers, etc.).
• Ability to lead and mentor junior engineers while remaining hands-on.
• U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. for immigration purposes.

Mansioni

• Own the spacecraft thermal architecture for active and passive control.
• Design thermal systems from computing interface to radiator.
• Lead trades on performance, mass, cost, reliability, manufacturability, and schedule.
• Prototype new concepts, test on ground, and validate in orbit.
• Build and correlate thermal models against test and flight data.
• Deliver flight hardware end to end from concept to launch and improve with each spacecraft.

Conoscenze

Thermal design

Thermal analysis

Thermal Desktop

Ansys

Leadership

Mentoring

Formazione

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (focus on thermal)

Strumenti

Thermal Desktop

Ansys

Descrizione del lavoro

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 Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin’s mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design.

Join Blue Origin as we build infrastructure in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re developing a satellite constellation of orbital data centers designed to transform how compute infrastructure is deployed and leveraged.
You will own one of the most challenging subsystems on a space data center - the thermal architecture – responsible for design, analysis, testing, and flight execution of the thermal control systems for one of the highest-power spacecraft ever built. You will be expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, leading this critical effort from the front. It's a hands‑on leadership role that combines deep individual technical contribution and leading the thermal engineering team. Expect to pursue novel concepts, test them fast on the ground, and validate them in orbit.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Own the thermal architecture: active and passive thermal control across the spacecraft.
• Design the thermal systems from the computing interface: to the radiator
• Lead the hard trades: performance, mass, cost, reliability, manufacturability, schedule, and operational constraints.
• Push novel concepts: prototype rapidly, test on the ground, and validate in orbit.
• Model and correlate: build and correlate thermal models for spacecraft, payloads, and subsystems against real test and flight data.
• Deliver flight hardware end to end: concept through manufacturing, integration, test, qualification, and launch, improving across successive spacecraft.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of hands‑on thermal engineering: design, analysis, hardware development, and test.
• Strong command of thermal analysis tools such as Thermal Desktop, Ansys, or equivalent.
• Experience with passive and active thermal control in a demanding environment: space, power, automotive, data center, food/manufacturing, or petroleum.
• Comfortable leading and mentoring junior engineers while staying deeply hands‑on.
• 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:

• Experience formally leading a thermal engineering team.
• Experience with a variety of spacecraft or aircraft thermal management approaches and components: cold plates, coolant loops, pumps, heat exchangers, thermal interfaces, insulation, heaters, large lightweight deployable radiators, heat pipes, oscillating heat pipes, and vapor chambers.
• Experience with high‑power thermal systems: pumped fluid loops, large radiators, industrial heat exchangers, data center cooling, power‑plant systems, automotive thermal, refrigeration, or petroleum process systems.
• Experience rapidly leading development from architecture through qualification and production or flight.
• Familiarity or fluency with AI tools and their application for design optimization or analysis.
• Master's or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline with a focus on thermal sciences.

Base Pay Range for:

CO applicants is $205,695.00 - $287,971.95WA applicants is $209,650.00 - $293,509.65
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

• Benefits include: 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 .

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

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