Thermal & Fluids Engineer III

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Parental Leave

Disability Insurance

401(k) with match

Education Support

Stock Options

Paid Time Off

Company Holidays

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking an experienced engineer to join a mission-driven team developing and operating upper-stage propulsion systems. In this role, you will conduct thermal and fluids analysis, build and validate models, and support life-cycle engineering from concept through flight operations.

The position emphasizes aerothermal effects, rocket plume heating, and natural environments across all flight phases.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering required.
• 5+ years in thermal or thermodynamic analysis.
• Experience with one or more fluid/thermal modeling tools (e.g., ANSYS Workbench, ANSYS Classic, SINDA/FLUINT, Thermal Desktop).
• US citizen or eligible to work in the US.

Responsibilities

• Conduct thermal and fluids analysis to define performance and operations for upper-stage spaceflight systems, define hardware requirements, and resolve technical challenges.
• Implement aerothermal, rocket plume heating, and natural environments across all phases of flight.
• Generate and run thermal/fluids models to predict system performance across a wide range of environments.
• Evaluate bounding thermal conditions against material and design capabilities.
• Own the documentation and maintenance of analysis inputs, models, and results in reports and data books.
• Support development and verification of component and vehicle thermal and fluid environments and performance requirements.
• Support the systems through their full lifecycle, from conceptual design and configuration through flight operations and sustaining engineering.

Skills

Thermal analysis

Education

B.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

MS degree (preferred)

Tools

ANSYS Workbench

ANSYS Classic

SINDA/FLUINT

Thermal Desktop

FloCAD

Job description

Application Close Date

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

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 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 our next-gen stage two development effort. 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 stage two component and vehicle thermal and fluid environments and performance requirements. 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 databooks.

As the upper stage transitions from initial design, release, and qualification testing into the production and flight-test phase, you will support production issues, ongoing testing, and mission operations.

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!

Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To

• Conduct thermal and fluids analysis to define performance and operations for upper‑stage spaceflight systems, define hardware requirements, and resolve technical challenges
• Implement aerothermal, rocket plume heating, and natural environments across all phases of flight
• Generate and run thermal/fluids models to predict system performance across a wide range of environments
• Evaluate bounding thermal conditions against material and design capabilities
• Own the documentation and maintenance of analysis inputs, models, and results in reports and data books
• Support development and verification of component and vehicle thermal and fluid environments and performance requirements
• Support the systems through their full lifecycle, from conceptual design and configuration through flight operations and sustaining engineering

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of a B.S. degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• 5+ years of experience in thermal or thermodynamic analysis
• Experience with one or more fluid or thermal modeling tools is required (e.g., ANSYS Workbench, ANSYS Classic, SINDA/FLUINT, Thermal Desktop, etc.)
• 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

Desired Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience and an MS degree
• Demonstrated expertise with Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, FloCAD
• Experience modeling launch vehicle systems
• Experience with cryogenic systems
• Knowledge of MATLAB

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

• 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

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affir­mative 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.