Director, Thermal Systems - New Glenn LSA

Application close date:

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

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 passionate and accomplished team, you will lead the New Glenn (NG) Launch System Architecture (LSA) Thermal Analysis group, supporting the program and launch system throughout its lifecycle, from conceptual design through flight operations and sustaining engineering.

You will set the teams technical direction, priorities, staffing plans, and standards for analysis quality. Your team will develop and verify component- and vehicle-level thermal environments and performance requirements, including aerothermal environments, rocket plume heating, natural environments, cryogenic fluid systems, insulation, and thermal protection systems.

You will partner with engineering and program leaders to define analysis scope, manage technical risk, and deliver results on schedule. You will also develop team members, manage team performance, oversee technical reviews, and ensure analysis models, inputs, results, reports, and data books are accurate and appropriately maintained.

We are looking for someone who combines strong technical judgment, leadership skills, and a commitment to quality. Your leadership will directly contribute to reliable vehicle performance and safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical discipline.

• 10 or more years of experience in thermal engineering or thermal analysis.

• Demonstrated experience leading engineering teams or major technical efforts.

• Expertise in thermal analysis methods and modeling tools.

• Experience reviewing complex models, assessing results, and guiding technical decisions.

• Proven ability to communicate complex technical information, risks, and recommendations to engineering, program, and senior leaders.

• Demonstrated ability to influence decisions and drive alignment across organizations without direct authority.

• Experience mentoring and developing engineers.

• Ability to thrive in a highly dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters or doctoral degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 15 or more years of experience in thermal engineering or thermal analysis.

• Experience managing an engineering team, including hiring, performance management, and employee development.

• Experience analyzing booster, upper-stage, or integrated launch vehicle systems.

• Experience analyzing cryogenic fluid systems, aerothermal environments, rocket plume heating, insulation, and thermal protection systems.

• Expertise with Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, and ANSYS.

• Experience using MATLAB, Python, and Git to automate engineering workflows.

• Knowledge of three-dimensional CAD tools; Creo experience is preferred.

• Experience supporting design reviews, qualification programs, flight readiness, or anomaly resolution.

Base Pay Range for:

WA applicants is $218,262.00 - $305,566.80

Other site ranges may differ

Culture Statement

Dont 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 youre excited about this role but your past experience doesnt 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.

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 companys intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the companys results, or other factors at the companys sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.