Blue Origin

Principal Thermal Engineer

Blue Origin$190K — $271K *
Aerospace & Defense
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • BS degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering required.
  • 15+ years of experience in thermal or thermodynamic analysis needed.
  • Expertise with thermal/fluids modeling tools required.
  • Experience critiquing models by junior engineers necessary.

Responsibilities

  • Support development and operations of New Glenn launch vehicle.
  • Conduct analysis for thermal and fluid system design.
  • Coordinate analysis requirements from multiple teams.
  • Implement aerothermal analysis throughout flight phases.
  • Maintain documentation of analysis inputs, models, and results.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance included.
  • Paid parental leave offered.
  • 401(k) plan with company match up to 5%.
  • Up to four weeks of paid time off annually.
  • Stock options available for all regular employees.
Full Job Description
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 small, passionate and accomplished team of engineers and analysts, you will support all aspects of thermal and fluid system design for various New Glenn spaceflight systems. 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 launch vehicle component and vehicle thermal and fluid environments and performance requirements. You will be expected to coordinate analysis questions from multiple teams and help define the scope for the requisite analysis. 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 data books.

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!

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Minimum of BS degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
  • 15 or more years of experience in the fields of thermal or thermodynamic analysis.
  • Demonstrated expertise with one or more thermal/fluids modeling tools is required
  • Experience reviewing and critiquing models and results developed by junior engineers


Preferred Qualifications:
  • 20 or more years of experience and an MS or PhD degree
  • Demonstrated expertise with Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, ANSYS Classic
  • Experience analyzing booster and upper stage of rocket systems
  • Experience analyzing cryogenic fluid systems
  • Experience with insulation and TPS on launch and re-entry vehicles
  • Demonstrated expertise using MATLAB, Python and Git for automating workflow
  • Knowledge in the use of 3D CAD tools (CREO is preferred)


Base Pay Range for:
CO applicants is $190,458.00 - $266,641.20WA applicants is $194,121.00 - $271,768.35

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 (CDL drivers only), 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.


About Blue Origin

Blue Origin is an aerospace company that develops rockets and spacecraft for commercial and government customers. The company's products include the New Shepard suborbital vehicle and the New Glenn orbital rocket. Blue Origin was founded in 2000 by Jeff Bezos and is headquartered in Kent, Washington.
Learn more about Blue Origin
Size
3,000 employees
Industry
Founded
2000

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