Principal Thermal Engineer

Overview

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 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 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.
• Experience reviewing and critiquing models and results developed by junior engineers.

• 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).

CO applicants: $ - $. WA applicants: $ - $.

• Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance; paid parental leave; short and long-term disability; 401(k) with a company match up to 5%; and an Education Support Program.
• Stock options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours per week).
• Paid Time Off: up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.
• Eligibility for bonuses and other benefits may vary; consult recruiter for details.

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 workforce. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. All qualified applicants and employees are provided equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of protected characteristics.

Blue Origin will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable laws.