Director, Thermal Systems - New Glenn LSA
About The Position
The Director, Thermal Systems leads the New Glenn 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. The role sets the team’s technical direction, priorities, staffing plans, and standards for analysis quality. The team develops and verifies 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. The director partners with engineering and program leaders to define analysis scope, manage technical risk, and deliver results on schedule. The role also develops team members, manages team performance, oversees technical reviews, and ensures analysis models, inputs, results, reports, and data books are accurate and appropriately maintained. This work contributes to reliable vehicle performance and safe human spaceflight.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s 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.
- U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s 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.
Responsibilities
- Lead the New Glenn Launch System Architecture Thermal Analysis group throughout the launch system lifecycle, from conceptual design through flight operations and sustaining engineering.
- Set the team’s technical direction, priorities, staffing plans, and standards for analysis quality.
- Develop and verify component- and vehicle-level thermal environments and performance requirements.
- Partner with engineering and program leaders to define analysis scope, manage technical risk, and deliver results on schedule.
- Develop team members and manage team performance.
- Oversee technical reviews.
- Ensure analysis models, inputs, results, reports, and data books are accurate and appropriately maintained.
- Mentor and develop engineers.
- Communicate technical information, risks, and recommendations to engineering, program, and senior leaders, and drive alignment across organizations.
Benefits
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Basic and supplemental life insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Short- and long-term disability
- 401(k) with company match of up to 5%
- Education Support Program
- Stock options for regular employees working at least 20 hours per week
- Paid time off of up to four weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours
- Up to 14 company-paid holidays
- Some employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on role type and job level; amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
