Propulsion Thermal Engineer

Blue Origin • Southgate, WA

2d

About The Position

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 is part of the Blue Origin Engines business unit, where our focus is the design, development, manufacturing, and testing of engines and propulsion systems. Built for multiple uses, our family of engines is powering the next generation of rockets for commercial, civil, national security, and human spaceflight. As part of a small team of engineers, you will perform thermal analysis to support the design and development of our thruster systems. This role supports the full development cycle, from early design trades through hot-fire testing and hardware qualification, and gives you direct influence over how thruster hardware is designed and verified. The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in heat transfer, thermodynamics, and numerical analysis and can solve complex engineering problems from initial concept through qualification. You should be comfortable working independently, contributing to design decisions, and communicating results clearly to the rest of the team.

Requirements

• 4+ years of professional experience related to thermal analysis
• Strong technical fundamentals in fluids and thermodynamics
• Experience with Thermal Desktop, SINDA FLUINT, and Ansys
• Proficiency with 0-D and 1-D thermal/fluid analysis
• Able to perform hand calculations to validate and improve models
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects and work independently
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• M.S. degree or higher in mechanical or aerospace engineering
• 6+ years of thermal analysis of propulsion systems and components

Responsibilities

• Perform detailed thermal analysis of thrusters and subassemblies, including design trade studies, component sizing, and design verification
• Develop detailed thermal models using industry-standard tools to predict thruster and subsystem thermal behavior
• Analyze thermal test data to anchor, validate, and refine thermal models and analyses
• Support component design from a thermal perspective throughout the development cycle
• Lead and support thermal design reviews and verification activities throughout the product lifecycle
• Collaborate cross-functionally with propulsion, materials, manufacturing, and test teams to ensure designs meet thermal margins and safety requirements
• Document analysis methods, assumptions, results, and recommendations
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of thermal analysis processes, tools, and best practices within the team

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior