Satellite Thermal Engineer II

Blue Origin • Reston, VA

1d • $90,934 - $138,880

About The Position

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 Emerging Systems Business Unit, which will shape the future of our in-space infrastructure capabilities. Special Mentions: This position is part of Blue Origin's TeraWave business unit, a newly announced satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. TeraWave consists of 5,408 optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO), providing enterprise-grade connectivity for critical operations. At Blue Origin, we're not just building the future of space exploration—we're revolutionizing global connectivity through our TeraWave satellite network. As a Satellite Thermal Engineer II, you'll play a crucial role in ensuring the thermal integrity and performance of our constellation of 5,408 satellites designed to deliver unmatched speeds up to 6 Tbps with symmetrical upload and download capabilities. Join us in our mission to provide enterprise-grade connectivity to locations unreachable by traditional methods, enabling critical operations for enterprise, data center, and government customers worldwide. Join our team and be part of building a space-based network designed for tomorrow, where your expertise will directly contribute to creating a system that provides connectivity anywhere on Earth. 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.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• 2+ years of experience in spacecraft thermal engineering or related thermal control systems
• Proficiency with thermal modeling software (e.g., Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT)
• Experience with thermal analysis of spacecraft systems and components
• Knowledge of heat transfer principles and thermal control techniques for space applications
• Familiarity with spacecraft thermal testing methodologies, including thermal vacuum testing
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and documentation abilities

Nice To Haves

• Extensive experience with logic-heavy Thermal Desktop models
• Experience with thermal design for satellite constellations or communications satellites
• Knowledge of optical communications systems and their thermal requirements
• Experience with thermal-structural coupled analysis
• Knowledge of advanced thermal control technologies (e.g., loop heat pipes, cryocoolers)
• Familiarity with knowledge capture systems, integrated engineering tools and rapid development processes
• Knowledge in the use of 3D CAD tools
• Understanding of spacecraft thermal control systems and technologies
• Knowledge of space environment effects on thermal performance

Responsibilities

• Support all aspects of thermal/fluids design for TeraWave satellite systems as part of a small, hard-working, and accomplished team of experts
• Design and implement thermal control systems for TeraWave satellite constellation, including radiators, multi-layer insulation, heat pipes, and other passive/active thermal control components
• Develop detailed thermal models using industry-standard tools like Thermal Desktop to predict spacecraft thermal behavior in the space environment
• Perform thermal analysis for LEO and MEO satellite configurations to ensure optimal performance of TeraWave's high- speed communications systems
• Integrate third-party thermal models into Blue Origin satellite models
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to establish thermal requirements and ensure thermal compatibility with other subsystems
• Develop thermal loads from first principles, literature, and experiment
• Support configuration development, detailed design, and verification activities
• Analyze thermal test data and correlate with thermal models to validate design performance
• Support thermal vacuum testing campaigns for TeraWave satellite hardware
• Develop thermal control procedures for spacecraft operations in various mission phases
• Troubleshoot thermal issues during integration and test phases
• Document and maintain analysis inputs, models, and results according to Blue Origin standard s

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.
• 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: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees