Sr. Propulsion Engineer, Project Sunrise Orbital Data Centers
About The Position
This role is part of Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin’s mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design. As a Senior Propulsion Engineer, you will be a key technical owner responsible for the design, development, and integration of the propulsion system for a constellation of spacecraft. You will lead the analysis and trade studies of various propulsion systems, to deliver a solution that meets our specific mission requirements. This is a critical, hands-on role that requires a deep understanding of electric propulsion and the ability to manage the complex interplay between the thruster and its supporting spacecraft subsystems, such as power, thermal, and propellant management.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline.
- 7+ years of professional experience in the design, analysis, or testing of spacecraft propulsion systems.
- Demonstrated experience with electric propulsion systems, including testing and/or flight experience.
- Strong understanding of the subsystem interfaces and requirements (power, thermal, propellant) associated with electric propulsion.
- Strong fundamentals in plasma physics, fluid dynamics, and orbital mechanics.
Nice To Haves
- Master's or Ph.D. in a relevant engineering or physics discipline.
- Direct, hands-on experience with Hall effect thrusters.
- Experience with the full lifecycle of a propulsion system, from concept through on-orbit operations.
- Experience with vacuum chamber testing of electric propulsion systems.
- Proficiency in scripting (e.g., Python, MATLAB) for performance modeling and data analysis.
- Familiarity with the design of Power Processing Units (PPUs) and propellant feed systems.
- Experience mentoring, defining, and reviewing work of junior engineers.
Responsibilities
- Own the design and development of the propulsion system, including flow control and propellant supply, leading the effort to architect, size, and optimize it for our mission application.
- Perform trade studies and analysis on various propulsion technologies to inform design decisions and future upgrades.
- Develop and manage the system requirements and interface control documents for the propulsion system, ensuring compatibility with power, thermal, structural, and propellant subsystems.
- Create and maintain detailed performance models to predict on-orbit behavior, including thrust, specific impulse, and total impulse.
- Define and oversee the execution of test plans to verify and validate the performance and lifetime of the propulsion system and its components.
- Collaborate closely with GNC, systems, and mission operations teams to ensure the propulsion system meets all functional and operational requirements.
- Support procurement, design, manufacturing, test and/or integration of propulsion system hardware, including thrusters, Power Processing Units (PPUs), and propellant feed systems.
- Analyze test data and anchor system models to ensure predictive accuracy.
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.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
