Thermal Engineer

Thermal Engineer

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 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 Thermal Engineer at Blue Origin, you will be at the forefront of developing thermal management systems for our advanced space vehicles. You will be responsible for the analysis, design, and testing of thermal protection and control systems that will operate in the extreme environments of space and atmospheric reentry. Your expertise will be critical to ensuring the survival and performance of our spacecraft and its components.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Perform detailed thermal analysis of vehicle systems and components for all mission phases, including ascent, on-orbit operations, and reentry.
• Develop and build complex thermal models using Thermal Desktop, Sinda/Fluint, and other industry-standard software.
• Design, select, and qualify thermal insulation and other passive and active thermal control hardware for in-space and reentry applications.
• Plan, execute, and analyze thermal tests, including thermal vacuum (TVAC), thermal balance, and component-level testing.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including structures, avionics, and aerodynamics, to develop integrated vehicle solutions.
• Develop and document thermal requirements, analysis reports, and test procedures.
• Support vehicle-level integration and testing campaigns.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field.
• 5+ years of experience in thermal analysis and design for aerospace or high-performance applications.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Thermal Desktop.
• Direct experience with the design, analysis, and application of thermal insulation for in-space and/or reentry systems.
• Strong understanding of all three modes of heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation) and their application in a space environment.
• Familiarity with thermal testing and instrumentation.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Science or Ph.D. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering with a focus on heat transfer.
• Experience with other thermal and CFD software packages (e.g., Ansys, Star-CCM+, Sinda/Fluint).
• Hands-on experience with thermal hardware and test execution.
• Experience with thermal analysis of hypersonic and/or reentry vehicles.
• Knowledge of material properties and their behavior in extreme thermal environments.
• Experience scripting in Python or MATLAB for data analysis and process automation.

Base Pay Range for:

CA applicants is $130,706.00 - $182,987.70. WA applicants is $130,706.00 - $182,987.70. Other site ranges may differ.

Culture Statement

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.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blue's Standard Background Check
• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation
• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing (CDL drivers only), vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.
• Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

Benefits

• Benefits include: 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.
• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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 work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on "Know Your Rights," please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin's Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at View email address on click.appcast.io. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.