Sr. Thermal/Fluids Engineer - Lunar Permanence

Application close date:

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! 

We are a team of collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers who are relentlessly committed to a culture of safety. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable space flight. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space and enabling Blue Origin’s vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth.

As part of a small, passionate, and accomplished team of experts, you will lead and conduct thermal and fluid analyses on a component and system level to develop cryocoolers used in zero-boiloff (ZBO) applications.  Additionally, you will support heat exchanger design and analysis efforts within the Lunar Permanence business unit.Your role will be to collaborate with other ZBO/Lunar team engineers and technicians in the design, development, manufacturing, testing, and troubleshooting of these cryocoolers and thermal management systems. 

• Relocation provided

• Direct and conduct component- and system- level thermal/fluid analyses and trade studies for cryocooler, heat exchanger, and test asset design optimization
• Effectively communicate analytical results and effects of design changes on component and system performance
• Review and interpret test data to assess performance and health both at the system and component level, and to anchor analytical models
• Lead execution and delivery of design, analysis, and data reviews/reports and technical scope therein
• Provide peer/technical reviews for thermal and fluid analyses conducted by ZBO/Lunar colleagues
• Lead and mentor early-career thermal/fluid analysts
• Create work plans, document progress, and report status to leads and managers
• Assist in developing test plans and procedures for component, subsystem, and integrated cryocooler testing in collaboration with ZBO and other Blue Origin test facilities
• Execute test procedures involving pressurized cryogenic and non-cryogenic fluid systems
• Ensure work is completed in accordance with Blue Origin policies and procedures

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in mechanical, civil, aerospace, or aeronautical engineering
• 7+ years’ experience with thermal/fluid system design, development, and analysis
• Experience in heat exchanger design, analysis, and/or test
• Strong command of heat transfer and fluid flow fundamentals
• Demonstrated thermal/Fluid FEA/CFD experience using Ansys, Thermal Desktop, or similar software
• Data-reduction and analysis experience
• Strong written and interpersonal skills
• Desire to take ownership of projects
• Strong personal commitment to safety
• Ability and desire to understand complex systems, investigate and solve challenging problems, and work in a dynamic environment
• [System, machine, or skill specific requirement]
• [People leadership requirement]

• Product-development experience from initial requirement definition through design, analysis, build, and test
• Experience with cryogenic fluid and insulation systems and thermal analyses thereof, including parasitic heat leak analysis
• Thermodynamic cycle analysis
• Experience creating MATLAB-based thermal/fluid analysis routines, including solvers
• Experience providing peer/technical review of thermal/fluid analyses and component designs
• Experience developing, writing, and updating system- and component-level requirements
• Project-management skills

Base Pay Range for:

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.