Principal Thermal Spacecraft Engineer (R39155)

The role is part of the In-Space Systems business unit, which is focused on development, manufacturing, and operation of satellite systems to address one of the most compelling challenges in spaceflight today: space mobility. As part of a hardworking team of diverse engineers (use as appropriate), you will contribute to the definition and development of spacecraft thermal control systems. The Sr. Thermal Spacecraft Engineer is an individual contributor within Blue Origin’s In-Space Systems Business Unit – Blue Ring Platform.  You should be comfortable working in a fast-paced and often uncertain environment, contributing to innovative solutions, while demonstrating personal leadership, technical competence, and attention to detail. 

Special Mentions

• Relocation provided

• Travel expected up to 25% of the time

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Drives the development of thermal systems including system architecture definition, thermal system modeling, component sizing, and design.
• Perform trade studies relating to selection of material and subsystem hardware.
• Perform hand calculations to screen concepts without detailed modeling and to sanity check finite element model results.
• Develop vehicle-level thermal models using SINDA/FLUINT with Thermal Desktop.
• Develop and maintain system analysis documentation.
• Perform steady state & transient thermal analysis of spacecraft thermal systems as well as tracking of system performance in ground ops, TVAC testing, launch, Earth orbit, and beyond Earth orbit environments.
• Provide thermal engineering leadership & support for the development of thermal vacuum (TVAC) test procedures, scripts and installation designs.
• Provide thermal engineering leadership & support for thermal hardware procurement, planning, procedural & operations support of Spacecraft assembly, integration & test (AI&T) efforts.

Minimum Qualifications:

• • Minimum of a B.S. degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• Solid understanding of thermal fundamentals.
• Experience in design, analysis, and testing of spacecraft thermal systems.
• Proficient in Thermal analysis, specifically in Thermal Desktop and Sinda/Fluint, including model validation and test correlation.
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion.
• 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:

• Successful candidates typically have 12+ years of relevant proven experience in design, analysis, and test of spacecraft thermal systems.
• M.S. degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering
• Experience solving a variety of thermal-fluid problems demonstrating breadth in analysis application.
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages (e.g., Python, C/C++,).
• Depth of experience in one or more of the following areas:
  • Thermal Vacuum test planning and execution
    • Spacecraft/payload thermal analysis
  • Active or Passive Thermal Control System
  • Spacecraft Thermal hardware design, installation & testing
  • Thermal hardware such as radiators, Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI), heaters, thermostats, pumps, valves, sensors, thermostats, heat pipes, ablative materials, sublimators, and/or phase change materials
  • Spacecraft Thermal system on-orbit operations support