Spacecraft Thermal Engineering Lead - Lunar Permanence

About the role

This role is part of the Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Origin’s Blue Moon landers and related products. The role involves working directly with NASA as part of the Human Landing System (HLS) Sustaining Lunar Development (SLD) program.

Responsibilities

• 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/difference model results.
• Develop vehicle-level thermal models using SINDA/FLUINT with Thermal Desktop.
• Develop and maintain system analysis documentation.
• 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 design, documentation (drawings and model based designs), procurement, planning, procedural & operations support of Spacecraft assembly, integration & test (AI&T) efforts.

Requirements

• Minimum of a B.S. degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• Solid understanding of thermal physics fundamentals.
• 7+ years of relevant experience in design, analysis, and test of spacecraft thermal systems.
• Experience in thermal analysis, including model validation and test correlation.
• Ability to lead projects and teams, earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships.
• Experience in design, analysis, and testing of spacecraft thermal systems.

Qualifications

• M.S. degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• Lead the design, drawing release, fabrication and/or procurement, and installation of Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) blankets, film heaters, thermal interface materials, temperature sensors.
• Hands-on experience with spacecraft thermal hardware installation processes.
• Experience solving a variety of thermal problems demonstrating breadth in analysis application.
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages (e.g., Python, C/C++, etc.).
• Proficiency in one or more CAD & PLM software packages (CREO/Windchill preferred).
• Ability to perform trade studies relating to selection of material and subsystem hardware.
• Ability to perform hand calculations to screen concepts without detailed modeling and to sanity check finite element model results.
• Ability to develop vehicle-level thermal models using SINDA/FLUINT with Thermal Desktop.
• Ability to provide thermal engineering support for the development of thermal vacuum (TVAC) test procedures, scripts and installation designs.
• Ability to provide thermal engineering support for thermal hardware design, documentation (drawings and model based designs), procurement, planning, procedural & operations support of Spacecraft assembly, integration & test (AI&T) efforts.
• Support existing & development of thermal data analytics architecture (GitLab or similar).
• Experience managing engineering efforts against cost and schedule constraints.
• 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 Systems, Spacecraft Thermal hardware testing, Thermal hardware such as radiators, heaters, thermostats, pumps, valves, sensors, thermostats, heat pipes, ablative materials, sublimators, and/or phase change materials, Thermal design of Mechanical Ground Support Equipment, Spacecraft Thermal system on-orbit operations support.

Skills

• Strong technical skills in thermal systems design and analysis.
• Leadership and team management skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

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%.
• 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.

Pay

Base Pay Range For CO applicants is $119,814.00 - $167,738.55 WA applicants is $130,706.00 - $182,987.70 Other Site Ranges May Differ

Schedule

Not specified