Thermal Analyst 2 - Turbomachinery

Application close date:

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

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 the Blue Origin Engines business unit, where our focus is the design, development, manufacturing, and testing of engines and propulsion systems. Built for multiple uses, our family of engines is powering the next generation of rockets for commercial, civil, national security, and human spaceflight.

As part of a hardworking team of engineers, you will analyze and help optimize turbomachinery and rotating hardware, including pumps, turbines, compressors, shafts, disks, bearings, and seal assemblies. Working alongside experts in heat transfer and flow network modeling, you will quantify the thermal state of rotating and static components and assemblies to support design, test, and operation. You will generate, maintain, and document analytical thermal models including FEA, CFD and fluid networks representing systems, components, assemblies and predict their thermal response through steady-state and transient operation to support structural, clearance, and life analyses that directly affect performance and safety. You will work closely with design and structural engineers to ensure integrated and consistent predictions. Relying on your fundamentals in heat transfer, you will contribute to test campaigns with instrumentation and test plan recommendations, with objectives to anchor thermal models and validate supporting system and hardware development.

Special Mentions

• Relocation provided
• Travel expected up to 10% of the time

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Perform thermal design and analysis of rotating and static turbomachinery components and assemblies (rotors, disks, shafts, housings, bearings, and seals) from concept through fabrication, testing, and into service
• Develop, maintain, and document analytical thermal models, including FEA, CFD and fluid networks, of individual turbomachinery components and full assemblies, supported by hand calculations
• Predict steady-state and transient thermal states of turbomachinery hardware across the operating envelope to support structural, clearance, and life assessments
• Support cooling and lubrication system design, including sizing of cooling and lubrication flows and evaluating component heat generation and heat rejection
• Anchor thermal predictions to component and system test data, identify discrepancies, and recommend model updates, and support test plan and instrumentation definition to verify thermal requirements
• Collaborate with team members from various fields and backgrounds on trade studies that consider operating environment and duty cycle to optimize design performance and durability
• Contribute to process automation tools for model creation, thermal balance checks, and analysis report generation, and participate in peer reviews of thermal analyses

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• Minimum of 2 years of industry experience performing thermal analysis or heat transfer design, preferably on turbomachinery or other rotating hardware
• Experience with one or more thermal analysis codes (ANSYS Mechanical/Classic, ANSYS Workbench, or Thermal Desktop)
• Knowledgeable in determining appropriate scope of thermal modeling (lumped capacitance, 1-D thermal network, 2-D and 3-D simulations)
• Solid understanding of heat transfer, fluid flow, and thermodynamic first principles
• Knowledge of engineering materials and their thermal properties as applied to achieve optimal thermal design outcomes
• Experience using scripting or programming languages (Python, MATLAB, VBA, Fortran, or similar)
• 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

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline with a focus on thermal/fluid sciences
• Experience in rotating machinery design and analysis (pumps, turbines, compressors, fans)
• Experience with flow network modeling software (Flownex, Sinda/Fluint) to analyze secondary flow systems such as disk cavities, seals, or blade and vane cooling passages
• Experience with conjugate heat transfer (CHT) or applying CFD-derived boundary conditions in thermal models
• Familiarity with sizing cooling and lubrication systems for hardware requiring continuous heat rejection
• Working knowledge of high-temperature material properties and selection
• Prior job experience in thermal/fluid testing and instrumentation definition
• Demonstrated knowledge of cryogenic fluids and phase change heat transfer
• Experience with Agentic AI

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, 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 [email protected]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.