Engineer - Fluid Systems Analyst Verified today

Role Overview

You will join the Plume Analysis team supporting the Lunar Transfer Stage vehicle as part of Blue Origin's Lunar Permanence business unit. This role focuses on simulation of flow environments around the vehicle across rarefied gas dynamics for far-field plumes and fluid-particle interaction during proximity and landing operations. You will work directly with NASA and National Team Partners on the Human Landing System (HLS) program, with your analyses informing thermal, structures, guidance/navigation/control, and EVA design decisions for a crewed lunar lander.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with thermal, structures, GNC, EVA, and propulsion design teams to translate analysis requirements into simulation tasks
• Develop analysis approaches for plume flowfield characterization, surface impingement heat flux, and pressure loads across continuum and rarefied flow regimes
• Execute the full analysis pipeline: CAD preparation and defeaturing, mesh generation, CFD/DSMC simulation, post-processing, and results delivery
• Perform 2D axisymmetric and 3D CFD simulations of rocket nozzle and plume flowfields using research-grade solvers on HPC and cloud infrastructure
• Perform rarefied gas dynamics (DSMC) analysis for far-field plume environments and surface impingement heating
• Develop Python-based post-processing and analysis pipelines for heat flux, pressure, contamination transport, and ejecta distributions
• Deliver surface heat flux and pressure boundary conditions to design teams via Boundary Condition Mapper (BCM) and formal reports
• Support active NASA collaborations with ongoing technical deliverables and meeting participation
• Document analyses in formal reports conforming to NASA HLS DRD standards

Required Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field preferred; B.S. considered with commensurate experience
• 5-7 years of experience in space vehicle, launch vehicle, or high-altitude flow modeling and simulation
• Experience with the full CFD analysis process: geometry preparation, meshing, solver execution, and post-processing
• Understanding of compressible fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and thermodynamics in rocket propulsion and vacuum plume expansion environments
• Experience with rarefied flow modeling and fundamental understanding of Knudsen number, continuum breakdown, DSMC or DSMC-adjacent methods, mean free path, and transition-regime flow
• Proficiency with Python for scientific computing and post-processing

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with research-grade or custom CFD solvers (Loci/CHEM, DPLR, LAURA, US3D, or equivalent)
• Experience with DSMC tools (DAC, SPARTA, or equivalent)
• Experience with Large Eddy Simulation (LES) for acoustic environments, turbulent mixing, or other high-fidelity flow details
• Experience with CAD defeaturing and surface/volume meshing tools (SpaceClaim, ANSA, Pointwise, or equivalent)
• Experience submitting and managing large-scale jobs on HPC or cloud platforms
• Experience delivering analysis products to NASA programs under DRD or equivalent documentation requirements
• Familiarity with spacecraft propellant thermochemistry (MMH/MON-3, LOX/LH₂, or similar)
• Experience with plume-surface interactions (PSI), fluid-particle interaction, and regolith ejecta modeling during lunar or planetary landing operations

Compensation and Benefits

Base pay range for Washington applicants: $121,023.00 to $169,432.20. Other site ranges may differ.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with company match up to 5%, and Education Support Program. Stock options for all regular employees working at least 20 hours per week. Paid time off up to four weeks per year and up to 14 company-paid holidays.

Employment Requirements

Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum. Background check required for all positions.