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Manager - Lunar Thermal Hardware Engineering Verified today

Blue Origin · 3 Locations · Space Systems · first seen 2026-09-03
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Role Overview

Blue Origin's Lunar Permanence business unit develops Blue Moon landers and related products. As Manager of Lunar Thermal Hardware Engineering, you will lead a dedicated team of thermal hardware engineers to define, develop, and deliver spacecraft thermal components for lunar surface transport vehicles.

You will operate as the single-threaded leader for all aspects of your assigned scope, balancing fast-paced innovation with rigorous attention to detail. You'll work across multiple stakeholders, including vehicle teams (MK2, Transporter, and others), while leading a geographically distributed team from multiple backgrounds and disciplines.

Responsibilities

Product Delivery

  • Manage project scope for cost-effective execution while meeting program objectives and deliverables
  • Identify and manage technical and programmatic risks, including technical, scope, asset and safety risks; develop mitigation plans and communicate outcomes to program leadership
  • Coordinate with Operations and Supply Chain to drive product cost and meet delivery objectives
  • Track team execution and manage unit product cost and lifecycle cost
  • Create frameworks for project data collection and use data to monitor key project metrics

Functional Management

  • Oversee full employee lifecycle including talent acquisition, development, and performance management
  • Foster continuous growth and learning while ensuring HR compliance

Technical Leadership

  • Engage on technical decisions regarding thermal hardware design, development, build, and test
  • Develop and oversee technical plan aligned to customer requirements and design criteria
  • Own overall lifecycle of assigned product scope from development through qualification and rate production
  • Manage interdisciplinary engineering tasks for system success
  • Ensure quality of engineering outputs and provide technical direction to team
  • Support requirement decomposition, systems engineering, design, analysis, and verification/validation with strong customer and project alignment

Minimum Qualifications

  • Proven track record leading and managing teams to deliver complex engineering products
  • B.S. degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
  • Solid understanding of thermal and heat transfer fundamentals
  • 5+ years experience in aerospace thermal systems engineering
  • 2+ years project management experience
  • Basic knowledge across engineering disciplines: requirements negotiation, design, analysis, manufacturing, testing, vehicle integration
  • Strong communication skills across all organizational levels
  • Hands-on experience developing cold plates, heat exchangers, radiators, or other thermal components
  • Experience with thermal, cryogenic, and/or Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) components on deep space vehicles

Preferred Qualifications

  • M.S. degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
  • 3+ years managing technical teams or leading functional groups with employee coaching responsibility
  • 8+ years thermal engineering experience for spacecraft systems
  • Resource and budget management experience
  • Experience with Agile, IMP-level scheduling, risk management, configuration management, requirements management processes
  • Solid understanding of pumped fluid loop hardware: pumps, cold plates, radiators, valves, heat exchangers; semi-passive devices like sensors and heaters
  • Experience through entire design lifecycle for components
  • Demonstrated ability to lead change and drive continuous improvement
  • Familiarity with ANSYS, Thermal Desktop, Star CCM+, Jules, Windchill, Creo Parametric
  • Experience planning and executing thermal systems test programs
  • Experience in safety-critical aerospace vehicle certification processes
  • Proven ability to develop and maintain thermal component roadmaps

Work Environment

  • Travel expected up to 15% of the time
  • Relocation provided
  • 3 locations available

Compensation and Benefits

Base Pay Range (varies by location)

  • CA applicants: $150,743.00 - $211,039.50
  • CO applicants: $138,181.00 - $193,453.05
  • WA applicants: $150,743.00 - $211,039.50
  • Other site ranges may differ

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, vision insurance
  • Basic and supplemental life insurance
  • Paid parental leave
  • Short and long-term disability
  • 401(k) with company match up to 5%
  • Education Support Program
  • Stock options for regular employees (20+ hours/week)
  • Paid Time Off: up to 4 weeks per year based on hours worked, plus up to 14 company-paid holidays
  • Performance bonuses may apply based on role and level

Employment Requirements

Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted as refugee or granted asylum.

Background checks required for all positions. Additional checks may apply based on role requirements, including DBIDS if military installation access required.