Sr Principal Thermal Engineer, Project Sunrise Orbital Data Centers Verified today

Blue Origin · 2 Locations · Mechanical · first seen 2026-09-29

Role Overview

You will own one of the most challenging subsystems on a space data center: the thermal architecture. You will be responsible for design, analysis, testing, and flight execution of the thermal control systems for one of the highest-power spacecraft ever built. This is a hands-on leadership role combining deep individual technical contribution and leading the thermal engineering team. You will operate with a high degree of autonomy, leading from the front.

Responsibilities

Own the thermal architecture: active and passive thermal control across the spacecraft.
Design the thermal systems from the computing interface to the radiator.
Lead the hard trades: performance, mass, cost, reliability, manufacturability, schedule, and operational constraints.
Push novel concepts: prototype rapidly, test on the ground, and validate in orbit.
Model and correlate: build and correlate thermal models for spacecraft, payloads, and subsystems against real test and flight data.
Deliver flight hardware end to end: concept through manufacturing, integration, test, qualification, and launch, improving across successive spacecraft.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
10 or more years of hands-on thermal engineering: design, analysis, hardware development, and test.
Strong command of thermal analysis tools such as Thermal Desktop, Ansys, or equivalent.
Experience with passive and active thermal control in a demanding environment: space, power, automotive, data center, food/manufacturing, or petroleum.
Comfortable leading and mentoring junior engineers while staying deeply hands-on.
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

Experience formally leading a thermal engineering team.
Experience with a variety of spacecraft or aircraft thermal management approaches and components: cold plates, coolant loops, pumps, heat exchangers, thermal interfaces, insulation, heaters, large lightweight deployable radiators, heat pipes, oscillating heat pipes, and vapor chambers.
Experience with high-power thermal systems: pumped fluid loops, large radiators, industrial heat exchangers, data center cooling, power-plant systems, automotive thermal, refrigeration, or petroleum process systems.
Experience rapidly leading development from architecture through qualification and production or flight.
Familiarity or fluency with AI tools and their application for design optimization or analysis.
Master's or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline with a focus on thermal sciences.

Compensation

Base Pay Range: Colorado applicants $205,695.00 to $287,971.95; Washington applicants $209,650.00 to $293,509.65. Other site ranges may differ.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision, 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 all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week).
Paid Time Off: Up to four weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.
Bonuses may be eligible depending on role type and job level.

Employment Requirements

Applicants 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. Background check required for all positions.