Plume CFD Analyst

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 Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Origin’s Blue Moon landers and related products. To further Blue Origin's mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth, we are building sustainable infrastructure for our transport of crew and cargo from Earth to the lunar surface.

Job Description

We are looking for a Senior Fluids Systems Engineer to join the Plume Analysis team supporting the MK2 Crewed Lunar Lander. The primary focus of this role is simulation of the flow environment around the vehicle across two distinct physical regimes: rarefied gas dynamics for far-field plume environments, and fluid-particle interaction in specific situations such as plume impingement during proximity and landing operations. The engineer will work across the full analysis lifecycle — from coordinating requirements with design teams through preprocessing, simulation, post-processing, and delivery of results.

You will work directly with NASA and our National Team Partners as part of the Human Landing System (HLS) program. Your analyses will directly inform thermal, structures, GNC, and EVA design decisions for a crewed lunar lander, and you will serve as a key technical interface between the Plume Analysis group and multiple internal and external customer teams.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Coordinate with thermal, structures, GNC, EVA, and propulsion design teams to understand analysis requirements and translate them 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

Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field preferred; B.S. considered with commensurate experience

• 5–10 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 related concepts: 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

• Experience with plume-surface interactions (PSI), fluid-particle interaction, and regolith ejecta modeling during lunar or planetary landing operations

• 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)

 

Base Pay Range for:

CA applicants is $145,188.00 - $203,263.20 CO applicants is $133,500.00 - $186,898.95 WA applicants is $145,188.00 - $203,263.20

Other site ranges may differ

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.