Principal Nuclear Materials Engineer - Formulation

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 diverse team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!

This position is part of the Space Systems Development (SSD) business unit. SSD develops next-generation concepts and systems to advance our future of living and working in space sustainably.

At Blue Origin, we are a diverse team of collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers who are relentlessly committed to a culture of safety. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your dedication and attention to detail towards safe and repeatable space flight. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space and enabling Blue Origin's vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth.

As part of a diverse, passionate, and hardworking team of engineers, you will help define the nuclear portfolio of propulsion and power systems for in space and lunar applications. You will help guide multi-disciplinary teams to align the engine and power system architecture with customer and company strategies, products, and technology maturation plans.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Working with emerging and existing advanced concept program organizations to distill high level requirements into power and rocket propulsion system derived requirements

• Trading engine and power nuclear reactor systems and components, working fluid choices, system configurations, power generation, and overall reactor components for the best overall, optimized solution with assessments of mass properties and historically based cost estimates

• Working closely with systems and component design engineers to rapidly assess conceptual designs, perform system trade studies, develop integrated design solutions, formulate system margin strategy and performance parameters

• Assessing needs to onramp lower TRL technologies, and the respective cost and risk benefits

• Maturing and publishing the system-level reactor architecture, such as material and thermodynamic states, operational modes, functional flow block diagrams, and data flows

• Developing and maturing Level 1 reactor engine and power system requirements and verification methodologies as well as risk assessments, collaborating with the Systems Engineering organization

• Work with reactor, engine and component test groups to develop test and risk reduction plans

• Perform mission analysis with a reactor propulsion and power generation focus, flying the vehicle/stage/spacecraft across the mission concept of operations to optimize engine and power design characteristics, and determine failure modes

• Coach, mentor and technically assist other engineers

• Represent the program and company in technical discussions with external customers

Minimum Qualifications

• Passion for Blue Origin's mission: Millions of people living and working space for the benefit of earth!

• Minimum of a B.S. degree in nuclear engineering, material science or equivalent technical field

• 8+ years proven experience in the design, development, manufacturing, and/or testing of nuclear material fuels and/or materials used in reactor solutions (level commensurate on experience)

• 5+ years of experience overseeing, guiding, and mentoring less experienced engineers

• Knowledgeable of reactor modeling and simulation, and impacts of material choices on design

• Knowledgeable of space nuclear systems

• Working knowledge of material systems, chemical processes, material behaviors in reactor environments, solid mechanics, thermal-structural interactions, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and heat transfer

• Ability to lead and work effectively in teams

• Ability to be self-directed and balance several tasks at one time

• Ability to communicate analysis results effectivity

• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and strengthen our culture of inclusion

• 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 engineering discipline

• Knowledge of nuclear thermal propulsion systems and in-space nuclear electrical power generation systems

• Knowledge of reactor system development and test

• Knowledge of reactor fuel qualification including testing

• Knowledge of space flight system such as liquid rocket engines, radioscopic thermos generators, or power systems for in space environments

• Knowledge of nuclear fuel production processes

• Experience with proposal support (technical/management volumes, Task Description/Basis-of-Estimate development, etc.)

• Experience working with U.S. Government research agencies (e.g. NASA, AFRL, DARPA, DOE, INL)

• Experience with fault-tolerance strategies and architectures for safety and mission-critical systems

• Experience developing requirements, defining subsystem interfaces (both in-house and between external partners/suppliers), and other systems engineering products and practices

• Experience across the product life cycle (pre-conceptual design through field support)

• Experience with collaboration tools such as Confluence and JIRA

• Proven understanding in the use of 3-D CAD tools (Creo is helpful) and configuration and data management software (Windchill, JAZZ, Doors, JAMA)

• Familiarity with formal risk and opportunity management processes

• Able to obtain U.S. government classified clearance

Compensation Range for:

CA applicants is $162,465.75-$227,452.05;CO applicants is $153,839.25-$215,374.95;WA applicants is $162,465.75-$227,452.05

Other site ranges may differ

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

Inclusivity 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 a diverse, inclusive, and 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.

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.

Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.

Discretionary bonus: Bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results.

Eligibility for benefits varies by role type, please check with your recruiter for a comprehensive list of the benefits available for this role.

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, diverse, 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, in which all employees recognize and appreciate the diversity of individual team members. 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, gender, 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 "EEO Is the Law," 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

California Applicant Privacy Notice

If you are a California resident, please reference the CA Applicant Privacy Notice here.