Ground Systems Environmental Control Systems Engineer

Application close date:

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!

Applies engineering techniques to design, install, modify, analyze, and test environmental control systems used to thermally condition, purge, and inert rocket vehicle compartments. Responsibilities span the full development cycle, including development and release of engineering artifacts to support hardware fabrication, assembly, verification, and test. Implements operating procedures, resolves system malfunctions, and provides technical information. Researches and analyzes design proposals, specifications, and performance data to evaluate the feasibility, cost, and maintenance requirements of ECS designs. Specifies system components or directs product modifications to ensure conformance with engineering design and performance specifications. Investigates system failures and anomalies to diagnose faulty operation and make recommendations to operations and maintenance crews.

As an Environmental Control Systems (ECS) Design Engineer, you will be a key contributor to the development of launch infrastructure for New Glenn, our reusable, heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle. You will design, analyze, and test the critical environmental control systems that thermally condition, purge, and inert vehicle compartments, requiring precision temperature management and atmospheric control.

ECS at Blue Origin represents high-precision aerospace HVAC: systems that deliver conditioned air or gaseous nitrogen (GN2) to open rocket volumes with tight control over temperature, humidity, dew point, and flow rate. These systems are essential to protecting sensitive vehicle hardware during ground operations, safeguarding against condensation, corrosion, and hazardous atmospheres, and maintaining thermal environments necessary for proper vehicle function and personnel safety.

This role is for a hands-on engineer with a strong foundation in thermodynamics, psychrometrics, and fluid dynamics. You will apply your technical expertise to solve complex environmental conditioning challenges and deliver robust, reliable hardware designs. Your dedicated commitment and detailed attention to your work will directly contribute to building a road to space.

• Design and develop ECS from initial concept and requirements through detailed design, analysis, and release, including conditioned air supply systems, GN2 inerting and purge systems, ducting networks, and associated controls.
• Perform detailed thermal, psychrometric, and fluid analyses to characterize heat loads, moisture ingress, condensation risk, and purge effectiveness across vehicle compartments and ground enclosures.
• Develop and size ECS components including heat exchangers, chillers, heaters, air handlers, blowers/fans, pressure regulators, flow control valves, and distribution ducting.
• Create and release engineering artifacts including system schematics, P&IDs, 3D models, component specifications, interface control documents, and test procedures.
• Define and analyze GN2 inerting strategies for hazardous enclosures, including purge sequencing, flow rates, and oxygen concentration requirements.
• Collaborate closely with vehicle design, propulsion, avionics, launch operations, and safety teams to define environmental requirements and ensure ECS integration compatibility.
• Support the planning and execution of system-level tests, acquiring and analyzing data to verify thermal and atmospheric performance against requirements.
• Participate in and provide technical input for design reviews and Process Hazard Analyses (PHAs) to ensure system safety, particularly in environments involving cryogenic propellants, flammable gases, or oxygen-deficient atmospheres.

• Bachelor's of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• 5+ years of professional experience in HVAC, environmental control, fluid, or thermal system design and analysis.
• Demonstrated understanding of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and psychrometrics as applied to environmental conditioning systems.
• Experience creating and interpreting Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) and ducting/flow schematics.
• Proficiency with industry-standard analysis tools for fluid network or thermal modeling (e.g., AFT Fathom/Arrow, GFSSP, EES, Sinda/Fluint, Thermal Desktop, or similar).
• Experience with 3D CAD software (Creo, SolidWorks, or similar) and engineering configuration management.
• Knowledge of ECS and HVAC components including valves, regulators, heat exchangers, blowers, dampers, and instrumentation.

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with GN2 inerting, purging, or blanketing systems in aerospace, semiconductor, or industrial applications.
• Background in aerospace or launch vehicle ground support equipment (GSE) design and operations.
• Hands-on experience with the assembly, troubleshooting, and testing of HVAC or fluid system hardware.
• Familiarity with cryogenic environments and the thermal conditioning challenges they introduce (e.g., managing moisture and condensation near LOX/LH2 systems).
• Working knowledge of relevant codes and standards such as ASHRAE, ASME B31.3, or NFPA as applied to ECS design.
• Experience with oxygen deficiency hazard (ODH) analysis and GN2 system safety requirements.
• Experience with test instrumentation, data acquisition, and environmental monitoring sensors (temperature, humidity, dew point, oxygen concentration).

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 (CDL drivers only), 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 atEEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.