Director, Facilities Design Structural Engineering

Blue Origin•Huntsville, FL

About The Position

The Director, Facility Structural Engineering leads structural design, analysis, and assurance for buildings, foundations, and special structures supporting launch vehicle manufacturing, testing, and launch. The role establishes structural standards for the facilities organization, leads the engineering team and design partners, and is accountable for structural safety, constructability, and schedule across a growing portfolio of sites. It is part of Blue Origin’s corporate functions, providing centralized support across business units, functions, and locations. The director leads structural design for manufacturing high bays, integration facilities, test stands, launch complex structures, hangars, and supporting buildings. The role establishes design criteria for business-specific loads; oversees assessment and retrofit of existing facilities; reviews and approves engineering deliverables; and provides technical authority for structural nonconformances and field changes. The director also leads a team, sets discipline standards and review practices, partners with program and operational leaders, and owns discipline cost, schedule, and quality performance for the facility capital program. The position manages external design and construction partners and supports commissioning, facility turnover, and incident investigation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering or a closely related field.
15 or more years of structural engineering experience, including at least 5 years leading engineers or technical teams.
Professional Engineer (PE) or Structural Engineer (SE) license in at least one U.S. state, or ability to obtain one within 12 months.
Working knowledge of IBC, ASCE 7, ACI 318, AISC 360, and related structural codes and standards.
Experience with industrial or heavy-load structures, such as crane-supported buildings, equipment foundations, or special-purpose structures.
Progressive leadership experience managing engineering teams and external design and construction partners.
Demonstrated experience delivering complex capital projects from concept through construction and commissioning.
Ability to communicate clearly with executives, program leaders, regulators, and contractors, and make sound decisions under schedule pressure.
Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
Ability to complete the standard background check; additional checks or credentials may apply to certain job profiles.

Nice To Haves

Experience with blast, overpressure, or impulsive loading, such as UFC 3-340-02, and with launch, test stand, or propellant facility structures.
Experience with seismic and high-wind or coastal design and structural health monitoring.
Structural Engineer (SE) license.
Master’s degree in a related engineering discipline.
Experience in aerospace, launch, defense, energy, heavy industrial, or other mission-critical facilities.
Experience supporting rapid build-out of new facilities alongside operating production and test sites.

Responsibilities

Lead structural design for manufacturing high bays, integration facilities, test stands, launch complex structures, hangars, and supporting buildings, including foundations, steel and concrete framing, cladding, and roof systems.
Establish structural design criteria for crane and lifting loads, vehicle and ground support equipment loads, acoustic and overpressure loads, thermal and cryogenic effects, wind, seismic, and hurricane or flood exposure.
Oversee structural evaluation and retrofit of existing facilities, including condition assessments, concrete deterioration, steel connection and support issues, and load-path verification for new equipment.
Review and approve structural calculations, drawings, specifications, and shop drawings; serve as the technical authority on structural nonconformances and field changes.
Direct structural support for equipment installation, including cranes, runway beams and rails, anchorage, platforms, and heavy tooling.
Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards, and coordinate with authorities having jurisdiction on structural permitting and special inspections.
Build, lead, and develop engineers, designers, and technical leads, including hiring, performance management, and succession planning.
Set technical standards, design criteria, and review practices for the discipline and ensure consistent application across sites and projects.
Partner with Program, Operations, Manufacturing, Test, and Launch leadership to translate vehicle and production requirements into facility requirements and schedules.
Own discipline cost, schedule, and quality performance for the facility capital program, and report status and risk to senior leadership.
Manage architect/engineer-of-record firms, consultants, and construction contractors, including scope, fee, and deliverable quality.
Support commissioning, acceptance, and turnover of new and modified facilities, including closure of punch-list and nonconformance items.
Respond to facility incidents and anomalies in the discipline, lead root-cause analysis and corrective action, and incorporate lessons learned into standards.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Basic and supplemental life insurance.
Paid parental leave.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
401(k) with company match of up to 5%.
Education Support Program.
Stock options for regular employees working at least 20 hours per week.
Up to four weeks of paid time off per year based on weekly scheduled hours.
Up to 14 company-paid holidays.
Depending on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses; eligibility and amounts are not guaranteed.