Engineer III, Make-Buy Optimization (MBO)

BLUE ORIGIN•Huntsville, AL

About The Position

This role is part of Blue Origin Operations, which is comprised of Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance. This includes Manufacturing and Supply Chain support across all Blue Origin facilities. The Make-Buy Optimization (MBO) organization is responsible for developing and executing the strategy behind how the company decides what to manufacture internally versus what to source externally — and where and when those decisions are made. As a program-embedded Engineer III, you will serve as the dedicated MBWWH resource for an assigned program, working directly alongside engineering and program teams to drive timely, data-driven sourcing decisions. This role requires a strong engineering foundation. You will engage credibly with design engineers, manufacturing engineers, and program leaders — evaluating internal fabrication capabilities and supplier options through a technical lens. Your work directly influences program affordability, schedule, and supply chain resilience.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering — engineering degree is required; this role interfaces daily with technical engineering teams
3–5 years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, systems engineering, supply chain engineering, or a related technical discipline
Working knowledge of aerospace manufacturing processes such as machining, fabrication, structures, composites, propulsion, or avionics integration
Demonstrated ability to perform quantitative trade-off analyses involving cost, schedule, technical risk, and operational factors
Comfortable engaging directly with engineers and program leaders — able to present technical recommendations and defend analytical conclusions
Strong written and verbal communication skills — able to produce clear, concise decision packages for leadership consumption
Proficiency in Excel or similar tools for data analysis, cost modeling, and reporting

Nice To Haves

Experience in a program-embedded supply chain, manufacturing engineering, or industrial engineering role
Familiarity with launch vehicle or spacecraft development programs, including transition from development to production
Experience with make-buy analysis, strategic sourcing, or supplier evaluation in an aerospace or defense environment
Proficiency with data visualization tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or Smartsheet
Exposure to MRL/TRL frameworks, manufacturing readiness assessments, or rate maturity evaluations
Familiarity with Integrated Product Teams and program milestone review processes (PDR, CDR, PRR)

Responsibilities

Conduct detailed make-buy-where-when-how (MBWWH) analyses for assigned program parts, assemblies, and manufacturing processes
Evaluate internal manufacturing capabilities against external supplier options, considering technical readiness, cost, schedule, and risk
Build cost models and scenario analyses to support sourcing recommendations
Identify, track, and resolve incomplete or missing make/buy designations within the assigned program's bill of materials
Serve as the embedded MBWW representative for your assigned program, participating in design reviews and program milestone meetings
Partner with Design, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering teams to assess producibility and design-to-cost opportunities that influence make vs. buy decisions
Engage with engineering and program leadership as a technically credible peer — translating complex trade-offs into clear, data-backed recommendations
Develop well-documented decision packages with clear assumptions, risk assessments, and sourcing recommendations
Track and report on decision status, open items, and trends on a weekly basis
Collaborate with Procurement, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing Operations, and Finance to validate assumptions used in analyses
Support continuous improvement of MBWW tools, templates, and analytical workflows