Lead Manufacturing Engineer

BLUE ORIGIN•Huntsville, AL

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Blue Origin is seeking a senior Manufacturing Engineering subject matter expert to support the BE-7 and Blue Thrusters propulsion programs. The role serves both programs, splitting time equally between them, and reports directly to the Director of Operations. BE-7 is approaching qualification and production, while Blue Thrusters variants are in research and development and require transition to production. The engineer will set manufacturing standards, strengthen the team’s technical capability, and promote decisive, first-principles problem solving and waste elimination. The position leads design-for-manufacturability and design-for-assembly efforts, production readiness and new product introduction, automation strategy and implementation, and manufacturing process controls. It includes developing scalable processes and production systems capable of supporting medium-rate production of more than 1,000 units per year. The role also applies AI-enabled tools to manufacturing and engineering workflows, mentors other engineers, and reviews and elevates manufacturing documentation and process ownership across the team. The role is based in Huntsville, Alabama, on A Shift, Monday through Friday. It requires work on the production floor and the ability to climb stairs, enter confined spaces, and lift and carry up to 40 pounds. The work environment may include loud noise, crane lifts, and other standard manufacturing hazards.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, or Materials Science Engineering from an accredited university.
At least 8 years of direct manufacturing engineering experience in a production or development-to-production environment.
At least 5 years of experience authoring work instructions and managing manufacturing BOMs for complex hardware.
Hands-on experience manufacturing propulsion or aerospace hardware.
Proven ability to provide assertive DFM feedback to design engineers and drive design changes cross-functionally.
Ability to break down complex manufacturing failures to first-principles and materials-level root causes.
Experience across multiple manufacturing domains, including precision assembly, welding, machining, and fluid or propulsion systems.
Experience supporting or leading NPI and transition-to-production efforts.
Experience leading or executing the stand-up of an automated manufacturing line or cell.
Ability to mentor and improve the technical capability of other engineers.
Ability to work on a production floor, climb stairs, work in confined spaces, and lift and carry up to 40 pounds.
Comfort working in environments with loud noise, crane lifts, and other standard manufacturing hazards.
Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Nice To Haves

Materials science background or demonstrated ability to apply materials-level thinking to manufacturing process development and failure analysis.
Experience developing or deploying AI-assisted manufacturing tools, such as vision inspection, predictive quality, or process optimization.
Experience using AI productivity tools to accelerate engineering workflows and building that capability in others.
Experience with turbomachinery assembly and integration.
Experience with aerospace brazing processes.
Experience with cryogenic valve acceptance testing.
Experience machining additively manufactured parts, including post-processing, fixturing, and tolerance management.
Background in rocket engine or propulsion system manufacturing, including liquid, electric, or cold gas thrusters.
Experience at a high-velocity aerospace manufacturer where speed, decisiveness, and waste elimination are cultural norms.
Lean Six Sigma certification at Green Belt or higher.
Proficiency with CAD software, preferably Creo or CATIA, and PLM/MRP systems such as Windchill, Teamcenter, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

Serve as the Manufacturing Engineering subject matter expert across the BE-7 and Blue Thrusters value streams, splitting time equally between the programs.
Establish and enforce manufacturing best practices; mentor engineers at all levels and raise the technical capability of the organization.
Promote speed, decisiveness, first-principles thinking, and elimination of unnecessary processes.
Represent Manufacturing Engineering in program forums, design reviews, and leadership readouts.
Act as the technical escalation point for complex manufacturing problems and identify root physical and materials-level causes.
Provide assertive, data-backed design-for-manufacturability feedback and drive design changes that improve producibility, cost, cycle time, and rework.
Engage early in the design lifecycle and lead DFM/DFA reviews, turning outcomes into actionable engineering change requests.
Apply first-principles and materials science knowledge when evaluating design decisions.
Lead manufacturing readiness for BE-7 qualification and transition to production.
Develop and execute new product introduction strategies for Blue Thrusters variants and build scalable manufacturing processes.
Architect production systems capable of supporting medium-rate production of more than 1,000 units per year.
Lead identification, strategy, and implementation of manufacturing automation from concept through commissioning.
Develop and deploy AI-assisted manufacturing tools, including vision-based inspection, predictive quality analytics, and process optimization algorithms.
Use AI productivity tools to accelerate engineering analysis, troubleshooting, and documentation, and build the team’s capability with AI-enabled engineering.
Review, approve, and elevate others’ work instructions, manufacturing BOMs, and process documentation, drawing on prior direct experience authoring and managing them.
Establish process controls, quality gates, and inspection plans that scale with production increases.
Lead root cause analysis and corrective action for non-conformances, conduct FMEAs, and incorporate lessons learned into design and process baselines.

Benefits

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