Materials & Process Engineering II – TPS, Sealants, Coatings & Adhesives

Blue Origin • Space Coast, FL

15h • Onsite

About The Position

Application close date: Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed. 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! This role is part of Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin’s mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design. We are a 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 commitment and detailed attention 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 unique, rapidly evolving team, you will develop, qualify, and support the production of thermal protection systems (TPS), structural/non-structural adhesives, environmental sealants, and engineered coatings for flight hardware in accordance with Blue Origin’s strict aerospace specifications. You will work hands-on with chemical/materials engineers, design teams, and technicians in the manufacturing area to build our launch vehicles and spacecraft. We seek people who are passionate about space and possess a strong desire to deliver results, and continuously learn and improve. We are looking for a self-motivated individual to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Requirements

• B.S. degree or higher in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, Chemistry, or a relevant technical engineering field.
• Industrial experience in one or more core polymer areas: thermal protection systems (TPS), structural bonding, environmental/fuel tank sealants, joint potting, or aerospace coatings.
• Deep technical understanding of polymer chemistry, cure kinetics, rheology, surface prep physics (e.g., grit-blast, atmospheric plasma, primers), and adhesion phenomena on aerospace metals and composites.
• Ability to read and interpret complex engineering drawings, CAD models, and material callouts.
• Self-motivated and proactive, with a demonstrated ability to drive material/process development and qualifications to completion with little guidance.
• Strong, fundamental understanding of chemical storage, hazard evaluation, and reactive-chemistry shelf-life tracking.
• Fundamental understanding of chemical storage, handling, environmental health & safety (EHS), and shelf-life tracking.
• Approachable disposition, broad-minded, and adaptable to rapidly changing requirements.
• Calm demeanor in high-pressure situations with the tenacity to resolve conflict for permanent problem resolution.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s or Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, or Materials Science & Engineering.
• Experience in designing tooling, masking, templates, and fixturing for adhesive application or coating processes.
• Hands-on experience in manual and automated application methods (e.g., wet spray, automated bead dispensing, custom extrusion, vacuum bagging).
• Experience and familiarity with chemical and thermal analysis equipment (such as FTIR, DSC, TGA, DMA, or optical microscopy).
• Familiarity with aerospace specifications and standards for non-metallic materials (e.g., ASTM, SAE AMS, MIL-SPECs).
• Experience in aerospace failure analysis and root cause investigation for polymer or coating failures.
• Experience with any CAD software is a plus.
• Strong written, interpersonal, and organizational communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, test, and qualify application and curing processes for TPS, adhesives, elastomeric sealants, and functional/protective coatings.
• Independently plan, manage, and execute coupon-level, component-level, and subscale process qualifications and verification campaigns with minimal guidance.
• Establish and qualify critical surface preparation methods (e.g., solvent cleaning, abrasion, grit-blasting, chemical etching, and atmospheric plasma) to ensure robust adhesion.
• Author, set up, and execute detailed process specifications, application instructions, and test plans in accordance with aerospace requirements and industry standards.
• Scale up chemical and application processes from lab-scale/prototype to production-scale realization on flight hardware.
• Review chemical/physical test results from processed hardware, evaluate inspection findings, and disposition non-conformances (MRB support).
• Work with an interdisciplinary team of manufacturing engineers, tooling engineers, and skilled operators to develop masking, surface preparation, mixing, and dispensing tooling/procedures for flight hardware.
• Operate and oversee chemical preparation, mixing, testing, and application equipment (e.g., spray booths, environmental chambers, automated dispensers) as needed.
• Specify, execute, and interpret chemical, mechanical, and thermal tests (e.g., peel, lap shear, DSC, TGA, DMA, and environmental aging).
• Provide day-to-day manufacturing support in clean rooms, spray stalls, and integration areas including shop travelers, safety protocols, shelf-life verification, out-time tracking, and material traceability.
• Manage testing programs and technical relationships with material suppliers, chemical manufacturers, testing labs, and equipment vendors.
• Apply general shop and laboratory compliance, including hazardous chemical safety (SDS), personal protective equipment (PPE), Foreign Object Debris (FOD) prevention, contamination control, and environmental regulations.
• Travel as needed to support design interface meetings, equipment support, or off-site development activities.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and organized work area in alignment with 5S standards.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level