Oxygen Compatibility Engineer - Sr.

Blue Origin • Space Coast, FL

5d

About The Position

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 perform and lead Oxygen Compatibility Assessments (OCAs) across our ground systems and flight hardware programs, for Enterprise Engineering. In this role, you will apply advanced materials science and engineering fundamentals to evaluate, design, and mitigate hazards in high-pressure and cryogenic oxygen systems critical to launch vehicles, engines, and ground support equipment. 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

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in materials engineering, propulsion systems, or fluid systems engineering, with meaningful focus on oxygen or other reactive fluid systems.
• Demonstrated experience performing Oxygen Compatibility Assessments using appropriate materials ignition and flammability data, test methods, and related industry standards.
• Working knowledge of materials flammability, ignition mechanisms (particle impact, adiabatic compression, friction, mechanical impact, etc.), and kindling chain analysis in oxygen environments.
• Advanced professional expertise in materials science and engineering fundamentals applied across the full development cycle—requirements, design, analysis, fabrication, assembly, verification, and test.
• Advanced proficiency in materials and manufacturing processes, including the ability to apply and develop advanced materials and manufacturing process solutions.
• Proven ability to work at significant technical depth in discipline-specific areas with no oversight, independently or as part of a team.
• Demonstrated technical leadership at the team level, including the ability to review others' technical work, detect subtle flaws, and propose substantial design improvements.
• Experience leading anomaly investigations, root cause analyses, and recovery planning.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to represent the organization to internal and external stakeholders.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Master's or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• Participation in ASTM Committee G04 (Compatibility and Sensitivity of Materials in Oxygen Enriched Atmospheres) or equivalent technical society.
• Experience with NASA, USAF, or commercial space oxygen system standards (e.g., NASA-STD-6001, ASTM G88, ASTM G93).
• Hands-on experience with cryogenic LOX systems, GOX high-pressure systems, and associated ground support equipment.
• Experience leading peer reviews and authoring tailoring rationale for safety-critical assessments.
• Familiarity with hazard analysis methodologies (FMEA, FTA, HAZOP) as applied to fluid systems.
• Prior experience mentoring engineers and contributing to technical communities of practice.

Responsibilities

• Perform and lead Oxygen Compatibility Assessments including: Worst-case operating environment evaluation, Sub-component material flammability assessment, Ignition hazard identification and rating (heat sources leading to ignition), Kindling chain analysis (fire propagation potential through components), Reaction effect evaluation (impact to personnel, mission, and system objectives), History-of-use review
• Apply advanced technical judgment in selecting methods, techniques, and evaluation approaches—trading off low, medium, and high-performance technical architecture choices for oxygen-wetted systems.
• Determine appropriate OCA scope and depth based on system complexity and hazard level, including abbreviated assessments via Peer Review ITS tickets where appropriate, and ensure tailoring is documented and approved through the Peer Review Process.
• Maintain the lifecycle integrity of OCAs—ensuring assessments remain current with component changes, configuration updates, and CONOPS evolution.
• Serve as technical lead on anomaly investigations, root cause analyses, and development of recovery plans for oxygen system issues.
• Develop advanced technical solutions to complex problems requiring regular use of ingenuity and creativity, where analysis requires in-depth evaluation of variable factors.
• Apply materials science and engineering fundamentals across the full development cycle of systems—requirements, design, analysis, fabrication, assembly, verification, and test.
• Review the technical work of other engineers, detect subtle flaws, and provide substantial design improvements; develop processes and standards that improve efficiency of design and verification and reduce errors.
• Debug and find root cause of complex system failures; complete requirements analysis, decomposition, and architecture of interconnected, integrated oxygen systems.
• Lead, mentor, and train other engineers on materials and oxygen compatibility topics through informal and formal leadership roles, including participation in the M&P Communities of Practice.
• Hold schedule, milestone, and/or program technical approval authority for assigned oxygen compatibility work.
• Provide significant support to strategic initiatives, technology maturation, and capturing best practices at the business/functional level.
• Develop relationships both within and outside the team, representing the M&P organization with subject matter expertise on oxygen compatibility topics.
• Regularly collaborate with key contacts outside your area of expertise to develop solutions reviewed by senior program and technical leaders for fit to mission objectives.

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)
• Paid Time Off: 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: Senior