Structural Production Support and Sustaining Engineer III

BLUE ORIGIN • West Melbourne, FL

11d

About The Position

Blue Origin is hiring a Structural Production Support and Sustaining Engineer III to support development and operations of the New Glenn heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle. The role focuses on structural subsystems for New Glenn’s second stage and payload accommodations, supporting design, manufacturing, testing, and operations as the program transitions from initial design and qualification to production and missions.

The engineer will own structural subsystem design, analysis, development, testing, and qualification; lead manufacturability and efficiency initiatives, vehicle modifications, and impact analyses; and provide day-to-day manufacturing-floor support. The role also includes producing design documentation, conducting peer reviews, guiding early-career engineers, supporting ongoing tests and mission operations, and communicating technical status, risks, and recommendations. Travel is expected up to 15%; relocation may be provided. Interviews include a technical assessment.

Requirements

• B.S. degree in engineering and typically 5–8+ years of related experience with aircraft, spacecraft, or launch-vehicle structures, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Significant experience designing metallic aerospace hardware, fluid systems, and/or structural composites, with exposure to the full lifecycle from requirements and design through analysis, build, test, and integration.
• Hands-on experience with hardware in production or test environments, such as a shop floor, integration setting, or field operations.
• Strong structural design skills using CAD, hand calculations, and FEA tools.
• Deep understanding of metallic design fundamentals, structural load paths, and bolted-joint design and analysis.
• Proficiency with GD&T (ASME Y14.5) and familiarity with ASME Y14.100 and Y14.41.
• Ability to drive tasks to completion, manage priorities, and resolve issues in cross-functional settings.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including presenting technical work and influencing decisions within a project team.
• Commitment to quality and safe human spaceflight; passion for Blue Origin’s mission and vision.
• Must meet applicable U.S. export-control eligibility: 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

• Demonstrated impact in design for manufacturability, cost reduction, build-time optimization, and design for reuse.
• Experience with hot and cryogenic structures and associated materials and analysis methods.
• Experience with rapid development and test-and-learn approaches for structural hardware.
• Proficiency with one or more industry-standard analysis tools: Ansys, Nastran, Optistruct, LS-Dyna, Hypermesh, Hypersizer, NASGRO, or Abaqus.
• Strong familiarity with buckling, fatigue, and fracture-mechanics failure modes and mitigation strategies.
• Experience fabricating and integrating large-scale metallic aerospace structures.
• Experience with systems-engineering practices, configuration management, and quality processes in regulated environments.
• Creo and Windchill experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key contributor to structural design and configuration of pressurized and unpressurized launch-vehicle structures, including complex interfaces and mission-unique accommodations.
• Lead detailed design efforts, including development and maintenance of 3D models, drawings, assemblies, installations, and interface control documents, ensuring compliance with requirements and standards.
• Plan and perform structural sizing using hand calculations and finite element analysis, coordinating with analysis specialists as needed.
• Resolve hardware discrepancies, including timely disposition of manufacturing nonconformances, support to Material Review Board activities, and participation in failure investigations.
• Support development of structural test plans, specifications, and procedures for development, qualification, and acceptance tests; participate in test readiness reviews.
• Lead or co-lead subsystem test planning, execution support, data reduction, and analysis, and translate results into actionable design updates.
• Coordinate across design, manufacturing, test, launch-site operations, and mission integration to ensure hardware is producible, testable, and operationally robust.
• Apply and review GD&T and drawing standards (ASME Y14.5, Y14.100, and Y14.41) to ensure clear, manufacturable definition.
• Perform and document access studies, loss-of-clearance analyses, and configuration studies for new missions and late-arising changes.
• Identify, prioritize, and implement improvements in operational efficiency, reliability growth, and cost reduction.
• Provide informal mentorship and technical guidance to level 1–2 engineers on methods, tools, and best practices.
• Communicate technical status, risks, and recommendations to peers and technical leadership.
• Support production, ongoing testing, and mission operations for assigned hardware.
• Lead manufacturability and efficiency initiatives, vehicle modifications, and impact analyses, and provide day-to-day manufacturing-floor support.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Basic and supplemental life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) with company match of 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 company results

What This Job Offers

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