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

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!

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.

Qualifications:

• 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.

Desired:

• 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.

Culture Statement

Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blue’s Standard Background Check

• Required for Certain Job Profiles:  Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation

• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing (CDL drivers only), vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.

• Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

Benefits

• Benefits include:  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.

• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at [email protected]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.