Principal Facilities Design Structural Engineer

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 Blue Origin corporate functions, providing centralized support across Blue Origin business unit teams, functions, and locations.

As Blue's Principal Facilities Design Structural Engineer, you will be the senior structural authority for Facilities Engineering Design in Florida. You will own the structural engineering of the buildings, foundations, and infrastructure that make New Glenn production, processing, and launch possible — from manufacturing and integration facilities to heavy-lift crane systems, equipment foundations, and launch-site structures at Cape Canaveral.

Blue's Florida footprint is growing quickly, and many of our structures have no off-the-shelf precedent: high-bay facilities sized around large launch vehicles, heavy overhead cranes, foundations for test and processing equipment, and structures that must perform in a coastal, corrosive, high-wind environment near an active launch range. You will set the structural design standards for this work, make the hard technical calls, and stamp the designs that matter most.

You will lead structural design on our most complex projects, serve as the technical reviewer for the work of Blue's structural engineers and outside A/E firms, and mentor the engineers growing into this discipline. Success in this role means our facilities are designed right the first time, delivered faster, and built to last — and that Blue has an in-house structural capability that partners, AHJs, and contractors trust.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the structural engineer of record and senior technical authority for Facilities Engineering Design projects, including new construction, expansions, and modifications to existing facilities.
• Lead structural design for industrial buildings, high-bay manufacturing and integration facilities, crane runway and support structures, equipment and machine foundations, pipe and utility supports, platforms, and launch-site infrastructure.
• Perform and direct structural analysis for gravity, wind, seismic, crane, vibration, thermal, and other special loading conditions, including hurricane-force wind design for coastal Florida sites.
• Prepare, review, and seal structural calculations, drawings, and specifications; ensure designs comply with applicable building codes, industry standards, and Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) requirements, including range and base requirements at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center.
• Act as the technical reviewer and approver for structural work produced by internal engineers and outside A/E consultants; set clear expectations for design quality, deliverables, and schedule.
• Develop and maintain Blue's facility structural design criteria, standards, details, and design guides so that work is consistent and repeatable across sites.
• Evaluate existing structures for capacity, condition, and fitness for new loads or uses; develop strengthening, repair, and remediation designs, with particular attention to corrosion in coastal environments.
• Coordinate closely with architectural, civil, mechanical, electrical, and fire protection disciplines, and with manufacturing, tooling, GSE, and operations teams to translate equipment and process needs into structural requirements.
• Interface with AHJs, building officials, third-party reviewers, and inspectors through design review, permitting, and construction.
• Support construction administration: review submittals, shop drawings, and RFIs; perform site observations; resolve field issues; and support inspections and closeout.
• Challenge assumed requirements and conservatism where it adds cost or schedule without adding safety or performance; drive value engineering without compromising structural integrity.
• Mentor and develop structural engineers and designers; help define how Blue's in-house structural capability should grow.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Active Professional Engineer (PE) license in at least one U.S. state, with the ability to obtain Florida licensure (and other states as project needs require).
• 15+ years of progressive structural engineering design experience, including significant experience as engineer of record on industrial, manufacturing, infrastructure, or heavy commercial projects.
• Demonstrated experience designing steel and concrete structures, foundations, and crane-supporting structures.
• Strong working knowledge of building and structural design codes and standards, including IBC / Florida Building Code, ASCE 7, ACI 318, and AISC.
• Experience producing sealed calculations, drawings, and specifications, and supporting projects through permitting and construction.
• Proficiency with structural analysis and design software (e.g., RISA, SAP2000, ETABS, STAAD, or equivalent).
• Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership, review the work of other engineers, and mentor junior staff.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical decisions to engineers, contractors, AHJs, and leadership.
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and strengthen our culture of inclusion.

• Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Structural Engineering or a related field.
• Structural Engineer (SE) license.
• Active Florida PE license.
• Experience with high-wind and hurricane design in coastal environments, and with corrosion-resistant design and detailing.
• Experience designing heavy overhead crane systems and runways, large-span high-bay structures, or vibration-sensitive equipment foundations.
• Experience with aerospace, defense, launch, energy, or other heavy industrial facilities.
• Experience working on federal installations or with NASA, U.S. Space Force, or USACE design review and approval processes, including range safety requirements.
• Experience with blast, overpressure, or other special-hazard structural design.
• Familiarity with Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Revit-based design coordination.
• Experience establishing design standards or building an in-house engineering capability.

Additional Requirements

• Must be able to pass a U.S. Air Force / Space Force background check for base access at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
• Work is performed in a mix of office and active construction environments, including launch-site areas. Occasional exposure to outdoor conditions — heat, rain, fumes, odors, and noise.
• Must be available to work extended hours as needed to support critical construction and program milestones.
• Willingness to travel to other Blue Origin sites, vendors, and contractors as required (occasional, approximately 10%).

 

Base Pay Range for:

WA applicants is $169,624.00 - $237,473.25

Other site ranges may differ

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, 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.