Sr Mechanical Engineer - New Glenn

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 supports the development and operations of New Glenn, a single-configuration, heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle capable of routinely carrying people and payloads to low-Earth orbit, geostationary transfer orbit, cislunar, and beyond. Its first stage is fully reusable, and the vehicle was designed from the beginning to be human-capable.

As part of a small, hardworking, passionate and accomplished team of experts, you will be responsible for the end-to-end ownership of production jettison systems for New Glenn's payload fairing. This includes system-level engineering responsibility for pyrotechnic separation systems, ordnance-actuated mechanisms, and associated structural interfaces. You will own the production engineering lifecycle from hardware acceptance through launch operations, including anomaly resolution, certification activities, and continuous improvement of production processes. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your dedicated commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable spaceflight.

We are looking for someone 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 include but are not limited to:

• Serve as the system responsible engineer (SRE) for production jettison and separation systems on a launch vehicle payload fairing.
• Own end-to-end production engineering for pyrotechnic and ordnance-actuated separation mechanisms.
• Lead anomaly resolution and root cause investigations for production hardware nonconformances.
• Drive certification activities and interface with regulatory bodies and customer organizations.
• Develop and maintain system-level documentation including interface control documents, specifications, and acceptance criteria.
• Resolve structural margin and loads issues related to separation system interfaces.
• Provide manufacturing and production support for ordnance-based mechanical systems.
• Coordinate with suppliers on ordnance components, energetic devices, and custom mechanical assemblies.
• Support launch preparation, engineering support requests, and flight readiness activities.
• Work with cross-functional teams responsible for selecting materials, manufacturing processes, and suppliers to produce world class aerospace hardware.
• Maintain and report on schedule, budget, and technical status.
• Coach, mentor, and technically assist other engineers.
• Identify opportunities for improvements and operational cost savings.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of a B.S. degree in engineering and 8+ years of experience with aircraft, spacecraft, or launch vehicle structures, mechanisms, or pyrotechnic systems.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
• Experience with pyrotechnic or ordnance-actuated separation systems (e.g., linear shaped charges, frangible joints, pin pullers, explosive bolts, or similar energetic devices).
• System-level engineering ownership experience - ability to own a complex mechanical/pyrotechnic system end-to-end from design through production and flight.
• Experience with structural dynamics, FEM interpretation, and loads analysis as applied to separation events.
• Strong understanding of production engineering processes for flight hardware.
• Experience with certification or qualification processes (e.g., NSSL, NASA, FAA, or equivalent regulatory frameworks).
• Experience with anomaly resolution, failure investigation, and root cause analysis on flight or flight-like hardware.
• Mechanical design experience using CAD (Creo/Windchill preferred), hand calculations, and FEA (ANSYS preferred) tools.
• Experience with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerance analysis (ASME Y14.5).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion.
• Collaborative mindset and effective interpersonal skills.
• Strong desire to continuously learn, improve, and drive solutions forward.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with ordnance safety and handling procedures.
• Demonstrated expertise with industry standard analysis codes: Ansys, Nastran, LS-DYNA, Optistruct, Hypermesh.
• Experience with composite structures and laminate analysis.
• Experience interfacing with government certification bodies (e.g., Aerospace Corporation, NSSL, NASA).
• Knowledge of systems engineering practices, fabrication and integration processes, and quality control.
• Experience with production rate environments (high-cadence manufacturing and test).
• Experience working in a cross-functional team responsible for selecting materials, manufacturing processes, and developing the design to produce world-class engineered products.
• Familiar with diagnosing hardware issues and implementing effective repair solutions.
• Setup and safely operate high energy systems (e.g., high-pressure gases, pyrotechnics, and electrical).

 

Compensation Range for:

CO applicants is $133,500.00 - $186,898.95 WA applicants is $145,188.00 - $203,263.20

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 (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.