Sr. Automation Mechanical Engineer

Sr. Automation Mechanical Engineer  

About Blue Origin 

Blue Origin is a spaceflight and exploration company founded on the belief that humanity's future depends on our ability to live and work in space. We are working to lower the cost of access to space through reusable launch vehicles and in-space systems, enabling a future where millions of people live and work in space. We value curiosity, passion, integrity, and a relentless drive to achieve our mission. Blue Origin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

About This Role 

Blue Origin's Factory Automation team is part of the Advanced Manufacturing organization within Operations — serving as the in-house automation integrator responsible for designing, building, and deploying the custom equipment and systems that enable scalable, repeatable production across Blue Origin's manufacturing business units. We build manufacturing capability from the ground up, developing automated solutions that directly drive the delivery of Blue Origin's products across current and future programs. 

We are looking for an experienced Mechanical Engineer who brings deep hands-on expertise in custom automation design — someone who thrives in a build-it-and-refine-it environment and takes full technical ownership from concept through commissioning. In this role, you will lead the mechanical design of automated manufacturing equipment and collaborate across engineering disciplines to deliver systems that run in production. We are looking for engineers who understand the why behind the systems they design — who reason from physics and engineering fundamentals, diagnose problems at their root, and develop sound mechanical solutions to novel challenges. A passion for our mission — and for the discipline of building things that work — is essential. 

Responsibilities 

• Collaborate with applications engineers on conceptual automated manufacturing equipment and provide feedback to product design teams to improve Design for Manufacturability 

• Lead mechanical design of custom automated manufacturing equipment using 3D CAD 

• Design custom automation equipment including robotic end-of-arm tooling, material handling systems, fixtures, weldments, machine frames, safety guarding, and production cell layouts 

• Apply engineering first principles — including mechanics, kinematics, and materials science — to analyze system behavior, evaluate design trade-offs, and develop technically sound solutions to novel mechanical challenges 

• Drive iterative development cycles; make pragmatic design trade-offs to balance performance, cost, and schedule constraints 

• Integrate mechanical, electronic, pneumatic, and related components into unified systems 

• Lead equipment commissioning, startup, and production ramp-up; own resolution of mechanical issues during installation and debug 

• Create and deliver mechanical documentation packages including BOMs, drawings, recommended spare parts lists, and assembly procedures 

• Provide technical input to project schedules and budgets throughout the project lifecycle 

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field 

• Minimum 6 years of experience in the from-scratch design, assembly, and commissioning of custom automated tooling or manufacturing equipment, with demonstrated application of mechanical principles including load calculations, material selection, and motion/kinematics 

• Proficiency in 3D CAD for mechanical design (CREO, SolidWorks, or equivalent) 

• Working knowledge of control systems, robotics, and automated industrial equipment, machines, and processes 

• Demonstrated ability to create, interpret, and review mechanical drawings and engineering documentation 

• 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 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Advanced CREO parametric modeling including top-down design and family tables 

• Experience with ANSYS or similar engineering simulation software for structural analysis, finite element analysis (FEA), or other multiphysics simulations 

• Familiarity with PLC, robot, and CNC programming for industrial control systems 

• Demonstrated ability to interpret and review electrical drawings 

• Demonstrated history of delivering custom automated equipment projects from concept through production ramp-up 

• Experience identifying product features that complicate automation and recommending design modifications to support Design for Automated Manufacturing (DfAM) 

• Demonstrated ability to apply engineering fundamentals — including mechanics, structural analysis, and kinematics — to diagnose complex system failures and develop first-principles solutions in novel or undefined problem spaces 

Don't have all the listed qualifications? Blue Origin is committed to building a diverse team. If you meet the basic qualifications and are excited about this role, we encourage you to apply.