Prin Structural Production Support and Sustaining 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 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.

This role supports the development, production, integration, and operations of New Glenn Stage 2 (GS2) hardware. You will serve as the primary technical interface between design engineering and the factory floor, ensuring that hardware is producible, conforming, and ready to support a demanding launch manifest.

As part of a hardworking, multidisciplinary team, you will own complex production issues, lead cross-functional problem solving, and drive long-term improvements in build flow, quality, and reliability. You will represent GS2 across design, manufacturing, test, and launch site operations, and provide technical leadership and mentorship to liaison and sustaining engineers. This position directly impacts safe, reliable, and repeatable spaceflight and will require your sustained focus, sound engineering judgment, and passion for our mission.

As we transition from initial design, release, and qualification testing of flight hardware to the production and operational phase, you will be responsible for supporting production, ongoing testing, and mission operations. We are looking for someone to apply deep technical expertise, leadership skills, and a commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required.

Special Mentions

• Relocation may be provided
• Travel up to ~15%
• Interviews will include a technical assessment

Responsibilities

• Apply deep aerospace design expertise to guide structural configuration, interface definition, and design decisions that balance performance, producibility, and mission requirements for GS2 hardware.
• Own and drive engineering change proposals from concept through implementation to improve design for manufacturability, simplify assemblies, and enable other rate-enabling changes across GS2 hardware.
• Serve as the technical authority and primary point of contact for production support of GS2 hardware across multiple build sites and shifts.
• Lead rapid response to production issues, including nonconformances, build blockers, test escapes, and in-service findings; drive timely root cause, containment, and corrective actions.
• Chair or act as key MRB representative for GS2 hardware; disposition complex nonconformances, ensuring structural integrity, safety margins, and configuration control.
• Lead complex structural assessments to support repair, rework, and use-as-is dispositions for weld defects, machining errors, damage, and assembly mismatches.
• Drive cross-functional investigations with design, analysis, manufacturing engineering, NDE, quality, and test to resolve recurring defects and systemic production risks.
• Own and prioritize a portfolio of production health metrics (defect rates, rework, cycle time, first pass yield); develop data-driven action plans and track closure to measurable improvement.
• Champion design-for-manufacturability and design-for-test feedback into upstream design teams; lead design changes that reduce build time, risk, and cost for GS2 hardware.
• Guide development and approval of repairs, rework instructions, and standard repair and disposition manuals; ensure solutions are robust, repeatable, and scalable across vehicles and flow positions.
• Partner closely with manufacturing engineers and shop leadership to optimize build sequences, tooling strategies, and inspection plans for tanks, structures, and interfaces.
• Lead readiness for major build and test milestones (e.g., closeout, proof and leak testing, structural testing, vehicle mate) and support anomaly resolution at test and launch sites.
• Plan and perform structural sizing using hand calculations and FEA; coordinate with analysis specialists as needed for complex assessments.
• Perform and document access studies, loss-of-clearance analyses, and configuration studies to support new missions and late-arising changes.
• Provide technical leadership and coaching to liaison, sustaining, and manufacturing engineers; set standards for issue documentation, analysis quality, and communication.
• Represent GS2 in cross-program forums, including readiness reviews, configuration control boards, and anomaly review boards.
• Develop and maintain production support procedures, best practices, and training materials to improve consistency and onboarding effectiveness.
• Identify and champion strategic investments in tooling, NDE methods, instrumentation, and data systems that improve producibility, quality, and fleet insight.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. degree in engineering or related field and typically 10+ years of experience with aircraft, spacecraft, or launch vehicle structures (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• Significant experience supporting production of large metallic aerospace structures (e.g., tanks, primary structure, pressure vessels) on the factory floor.
• Demonstrated expertise in structural design and analysis of metallic structures, including classical methods and FEA, with a strong understanding of load paths and margins.
• Proven experience as an MRB or equivalent authority, including ownership of complex nonconformance dispositions, repairs, and rework on flight hardware.
• Strong background in design for manufacturability and production support, including collaboration with weld, machining, assembly, and NDE teams.
• Proficiency with CAD (Creo/Windchill preferred) and ability to interpret complex drawings, GD&T (ASME Y14.5), and large assemblies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams through high-urgency issues while maintaining technical rigor and clear documentation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to leadership and influencing priorities across multiple organizations.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring and developing engineers and establishing technical standards or best practices.
• Must be a U.S. person (U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or other protected status as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with cryogenic tanks and structures, including relevant materials, weld processes (specifically friction stir weld), and verification methods.
• Experience supporting high-rate production or fleet sustainment of reusable launch vehicles or similarly complex aerospace systems.
• Demonstrated impact reducing defect rates, cycle times, or recurring production issues through systemic corrective actions.
• Familiarity with buckling, fatigue, and fracture mechanics as applied to repairs, damage tolerance, and life management of metallic structures.
• Experience with structured problem-solving methodologies and data analysis tools for production and quality metrics.
• Proficiency with one or more industry-standard analysis tools: Ansys, Nastran, Optistruct, LS-DYNA, Hypermesh, Hypersizer, NASGRO, Abaqus.
• Knowledge of systems engineering, configuration management, and quality systems in a regulated or safety-critical environment.
• Experience with fabrication and integration of large-scale metallic aerospace structures.

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 EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.