Senior Design For Rate Engineer - BNS

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!  

The role is part of the In-Space Systems business unit, which is focused on addressing two of the most compelling challenges in spaceflight today: space infrastructure and increasing mobility on-orbit.

Role Summary

As a Senior Design For Rate Engineer within Blue National Security's Core Components team, you will bridge the gap between engineering design and high-rate, flight-quality production. You'll be responsible for developing designs for reaction wheels, solar array drives, optical communications gimbals, and torque rods into hardware that can be manufactured at scale — targeting multiple satellites per day. This role drives Design-For-X requirements (producibility, cost, quality) back into the design domain while defining the pilot factory flow, tools, and processes that Operations and Engineering will build upon. Because our automated production capability is co-developed in parallel with the products themselves, you'll serve as the critical bi-directional link ensuring our designs and our automation evolve together — a cornerstone of achieving Blue Origin's cost-of-space targets.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the transition of engineering designs (reaction wheels, solar array drives, optical communications gimbals, torque rods) from development into high-rate, flight-quality production.
• Drive Design-For-X requirements — producibility, cost, and quality — back into the Engineering design process to ensure products are compatible with automated manufacturing.
• Define the pilot factory flow, tooling, and processes that Operations and Engineering will build upon.
• Serve as the bi-directional bridge between product design and pilot automation development, ensuring the two co-evolve as they are developed in parallel.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Motion Control Operations, Motion Controls Engineering, Blue National Security Engineers, and the project Single-Threaded Leader to align on production readiness.
• Establish rate-readiness criteria and identify design changes needed to meet the ~10 satellites/day production target.
• Identify and mitigate risks to producibility, cost, and quality early in the design cycle.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience with space integrated electromagnetic products (e.g., reaction wheels, solar array drives, gimbals, torque rods, or similar motion control / electromagnetic mechanisms).
• Experience transitioning engineering designs into production hardware (design-to-manufacturing transition).
• Working knowledge of Design-For-X principles (Design for Manufacturability, Assembly, Cost, and Quality).
• Experience defining or improving manufacturing flow, tooling, and/or production processes.
• Experience with robotics systems and/or automated production technology.
• Experience in industrial / high-volume manufacturing environments, with the ability to bridge modern production technology into aerospace applications.
• Experience working in a cleanroom environment.
• Familiarity with writing work instructions using paperless workflow systems.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across engineering, operations, and program teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or advanced business/technical degree — highly desired.
• Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
• Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) experience.
• Experience specifically with satellite mechanisms or motion control components in a flight environment.
• Experience standing up a pilot production line or factory from the ground up.
• Familiarity with high-rate / high-cadence production (automotive, consumer electronics, or similar industrial scale).
• Experience with DFMEA, PFMEA, or other structured design/process risk methods.
• Background in cost modeling or design-to-cost initiatives.
• Experience integrating automation with flight-quality / aerospace hardware.

 

Base Pay Range for:

CO applicants is $144,179.00 - $201,849.90
WA applicants is $156,802.00 - $219,522.45

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