SDE III for Manufacturing Systems at Blue Origin in Washington

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 Operations, which is comprised of Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance. This includes Manufacturing and Supply Chain support across all Blue Origin facilities.

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 Operations, which is comprised of Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance. This includes Manufacturing and Supply Chain support across all Blue Origin facilities. Blue Origin is actively automating our manufacturing processes, including digital manufacturing living on top of operations.

We are a team of doers and problem-solvers. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space and enabling Blue Origin's vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth. The team depends on a growing set of internally built applications to manage tooling, equipment, and program data, and on AI-assisted workflows to move faster. This role requires close collaboration with engineers, program managers, and manufacturing teams, backend developer experience, and the ability to work in a fast-paced and evolving environment.

We are looking for a Software Development Engineer (preferably with prior MES experience) who will own the backend infrastructure and ongoing management of internally built applications. In this role, you will design and maintain the databases, services, and integrations those applications run on, and you will develop new capabilities as the team's needs grow. You will be given a product roadmap and the problems behind it, and you will be expected to propose solutions, design them, and deliver them with a high degree of independence.

This role also serves as the team's technical lead for applied AI. You will bring a strong foundation in how modern AI systems work, apply it to the team's software and workflows, and coach engineers and program managers on effective AI practices. The ideal candidate is comfortable with ambiguity, generates creative options when requirements are incomplete, and can carry an idea from a rough concept through user experience design, implementation, and production support.

Responsibilities:

• Design, build, and operate the backend infrastructure for the team's internal applications, including databases, data models, service layers, authentication, and deployment.
• Own the ongoing management of internally built applications: monitoring, maintenance, upgrades, data integrity, access control, and support for the engineers who use them.
• Develop and maintain integrations between internal applications and Blue Origin's engineering and business systems (PLM, work management, documentation, and manufacturing execution systems) through their APIs.
• Translate a product roadmap into technical solutions: propose approaches, evaluate trade-offs, and deliver working software with limited direction.
• Design user experiences for internal tools, from wireframes and workflows through implementation, with a focus on clarity and minimal friction for non-software users.
• Apply foundational AI knowledge to the team's software and processes, including LLM integration, retrieval over internal data, agentic workflows, and evaluation of AI-generated output.
• Coach team members on effective AI-assisted development and work practices, and establish standards for how the team uses AI tools responsibly.
• Develop in multiple languages as the problem requires, and select tools and frameworks that fit the team's constraints.
• Replace manual, spreadsheet-based team processes with documented, maintainable software.
• Write documentation, runbooks, and handoff material so applications survive staffing changes.
• Ensure compliance with Blue Origin security, data handling, and export control requirements for internal software.

Minimum Qualifications:

• B.S. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of professional software development experience, including ownership of production applications and the backend systems behind them.
• Strong proficiency in Python and TypeScript or JavaScript, with working proficiency in at least one additional language (Go, C#, Java, C++, or similar).
• Experience designing and operating database-backed applications: relational schema design, SQL, migrations, and REST or GraphQL API design.
• Experience deploying and maintaining applications in production, including CI/CD, containers, monitoring, and backups.
• Foundational knowledge of modern AI systems, including large language models, prompt and context design, retrieval-augmented generation, and the limits and failure modes of AI-generated output.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently from a roadmap or problem statement, make reasonable decisions under ambiguity, and communicate trade-offs clearly.
• Experience with Git-based version control, code review, and automated testing.
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion.
• 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:

• Experience building production features on LLM APIs or agent frameworks, including tool use, evaluation, and guardrails.
• Experience coaching or mentoring engineers and non-engineers on new tools and practices.
• Previous software experience with an MES (ie Siemens Opcenter, First Resonance ION, Epsilon3, Manufactoro, i-Base T Solumina, Apriso etc.
• User experience design skills, including wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing for internal tools.
• Familiarity with manufacturing or aerospace processes: tooling, fixtures, work orders, nonconformances, or shop floor operations.
• Experience integrating with PLM, Atlassian, or manufacturing execution systems through their APIs (Teamcenter, Windchill, Jira, Confluence, or similar).
• Full-stack development with a modern web framework (React, Next.js, or similar) on PostgreSQL, SQL Server, or SQLite.
• Data engineering or analytics experience (pandas, SQL, dashboards, reporting).
• Experience with cloud platforms or on-prem infrastructure (AWS, Kubernetes, Docker, Terraform).
• Track record of taking a loosely defined problem from concept to adopted tool.
• 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!

Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $164,652.00 - $230,512.80

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