Sr Structural Engineer - New Glenn at Blue Origin in Seattle, WA

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.

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.

We are looking for a proven technical leader with experience in flight vehicle structures to coordinate design, conduct analysis, and support production of unpressurized structural assemblies for a launch vehicle upper stage. You will bring technical depth to a high-rate production environment, contributing to manufacturing, system integration, and mission support, and tackling complex challenges involving innovative and highly stressed hardware.

This is a hands-on position, and in this role, you will take ownership of detailed analyses and work directly with our manufacturing teams to ensure successful hardware integration. Your unique skills will complement a close-knit, highly collaborative team that values perspectives from a wide range of backgrounds. We are looking for someone who thrives at the intersection of design, analysis, and production to apply their technical and business process expertise, leadership skills, and dedication to quality to positively impact commercial spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

· Design and analysis of primary and secondary structures, including composites and metallic piece parts, as well as integrated structural assemblies

· Coordinate with other subsystem teams on the design of structural interfaces

· Provide on-site manufacturing and production support, including travel when needed

· Ensure production quality and disposition hardware nonconformances as they arise

· Support configuration development and trade studies

· Perform analysis reviews for designers and junior structural analysts in stress/stability/fracture analysis and standard processes

· Work with multi-functional teams that are responsible for selecting materials, manufacturing processes, and suppliers to produce world-class aerospace hardware

· Develop and improve enterprise analysis capabilities such as crafting process automation tools for model creation, strength checks, and analysis report generation

· Maintain and report on activity schedule, budget and technical status

· Provide mentorship and guidance to junior engineers

· Find opportunities for improvements and operational cost savings

Minimum Qualifications:

· Minimum of a B.S. degree in engineering and 7+ years of related experience

· Experience with launch vehicles, aircraft or similar applications in structural design of metallic components and assemblies and/or vehicle load path distribution, and first order strength assessment and sizing

· Subject matter expertise in structural analysis using both classical hand-calculation methods and finite element analysis techniques

· Knowledge of material selection, compatibility, and manufacturing techniques

· Advanced understanding of FEM modeling techniques (boundary conditions, bolted connections, contact, verification methods)

· Strong mechanical design skills using commercial CAD software packages such as Creo

· Strong skills with both authoring and interpreting Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerance analysis (ASME Y14.5)

· 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:

· Strong communication skills, with an ability to quickly build consensus among stakeholders

· An advanced degree in an engineering field

· Demonstrated expertise with any industry standard analysis codes: Ansys, Nastran, Optistruct, LS Dyna, Hypermesh, Hypersizer

· Proven experience developing manufacturing processes for production at rate and design for manufacturability

· Knowledge of systems engineering practices, fabrication and integration processes, and quality control

Base Pay Range for: 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, 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.