Structural Design Engineer III - New Glenn Payload Accommodations

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.

As part of a small, hardworking, passionate and accomplished team of experts, you will be responsible for the design, analysis, development, testing, and qualification of structural subsystems for New Glenn’s second stage and payload accommodations. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your dedicated commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable spaceflight.

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!

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Take ownership of the full lifecycle of hardware from requirements definition through concept development, design, analysis, testing, qualification, and integration onto a launch vehicle

• Design, analyze, develop, and test primary and secondary metallic and composite structures

• Perform research, develop concepts, and run trade studies

• Create 3D models, detail part drawings, assemblies, installations, and interface control documents

• Create test plans, specifications, and other documentation for the development of flight hardware

• Provide technical guidance and on-site support for manufacturing, production, and integration activities

• Support configuration development and trade studies

• Take ownership of test planning, execution, data reduction, analysis, and authoring of test reports

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

• Develop component specifications and manage suppliers

• Plan, coordinate, conduct tests, and review test data

• Participate in the development and purchase of new equipment and tooling

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

• Coach, mentor and technically assist other engineers

• Identify opportunities for improvements and operational cost savings

• Work with spacecraft customers in a technical capacity

• Own spacecraft structural integration cycles

• Drive hardware discrepancies to resolution

• Prepare technical content and present to internal and external customers

• Complete hand calc and FEM analyses to report margins of safety for primary and secondary aerospace structures

• Perform access studies, loss of clearance analyses, vehicle clocking studies, and develop solutions to mission unique requirements

• Collaborate with internal and external teams throughout design, manufacturing, and mission integration

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of a B.S. degree in engineering and 6 years of experience with aircraft, spacecraft, or launch vehicle structures

• 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.

• Experience on recently developed aircraft or launch vehicles in one or more of the following areas:

  • Vehicle load path distribution, and first order strength assessment and sizing
  • Skin-stringer and sandwich panel design
  • Material selection, compatibility and manufacturing techniques

• Experience working in a cross-functional organization to develop designs and produce world-class engineered products

• Strong understanding of composite and metallic design fundamentals

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

• Experience in bolted joint design and analysis

• Experience with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerance analysis (ASME Y14.5)

• Familiarity with ASME Y14.100 and Y14.41

• Structural design experience using CAD (Creo/Windchill preferred), hand calculations, and FEA (ANSYS preferred) tools

• Ability to take ownership of the hardware lifecycle from requirements definition through concept development, design, analysis, testing, qualification, and integration onto a launch vehicle

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Collaborative mindset and effective interpersonal skills

• Strong desire to continuously learn and improve

• Self-motivated with a strong desire to learn, take ownership, and drive projects to completion

• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion

Preferred Qualifications:

• Dynamic separation systems and interface design

• Experience with rapid development techniques for hardware

• Experience with fabrication utilizing automated fiber placement (AFP)

• Experience or expertise with fabrication of large-scale out-of-autoclave composite structures

• Demonstrated experience developing manufacturing processes for transition to production

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

• Experience with Optimization and Design of Experiments (DOE) methods as applied to design, analysis, and testing

Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $121,023.00 - $169,432.20

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.