Blue Origin

Engineer III, Make-Buy Optimization (MBO)

Blue Origin$90K — $120K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering is required
  • 3-5 years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, systems engineering, or supply chain engineering
  • Working knowledge of aerospace manufacturing processes (machining, fabrication, structures, etc.)
  • Ability to perform quantitative trade-off analyses concerning cost, schedule, and technical risk
  • Comfortable engaging with engineers and program leaders with sound technical recommendations
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for producing decision packages
  • Proficiency in Excel or similar data analysis tools

Responsibilities

  • Conduct detailed make-buy-where-when-how analyses for assigned program
  • Evaluate internal manufacturing capabilities versus external suppliers
  • Build cost models and scenario analyses for sourcing recommendations
  • Identify and resolve incomplete make/buy designations
  • Serve as the embedded MBWWH representative for assigned programs
  • Partner with engineering teams to assess producibility and design-to-cost opportunities
  • Develop decision packages with assumptions and risk assessments

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, vision insurance, with life insurance options
  • Paid parental leave and short/long-term disability coverage
  • 401(k) with company match up to 5%
  • Stock Options available for all regular employees
  • Up to four weeks of paid time off and 14 company-paid holidays
  • Eligibility for performance bonuses and contributions to company results
Full Job Description
Application close date:
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

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.

The Make-Buy Optimization (MBO) organization is responsible for developing and executing the strategy behind how the company decides what to manufacture internally versus what to source externally - and where and when those decisions are made. As a program-embedded Engineer III, you will serve as the dedicated MBWWH resource for an assigned program, working directly alongside engineering and program teams to drive timely, data-driven sourcing decisions.

This role requires a strong engineering foundation. You will engage credibly with design engineers, manufacturing engineers, and program leaders - evaluating internal fabrication capabilities and supplier options through a technical lens. Your work directly influences program affordability, schedule, and supply chain resilience.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Conduct detailed make-buy-where-when-how (MBWWH) analyses for assigned program parts, assemblies, and manufacturing processes
  • Evaluate internal manufacturing capabilities against external supplier options, considering technical readiness, cost, schedule, and risk
  • Build cost models and scenario analyses to support sourcing recommendations
  • Identify, track, and resolve incomplete or missing make/buy designations within the assigned program's bill of materials
  • Serve as the embedded MBWW representative for your assigned program, participating in design reviews and program milestone meetings
  • Partner with Design, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering teams to assess producibility and design-to-cost opportunities that influence make vs. buy decisions
  • Engage with engineering and program leadership as a technically credible peer - translating complex trade-offs into clear, data-backed recommendations
  • Develop well-documented decision packages with clear assumptions, risk assessments, and sourcing recommendations
  • Track and report on decision status, open items, and trends on a weekly basis
  • Collaborate with Procurement, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing Operations, and Finance to validate assumptions used in analyses
  • Support continuous improvement of MBWW tools, templates, and analytical workflows


Qualifications:

Required
  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering - engineering degree is required; this role interfaces daily with technical engineering teams
  • 3-5 years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, systems engineering, supply chain engineering, or a related technical discipline
  • Working knowledge of aerospace manufacturing processes such as machining, fabrication, structures, composites, propulsion, or avionics integration
  • Demonstrated ability to perform quantitative trade-off analyses involving cost, schedule, technical risk, and operational factors
  • Comfortable engaging directly with engineers and program leaders - able to present technical recommendations and defend analytical conclusions
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills - able to produce clear, concise decision packages for leadership consumption
  • Proficiency in Excel or similar tools for data analysis, cost modeling, and reporting


Preferred
  • Experience in a program-embedded supply chain, manufacturing engineering, or industrial engineering role
  • Familiarity with launch vehicle or spacecraft development programs, including transition from development to production
  • Experience with make-buy analysis, strategic sourcing, or supplier evaluation in an aerospace or defense environment
  • Proficiency with data visualization tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or Smartsheet
  • Exposure to MRL/TRL frameworks, manufacturing readiness assessments, or rate maturity evaluations
  • Familiarity with Integrated Product Teams and program milestone review processes (PDR, CDR, PRR)

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.

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.


About Blue Origin

Blue Origin is an aerospace company that develops rockets and spacecraft for commercial and government customers. The company's products include the New Shepard suborbital vehicle and the New Glenn orbital rocket. Blue Origin was founded in 2000 by Jeff Bezos and is headquartered in Kent, Washington.
Learn more about Blue Origin
Size
3,000 employees
Industry
Founded
2000

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