Blue Origin

Senior Automation Project Engineer

Blue Origin$181K — $254K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls, Mechatronics, or related field.
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience in automated manufacturing systems design, build, and commissioning.
  • 2+ years in a project management or technical lead role on automation projects.
  • Experience with automation simulation tools like Process Simulate or FlexSim.
  • U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or legally admissible to the U.S.

Responsibilities

  • Engage with internal customers to define and validate system requirements for automation.
  • Develop simulations and cycle time models to recommend automation strategies.
  • Present conceptual automation solutions to stakeholders and refine based on feedback.
  • Lead design initiatives with product teams to improve manufacturability.
  • Prepare project scope, cost estimates, and schedules for automation solutions.
  • Oversee project execution from requirements through commissioning, managing scope and budget.
  • Evaluate automation suppliers and support procurement decisions.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance.
  • Paid parental leave and short/long-term disability benefits.
  • 401(k) with up to 5% company match.
  • Stock options for regular employees working at least 20 hours per week.
  • Up to four weeks of paid time off annually plus 14 paid holidays.
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.

About This Role

Blue Origin's Factory Automation team is part of the Advanced Manufacturing organization within Operations — serving as the in-house automation integrator responsible for designing, building, and deploying the custom equipment and systems that enable scalable, repeatable production across Blue Origin's manufacturing business units. We build manufacturing capability from the ground up, developing automated solutions that directly drive the delivery of Blue Origin's products across current and future programs. 

We are looking for an experienced Project Engineer who brings a foundation of hands-on technical experience in mechanical and/or controls engineering for industrial automation — coupled with the leadership experience to drive complex projects from requirements through delivered, production-ready systems. This is not a conceptual or R&D role: the right candidate has real,demonstratedexperience delivering automated manufacturing systems that run in production. We are looking for engineers who understand thewhybehind the systems they build — who reason from first principles, challenge requirements that complicate scalable automation, and advocate for designs that enable repeatable, efficient manufacturing. A passion for our mission — and for the discipline of building systems that work — is essential. 

Responsibilities

  • Engage internal customers to define, document, andvalidatesystem requirements for automated manufacturing solutions
  • Develop conceptual simulations and cycle time models of individual machines and production lines to evaluate and recommendoptimalautomation strategies and production line architectures
  • Develop initial conceptual solutions for automated manufacturing equipment; present solutions and justifications to customer stakeholders and refine approaches based on feedback
  • Lead Design for Automated Manufacturing initiatives with product design teams; recommend product modifications to improve automated manufacturability and reduce system complexity
  • Prepare cost estimates, labor-hour projections, and project schedules for proposed automation solutions; develop scope of work documents for individual machinery for delivery to internal customers
  • Own project execution from requirements definition through commissioning,maintainingschedule, budget, and scope alignment throughout the project lifecycle
  • Maintain comprehensive technical knowledge of assigned projects; serve as the primary point of accountability for system requirements, design decisions, and project status
  • Identifyand evaluate automationcomponentsuppliers; support procurement and sourcing decisions
  • Collaborate with engineering teams during detailed design; provide technical clarification andmaintainalignment with conceptual intent

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls, Mechatronics, or related engineering field
  • Minimum 5 years of hands-on technical experience in the design, build, and commissioning of automated manufacturing systems, including minimum 2 years in a project management, technical lead, or equivalent leadership role on capital equipment or automation projects
  • Hands-on technical experience in industrial automation — including mechanical design, controls engineering, or both — sufficient to lead engineering teams, evaluate technical feasibility, and make informed design decisions without relying solely on analysis or simulation
  • Experience with automation simulation and cycle time analysis using tools such as Process Simulate, Visual Components,FlexSim, or similar
  • 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

  • Familiarity with PLC, CNC, and robot programming concepts and limitations sufficient to evaluate technical feasibility and communicate effectively with controls engineers
  • Experience with industrial automation applications including welding, machining, drilling, surface finishing, forming, material handling, NDT, metrology, machine vision, and similar
  • PMP certification or formal project management training
  • Experience developing capital project budgets and cost models for automation systems, including vendor quote analysis and should-cost modeling
  • Experience developing scope of work documents, RFQs, or technical specifications for procurement of automation sub-systems, components, devices, and equipment from external suppliers in support of internally developed and integrated automation solutions
  • Demonstrated ability to apply engineering first principles — including mechanics, control theory, and systems thinking — to evaluate automation feasibility,identifyroot causes, and develop technically sound solutions to novel manufacturing challenges

Base Pay Range for:

CO applicants is $181,626.00 - $254,275.35

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.

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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