Blue Origin

Structural Production Support and Sustaining Engineer III

Blue Origin$90K — $130K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • B.S. degree in engineering with 5-8+ years of relevant experience in aerospace structures.
  • Experience in structural design for metallic aerospace hardware and full lifecycle involvement.
  • Proficiency in CAD tools like Creo/Windchill, hand calculations, and FEA software.
  • Strong understanding of metallic design principles, load paths, and bolted joints.
  • Experience in production or test environments with hands-on hardware interaction.
  • Robust communication skills with experience in technical presentations and project influence.

Responsibilities

  • Contribute to the design and configuration of launch vehicle structures, including complex interfaces.
  • Lead detailed design efforts, ensuring compliance with standards through accurate documentation.
  • Perform structural sizing calculations and coordinate with analysis specialists for accuracy.
  • Resolve hardware discrepancies and support failure investigations to ensure timely resolutions.
  • Develop structural test plans and participate in test readiness reviews for hardware qualifications.
  • Conduct subsystem test planning, execution support, and translate results into design updates.
  • Ensure production readiness and operational robustness through cross-functional collaboration.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
  • 401(k) with company match up to 5% and education support programs.
  • Stock options for qualifying employees working a minimum of 20 hours per week.
  • Generous paid time off, including up to four weeks of annual leave and 14 paid holidays.
Full Job Description
Application close date:
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

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 hardworking, passionate, and accomplished team of experts, you will own the design, analysis, development, testing, and qualification of structural subsystems for New Glenn's second stage and payload accommodations to support design, manufacturing, and operations. You will lead manufacturability and efficiency initiatives, vehicle modifications and impact analyses, and provide day-to-day manufacturing floor support for your scope. You will generate concise and accurate design documentation, perform peer reviews, and provide technical guidance to early-career engineers. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your dedicated commitment and detailed attention toward safe and repeatable spaceflight.

As we transition from the initial design, release, and qualification testing of flight hardware to the production and operational phase, you will be responsible for supporting production, ongoing testing, and mission operations for your hardware.

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership within projects, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required.

Special notes:
• Relocation may be provided
• Travel expected up to 15%
• Interviews will include a technical assessment

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Serve as a key contributor for structural design and configuration of pressurized and unpressurized launch vehicle structures, including complex interfaces and mission-unique accommodations.
• Lead detailed design efforts: develop and maintain 3D models, drawings, assemblies, installations, and interface control documents; ensure compliance with requirements and standards.
• Plan and perform structural sizing using hand calculations and FEA; coordinate with analysis specialists as needed.
• Drive resolution of hardware discrepancies, including timely disposition of manufacturing nonconformances, support to MRB, and participation in failure investigations.
• Support development of structural test plans, specifications, and procedures for development, qualification, and acceptance tests; participate in test readiness reviews.
• Lead or co-lead subsystem test planning, execution support, data reduction, and analysis; translate results into actionable design updates.
• Coordinate across design, manufacturing, test, launch site operations, and mission integration to ensure hardware is producible, testable, and operationally robust.
• Apply and review GD&T and drawing standards (ASME Y14.5, Y14.100, Y14.41) to ensure clear, manufacturable definition.
• Perform and document access studies, loss-of-clearance analyses, and configuration studies to support new missions and late-arising changes.
• Identify, prioritize, and implement improvements for operational efficiency, reliability growth, and cost reduction.
• Provide informal mentorship and technical guidance to level 1-2 engineers on methods, tools, and best practices.
• Communicate technical status, risks, and recommendations to peers and technical leadership.

Minimum Qualifications
• B.S. degree in engineering and typically 5-8+ years of related experience with aircraft, spacecraft, or launch vehicle structures (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• Significant experience with structural design of metallic aerospace hardware, fluid systems, and/or structural composites and exposure to full lifecycle (requirements, design, analysis, build, test, integration).
• Hands-on experience with hardware in production or test environments (e.g., shop floor, integration, or field operations).
• Strong structural design skills using CAD (Creo/Windchill preferred), hand calculations, and FEA tools.
• Deep understanding of metallic design fundamentals, structural load paths, and bolted joint design/analysis.
• Proficiency with GD&T (ASME Y14.5) and familiarity with ASME Y14.100 and Y14.41.
• Demonstrated ability to drive tasks to completion, manage priorities, and resolve issues in cross-functional settings.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting technical work and influencing decisions within a project team.

Preferred Qualifications
• Demonstrated impact in design for manufacturability, cost reduction, build time optimization, and design-for-reuse.
• Experience with hot and cryogenic structures and associated materials and analysis methods.
• Experience with rapid development and test-and-learn approaches for structural hardware.
• Proficiency with one or more industry-standard analysis tools: Ansys, Nastran, Optistruct, LS-Dyna, Hypermesh, Hypersizer, NASGRO, Abaqus.
• Strong familiarity with buckling, fatigue, and fracture mechanics failure modes and mitigation strategies.
• Experience with fabrication and integration of large-scale metallic aerospace structures.
• Experience with systems engineering practices, configuration management, and quality processes in regulated environments.

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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