Propulsion Engineer III - Turbomachinery

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 is part of the Blue Origin Engines business unit, where our focus is the design, development, manufacturing, and testing of engines and propulsion systems. Built for multiple uses, our family of engines is powering the next generation of rockets for commercial, civil, national security, and human spaceflight.

As part of a hardworking team of engineers, analysts, and technicians, we are looking for the next teammate to own hardware lifecycle design and production introduction for the next generation of turbomachinery to help advance Blue Origin's vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth. In this Propulsion Engineer role, you will serve as the owner of hardware and subassemblies through the design, performance metrics, analysis, manufacture, and production deliveries. You will work closely with the Branch Technical Lead and design leads ensuring that turbomachinery design decisions are informed by and meet system-level performance and operability requirements.

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!

Special Mentions

• Relocation provided
• Travel up to 25% of the time

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Design and analyze designs across the core turbomachinery disciplines: hydrodynamics, static hardware, sealing strategies, and thermal management.
• Analyze to and help establish the margins required for safe designs
• Drive continuous improvement of analysis tools, methods, and automation.
• Mentor engineers in turbomachinery fundamentals, engineering judgment, and the rationale behind design standards.
• Support hardware build, assembly, acceptance testing, and anomaly investigation; provide engineering dispositions for non-conforming turbomachinery hardware.
• Develop and maintain design requirements and documentation; contribute technical artifacts to subsystem and program gated reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR, TRR).

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering, with emphasis on turbomachinery, fluid mechanics, or thermodynamics.
• 5+ years of experience in turbomachinery design and analysis for aerospace propulsion systems (turbopumps, gas turbines, or power turbines).
• Ability to perform or evaluate analysis in: meanline aerodynamic design, CFD, secondary flow and seal modeling, structural analysis (static and fatigue), dynamic loading and forced response (Campbell diagrams, modal analysis), and rotordynamics.
• Understanding of margins required for safe turbomachinery designs in each of these disciplines.
• Basic knowledge of how turbomachinery performance characteristics propagate into system-level behavior and vice versa.
• Proficiency with commercial analysis tools (ANSYS suite or equivalent) and scripting for analysis automation (Python preferred).
• Familiarity with industry standards, including but not limited to relevant AIAA/AGMA design practices.
• Experience working in cross-disciplinary engineering teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering, with emphasis on turbomachinery, fluid mechanics, or thermodynamics.
• 7+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Experience with rocket propulsion turbomachinery (LOX/LH2, LOX/RP-1, LOX/CH4, or similar).
• Experience with closed-loop cycle turbomachinery designs and systems.
• Familiarity with additive manufacturing for turbomachinery components (blisks, impellers, housings).
• Experience with non-traditional rotor support systems (hydrostatic bearings, foil bearings).
• Experience with transient operability analysis — spool-up, load rejection, and thermal transients and their effects on turbomachinery reliability and life.
• Familiarity with NASA GFSSP, Sinda/FLUINT, or equivalent flow network solvers.
• Experience with parametric cost modeling and design-to-cost trades.
• Prior experience at a rocket propulsion or gas turbine OEM.
• A track record of taking ownership, showing resilience in the face of challenges, and consistently delivering results.
• Demonstrated use of — or genuine enthusiasm to adopt — modern AI-assisted engineering tools (e.g., LLM-based design / analysis / scripting assistants integrated into the daily development environment).

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.