Sr. Director of Engineering, Aft Module - New Glenn

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 hardworking team of engineers in New Glenn, you will lead a product development team of managers and engineers working on the design, analysis, development, and qualification of structural, fluid and mechanical systems on a reusable launch vehicle in extreme environments. You will lead the team’s impact on all aspects of detailed mechanical design, requirements, layouts, analysis, component selection, modeling, drafting, manufacturing, and test definition. You will serve as a technical contributor responsible for reviewing the team’s work product and interface across multiple vehicle sub-systems and cross-functional teams.

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

Responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership and personal guidance, mentorship, and support to the GS1 (first stage of New Glenn) Aft Module team
• Lead the development of internal processes to accelerate the development of flight hardware
• Collaborate closely with design, analysis, manufacturing, quality, and integration engineers, as well as functional management, to develop and implement hardware and requirements
• Coordinate and review production drawings for components, assemblies, and P&ID schematics against program-level requirements
• Lead and coordinate external suppliers, including reviewing deliverables, negotiating contract deliverables, cost, and scope
• Manage roles, responsibilities, and accountability for each direct report and across the team
• Manage department budgets, staffing levels, and performance evaluations
• Lead and oversee the qualification, acceptance testing, and certification of aerospace structures and systems, ensuring compliance with applicable engineering requirements, performance standards, and certification criteria.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or equivalent
• Solid understanding of fluid components such as valves, tubing, pressurized hardware, seals, and bearings
• 5+ years of demonstrated experience managing technical teams and leading functional groups, with responsibility for the technical quality of work delivered, and career management of employees
• 8+ years of industry experience in pressurized fluid system design, development, and operations.
• History of developing solutions with partially defined requirements and changing criteria

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ years of proven experience in the design and testing of pressurized fluid systems, environment control systems, and aerospace structures
• Demonstrated experience developing new aerospace processes and refining existing ones
• Demonstrated experience in a space flight production program
• Experience in 3D CAD programs (Creo preferred)
• Experience in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools to analyze pressurized systems and secondary and primary structures (ANSYS preferred)
• Proficiency in crafting engineering drawings with GD&T (ASME Y14.5)
• Hands-on experience building and testing complex mechanical assemblies
• Experience designing routed systems of metallic tubing
• Solid understanding of fabrication, integration processes, and quality control techniques relevant to tubes, machined components, and welded hardware
• Experience in the design, development, and qualification of gimbal joint assemblies

Base Pay Range for:

WA applicants is $253,878.00 - $355,429.20

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.