Materials & Process Engineer III - Composite

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.

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 specialists, technicians, and engineers, you will own key elements of the development and production of composite parts for our New Glenn launch vehicle.

You will directly support New Glenn's as well as Blue Origin's success through owning the qualification and build of large-scale composite parts and materials at internal and external suppliers.

You will drive the development and optimization of composite production processes internally and externally, author and maintain process and material specifications, and drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance product quality and reduce cycle time. You will work with the broader team to address non-conformances, develop repairs, and ensure design for producibility.

You will troubleshoot complex technical challenges, select methods that balance technical risk against cost and schedule, implement innovative solutions, and transition composite materials from development to production. You will own the technical reviews and documentation for your projects and partner with peers and customers outside your team. 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 expected up to 25% of the time

Responsibilities:

• Own qualifications to implement new materials, processes, and hardware, including tooling and equipment reviews
• Plan and own material characterization programs for design allowables, including authoring test plans and reports for mechanical testing, thermal analysis, and chemical analysis
• Plan and coordinate test panel builds and testing, providing input to schedule, budget, and milestones and delivering within them
• Author, own, and maintain process and material specifications for composite applications
• Review documentation and lead procedure reviews to ensure compliance to hardware requirements internally and at external suppliers
• Represent M&P on multi-functional teams that select materials, manufacturing processes, and suppliers to produce world-class aerospace hardware
• Disposition nonconformances, lead root cause analysis and corrective action, develop repair solutions, and find opportunities for improvements to quality, cost, and schedule
• Review and approve engineering drawings for adherence to M&P requirements and best practices and provide technical guidance to ensure producibility of new hardware
• Travel to support internal and external suppliers up to 25% of the time

Minimum Qualifications:

• B.S. degree or higher in Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or relevant field from ABET-accredited school
• 6+ years of proven experience with polymer-based composites
• Demonstrated ownership of process development and qualification of composite materials, especially laminate / core sandwich structures, for use in aerospace
• Experience authoring process and/or material specifications and test reportsExperience dispositioning nonconformances and performing root cause analysis on composite hardware
• Experience evaluating and troubleshooting processes and equipment
• Experience with design for producibility and engineering drawing review
• Experience defining, implementing, and substantiating composite repairs
• Strong familiarity with aerospace standards and specifications relevant to composites and knowledge of characterization techniques
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills to balance small and large projects with a variety of customers across large geographic distances

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with high-temperature polymer matrix composites (e.g., BMI, polyimide, cyanate ester, phenolic)
• Experience with carbon-carbon (C/C) or ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials, including densification processes (e.g., CVI, PIP, MI), characterization, or qualification
• Experience qualifying external suppliers and managing supplier relationships, including supplier qualification and procedure reviews
• Experience in both development and production environments
• Experience planning design-allowables or characterization programs
• Experience holding technical approval or signature authority for drawings, specifications, or NC dispositions
• Proficiency in navigating models in 3D CAD programs (Creo Pro/E & Catia preferred)

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.