Drafter CAD - III
About this role
Blue Origin is hiring a Drafter CAD - III, full-time, on-site in 2 Locations, in the Aerospace sector.
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 a member of a small, high-performing structural design team, you'll join a group of problem solvers who own the entire development process from concept to commissioning. You will take designs from CAD model to fabricated, field-ready hardware.
Our team is the backbone of operational infrastructure for our program. We design essential support hardware including test stands, towers, lift fixtures, pipe supports, specialized assembly tooling, transporters, maintenance platforms, and dolly systems — routinely in steel and aluminum, often with piping and other energized subsystems. As a drafter, you'll bring 3D models to life, develop the detail and assembly drawings that bring hardware to the shop floor, and iterate the models in response to engineering feedback. You will also contribute creatively during concepting and design trades — proposing configurations, resolving packaging constraints, and helping the team land on the right design.
In this role, you'll partner directly with design engineers, technicians, and fabricators to hit program objectives. You'll own CAD model and drawing maintenance across large assemblies, apply drafting standards consistently, and act as the team's single point of contact for drafting conventions. Beyond documentation, you'll make judgment calls that optimize designs for cost, manufacturability, and schedule — simplifying details where it matters and challenging configurations that are hard to build.
We're looking for a drafter with sharp judgment, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to clearly convey how a design goes together — through models, drawings, and conversation. Someone who elevates the work of the team: catching the issue before it reaches the shop, proposing the cleaner configuration during a review, and raising the bar on drawing quality across the group.
Special Mentions
- Relocation provided
- Travel expected up to 20% of the time
- Interviews will include a technical assessment
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Develop 3D CAD models and 2D drawing packages for steel structures, tooling, and piping systems to industry standards (ASME Y14.3, Y14.5, Y14.100, Y14.41); iterate on models in response to engineering feedback and contribute design options during concepting and trade studies
- Develop design layouts, skeletons, installation drawings and overall packaging models; modify existing drawings and models to support design iteration
- Generate multiple packaging concepts for a given problem; present options and communicate relevant trade details to design engineers and stakeholders
- Coordinate model assemblies from other groups; create and maintain final end-item CAD models for team deliverables
- Translate development analysis models to master CAD models
- Manage large CAD assemblies and associated drawing packages, including configuration standards for product structure, bill of materials, and naming/organization of program data
- Act as the team's single point drafting standards checker; assist in the development and deployment of reasonable drafting standards across the group
- Apply Design for Manufacturing and Design for Assembly principles to achieve a balanced approach to cost, schedule, and performance
- Partner closely with design engineers, fabricators, and vendors to resolve drawing and model issues during fabrication and field integration
- Self-direct prioritization and scheduling of work activity in support of team deliverables
- Support configuration management and PDM workflows for program CAD data
Minimum Qualifications
- 7+ years of recent experience designing/drafting steel and aluminum structural parts, components, or subsystems in a 3D CAD environment
- Strong mechanical design and integration skills using Siemens NX
- Experience using Siemens Teamcenter for CAD data management, configuration control, and release workflows
- Experience managing large CAD assemblies and associated drawing packages through the product life cycle
- Experience drafting structural equipment or tooling for aerospace, manufacturing, or other heavy industrial applications
- Proficiency with ASME Y14.3 (orthographic and pictorial views), Y14.5 (GD&T), Y14.100 (engineering drawing practices), and Y14.41 (model-based definition / digital product definition data practices)
- Familiarity with weld symbology and weld joint design per AWS D1.1 / D1.2
- Familiarity with existing applicable drafting standards and ability to apply them consistently across a team
- Practical knowledge of manufacturing processes (milling, turning, cutting, welding) and ability to design for fabrication
- Strong organization skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and drawing packages
- U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, or otherwise able to review all export-controlled technical information
- 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
- Hands-on fabrication, welding, or machining experience acquired through personal pursuits or professional work
- Familiarity with ASME B30.20 / BTH-1 for below-the-hook lifting devices
- Experience creating pipe spool installation and fabrication drawings
- Large-scale model manipulation and performance management techniques for complex assemblies
- Experience with ergonomic and human factors considerations in tooling design
- Familiarity with OSHA 1910 subparts relevant to personnel access equipment
Base Pay Range for:
WA applicants is $39.34 - $55.07
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
<Description from Blue Origin's official posting. Always confirm details on the company careers page.
About Blue Origin
Blue Origin
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About Larry Sherwood Jr.
Talent Acquisition Leader specializing in mobility, EV, and frontier tech. 1,000+ hires across roles ranging from production technicians to VPs, including 48 hires for the AFEELA U.S. launch at Sony Honda Mobility (98% offer acceptance, $1.5M+ agency savings). SHRM-CP certified. Build recruiting functions from scratch, no agencies.
Currently open to senior TA leadership roles in the United States. larrysherwoodjr.com · Resume (PDF)
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