Mechanical Engineer II - New Glenn Umbilicals

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.

This role supports the development and operations of New Glenn, a single-configuration, heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle capable of routinely carrying payloads to low-Earth orbit, geostationary transfer orbit, cislunar, and beyond.

As part of a small, hardworking, passionate, diverse, and accomplished team, you will be responsible for managing the full design lifecycle of New Glenn Umbilical hardware. This role will particularly focus on design updates driven by flight data and improvements required to achieve our launch cadence goals. A strong foundation in engineering fundamentals is required for success. This includes experience using design tools like 3D models, 2D drawings, tolerance stack, GD&T, and analysis software, practical experience supporting manufacturing, and experience verifying requirements have been met through test, and data analysis activities. Umbilicals systems include both pressurized fluids and structural components so experience in one or both of those, ideally in the aerospace industry, is also necessary for success. We are looking for a self-starter who is eager to learn and support active production of our launch vehicle. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space to enable Blue’s vision of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth.

Special Mentions [Edit or remove as needed]

- Relocation provided
- Travel expected up to 10% of the time

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

- Manage new design solutions, design changes, and continuous improvements to launch vehicle structural/fluid Umbilicals assemblies
- Create design artifacts including 3D models, detail part drawings, assembly drawings, installation drawings, and interface control documents
- Provide technical guidance and on-site support for manufacturing, production, integration, and test activities
- Drive root cause analyses and corrective actions of hardware non-conformances
- Perform or facilitate hand calculation and/or FEM analyses of new designs
- Coordinate design updates with manufacturing, production, integration, test, and launch operations teams. Provide technical on-site support to these teams as needed to implement design updates.
- Clearly document and communicate design updates to facilitate smooth production cut-ins
- Identify opportunities for improvement to build rates and cost
- Identify and support test activities necessary to verify designs
- Prepare technical content and present to internal customers

- Perform engineering inspections of launch vehicle and ground systems hardware pre or post launch

Minimum Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or equivalent
- 2+ years designing aerospace or equivalent type mechanical system elements within aircraft, spacecraft, or launch vehicles using metallic and/or composite materials, manufacturing processes, and assembly methods
- Working knowledge of aerospace materials and treatments
- Able to work at a detailed part design level and understand higher level system impacts
- Experience in 3D CAD programs (Creo preferred)
- Experience with GD&T (ASME Y14.5)
- Experienced with manufacturing, fabrication, integration processes, and quality control techniques relative to aerospace hardware
- Experience with stack-ups, linear and radial and types of fits
- Experience with static and dynamic seals and spring seal design
- Experience with one or more cryogenic, hydraulic, or pneumatic fluid systems or component design
- Experience with secondary structure design
- Experience in bolted joint design
- Ability to clearly communicate engineering information to cross functional teams
- Some climbing, lifting, and general mobility required to be able to access hardware
- Strong organizational skills
- Committed to following industry best practices for safety and quality
- Strong desire to continuously learn and improve
- Self-motivated with a strong desire to learn, take ownership, and drive projects to completion
- Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion
- 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

- 4+ years of proven experience in the design of fluid systems and/or mechanisms
- Experience in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools to analyze pressurized systems and secondary structures (ANSYS preferred)
- Experienced analyzing and designing dynamic hardware
- Experienced working in production environment in aerospace or launch vehicle industries
- Hands-on test experience for mechanical or fluid assembly testing
- Hands-on manufacturing experience for mechanical or fluid assemblies
- Experience with launch vehicle or ground cryogenic and pressurized systems

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