Materials and Process Engineer II - Thermal Protection Systems

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 Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin’s mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth.

The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design.

As a Materials and Process Engineer II specializing in Thermal Protection Systems (TPS), you will play a critical role in the design, development, and implementation of materials and processes for our innovative space vehicle. You will be part of a dynamic team of engineers and technicians, leveraging your expertise to select, test, and characterize materials for extreme thermal environments.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead the execution and logistics of material test campaigns, from initial planning and vendor coordination to final data delivery.
• Evaluate and select metallic and non‑metallic materials for use in TPS, considering mechanical properties, thermal performance, and environmental resistance.
• Manage hands‑on test article fabrication, hardware builds, and lab characterization activities.
• Meticulously maintain specimen, lot, and batch traceability to ensure data pedigree for all tested hardware.
• Perform data reduction, plotting, and analysis from various material tests to synthesize clear and actionable results.
• Create, review, and maintain engineering documentation, including test procedures, test reports, and material or process specifications.
• Collaborate with design and manufacturing teams to integrate material and process requirements into the vehicle design.
• Support the production, integration, and refurbishment of thermal protection systems.
• Practice root cause analysis and develop corrective actions for non‑conformances.
• Stay informed on emerging technologies and industry trends in advanced materials and thermal protection systems.

Minimum Qualifications:

• B.S. in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related technical field.
• 2+ years of relevant experience in Materials and Process Engineering.
• Developing professional expertise in applying materials science fundamentals across the development cycle (requirements, design, analysis, fabrication, test).
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings/models and apply their specific intent.
• Experience contributing to the dispositioning of non‑conformances.
• Demonstrated experience in executing test campaigns and coordinating with test labs or vendors.
• Proven ability to work independently on assigned projects and drive them to closure.
• 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:

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Materials Science/Engineering or a related field.
• Direct hands‑on experience with the manufacturing or testing of high‑temperature materials and Thermal Protection System (TPS) materials (e.g., ablatives, ceramic matrix composites, high‑temperature alloys).
• Experience authoring or contributing to Process Control Documents (PCDs).
• Demonstrated experience as a Material & Process signatory on a flight production program.
• Experience with material characterization techniques (e.g., SEM, EDS, TGA, DSC).
• Familiarity with Non‑Destructive Evaluation (NDE) techniques.
• Working knowledge of composite material testing standards, such as CMH-17.
• Familiarity with design and analysis software (e.g., CAD, FEA, thermal analysis tools).
• Knowledge of environmentally‑assisted degradation of materials in space and atmospheric reentry…