Manufacturing Engineer III

Application close date:

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!

Join the Manufacturing Engineering team within the Advanced Concepts & Enterprise Engineering business unit, where we provide technical solutions across multiple early-stage development programs. This role will set manufacturing operations direction for vehicle and subsystem-level architectures, define engineering strategies, and ensure Blue Origin's most innovative concepts are manufacturable from inception.

As a small, agile team operating at the intersection of innovation and manufacturability, we work with programs from initial concept through preliminary design definition representing the collective voice of manufacturing, supply chain, test, and operations. We place significant effort on planning, trades, and architecture development before hardware builds begin. From early planning to hands-on support of demonstrators, we ensure manufacturing considerations shape rather than react to design decisions.

We thrive in ambiguity, make strategic recommendations quickly with limited data, and own technical roadmaps that impact programs at critical early stages.

Special Mentions:

• Relocation provided
• Travel expected up to 20% of the time
• Interviews will include a technical assessment
• Location:
  
  Cape Canaveral, FL or Kent, WA

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Serve as the manufacturing technical focal for assigned subsystems and/or Assembly, Integration, and Test (AI&T) activities, establishing manufacturing plans for vehicle architectures and presenting solutions to leadership
• Plan for and support builds of engineering demonstrators, test articles, and prototype hardware, providing hands-on support during fabrication, assembly, and testing to validate manufacturing approaches
• Drive Design for Excellence (DFX) principles, conduct producibility assessments, support trade studies, and develop roadmaps to bridge manufacturing technology gaps
• Develop manufacturing artifacts including Production Readiness Level assessments, manufacturing management plans, build strategies, facility capacity plans, and tooling designs
• Partner with Program Management, Design Engineering, and Operations teams to identify manufacturing risks, establish mitigation plans, and influence design/programmatic decisions
• Mentor engineers, challenge teams to question requirements and identify elegant solutions, and foster a culture of integrity and continuous improvement

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related technical field
• Strong understanding of component and system development lifecycle from concept through production
• Proven capacity to provide technical leadership, set strategic direction for manufacturing solutions, and apply project management skills to coordinate activities across multiple stakeholders
• Experience planning and supporting R&D hardware builds including defining/reviewing design requirements, authoring manufacturing work instructions, managing BOMs, process documentation, and non-conformance resolution/RCCA
• Proven success influencing design requirements and developing manufacturing processes
• Experience with CAD systems (NX, CATIA, or Solid Works) and PLM tools
• Excellent written and oral communication skills including experience presenting to senior leadership, with demonstrated ability to earn trust and maintain positive professional relationships
• Ability to work extended hours/weekends to support critical milestones

Preferred Qualifications:

• 7+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, or similarly complex manufacturing environments
• Spacecraft or launch vehicle integration experience with demonstrated technical expertise in one or more of the following areas:
  Structures, Thermal Protection Systems, Fluids/Propulsion Systems, Environmental Control and Life Support Systems, Integrated Vehicle Test, MGSE/EGSE
• Experience in technical leadership roles, with or without direct reports
• On-Site R&D/prototype experience establishing novel manufacturing processes, tooling/fixturing/GSE, and ensuring producible designs through application of DFX principles
• Experience developing or maintaining subsystem or AI&T artifacts in hardware development programs
• Project management experience, training, and/or certification (PMP, Agile, etc.)
• Familiarity with advanced manufacturing processes…