Propulsion Engineer III - Auxiliary Systems Design

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!

• Relocation provided
• Travel expected up to 20% of the time

• Own the mechanical design of the auxiliary and driveline systems supporting large-scale turbo machinery development and testing
• Responsible for design and development of shaft couplings, bearing housings and integration, speed‑reduction gear units, bearing fluid lubrication systems, seal support systems, mounting and structural support systems - from concept through hardware implementation and test.
• Lead the driveline architecture trades: rigid versus flexible coupling, direct drive versus an intermediate / quill shaft with its own bearings versus a reduction gear unit; document the decisions and their rationale.
• Create and release engineering drawings, 3D models, and specifications in CAD (NX or Creo) and the PLM system (Windchill), applying GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
• Perform and direct tolerance stack‑ups, fit / clearance definition, and alignment analysis for the rotating-equipment train.
• Integrate the bearing system into the driveline design – housings, fits, instrumentation provisions, and assembly – in close collaboration with bearing subject‑matter experts.
• Serve as the prime mechanical‑design interface to external vendors (coupling, bearing, gear‑unit, and driven‑equipment suppliers): own the interface control documents, evaluate proposals, and drive technical alignment.
• Interface with the core turbo machinery team on rotor dynamics and bearing loads so that coupling, bearing, and shaft‑train requirements are correctly captured and met.
• Contribute to detailed trade studies that result in selecting optimal mission‑suitable subsystem hardware.
• Support hardware build, assembly, acceptance testing, alignment, and anomaly investigation for auxiliary‑systems components; provide engineering dispositions for non‑conforming hardware.
• Develop and maintain design requirements and documentation; contribute technical artifacts to subsystem and program gated reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR, TRR).

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the mechanical design of rotating equipment or drivetrain hardware (couplings, bearings, gear units, shaft systems, or comparable rotating‑machinery mechanical systems).
• Proficiency in 3D CAD (NX, Creo, or equivalent) and engineering drawing release.
• Working knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T, ASME Y14.5) and tolerance stack‑up analysis.
• Demonstrated ownership of hardware through at least one complete design, build, and test cycle.
• Experience working in cross‑disciplinary engineering teams.
• A track record of taking ownership, showing resilience in the face of challenges, and consistently delivering results.

• 7+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Experience working in aerospace.
• M.S. in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Experience designing high‑speed shaft couplings (flexible disc / diaphragm, rigid, or intermediate / quill‑shaft) for rotating‑equipment trains.
• Experience integrating journal and thrust bearings (tilting‑pad and other fluid‑film types) into rotating machinery.
• Experience with speed‑reduction gear units for high‑speed rotating equipment (e.g., AGMA 6011 / API 613 class gear drives).
• Experience with lubrication systems and seal support systems for rotating equipment.
• Familiarity with applicable rotating‑equipment industry standards (e.g., API 671 couplings, API 614 lubrication, API 670 / 684 machinery protection and rotor dynamics).
• Rotor dynamics literacy (lateral and torsional critical speeds, shaft‑train coupling) sufficient to define driveline requirements.
• Experience with structural mounting /…