BE-4 Launch Operations Engineer

Blue Origin; Florida; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Education Support Program

Job summary

Blue Origin seeks a senior propulsion engineer to lead integration, flight support, and data-driven decision making for BE-4 engines. You’ll advise customers, verify installations, and certify readiness for flight while guiding mission-critical reviews and risk mitigation.

You will develop engine integration specs and flight concepts, act as Engines group representative at launch sites, and oversee anomaly investigations, collaborating across teams in a fast-paced, safety-focused environment.

Qualifications

• BS in aerospace/mechanical engineering or physics.
• 5+ years in propulsion development, testing, or launch/flight ops.
• Strong grasp of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and structures.
• Experience with propulsion systems and launch vehicle ops.
• Experience in test and flight data analysis.
• Understanding of cryogenic propellants (liquid nitrogen/oxygen).
• Familiarity with propulsion hardware (turbomachinery, valves, sensors).
• Willingness to travel for flight/test activities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to collaborate.

Responsibilities

• Advise customers on engine integration into flight vehicle and certify installation.
• Provide engineering support during launch and flight, including mission control presence.
• Lead data reviews and interpret flight data with customers and teams.
• Develop specs for engine integration, ConOps, and vehicle checkout standards.
• Be the Engines group voice at launch sites and coordinate risk mitigation.
• Lead anomaly investigations and root-cause analyses as needed.

Skills

Propulsion development

Test/flight operations

Thermodynamics

Fluid mechanics

Cryogenic propellants

Systems engineering

Data analysis

Python scripting

Education

BS in aerospace or mechanical engineering or physics

Tools

Python

Flight data analysis

Job description

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. You will work with a team of engineers as a member of the BE-4 Vehicle Integration and Flight Support team to supports our vehicle customer as they integrate and fly BE-4 engines. It will be your responsibility to advise our customers as they integrate our engines into the flight vehicle, verify the installation, and certify the installation for flight. Leading up to day-of-launch, the flight team will report engine status at Mission and Flight Readiness Reviews and work with a team of responsible engineers (RE) to write, review, and execute launch procedures. You will provide engineering support in launch/mission control during flight, analyze flight data, lead engine subsystem data reviews, and provide feedback on flight data results to the customer base, designers, and component owners for implementation into future engine upgrades. As part of this role, you will use your system engineering skills to lead and support development of the specifications that are used for engine integration into the flight vehicle, development of flight level ConOps, and be a general voice for the Engines group at the launch site. Aside from direct launch and flight support, you will serve as Engines point of contact for the vehicle customer, lead problem solving efforts and assist to disposition non-conformances. As subject matter expert in launch vehicle and flight operations you will help establish standards to streamline the engine integration and checkout process to minimize schedule impacts and identify, communicate, and mitigate risks. If required, you will also lead anomaly investigations. We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and dedication to quality to positively impact safe spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of a B.S. degree in aerospace/mechanical engineering or physics
• 5+ years proven ability in propulsion development, test, or launch/flight operations
• Strong understanding and ability to apply engineering fundamentals including thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and structures
• Prior experience with propulsion systems and launch vehicle operations
• Prior experience in test and flight data analysis
• Strong understanding of cryogenic propellants (liquid natural gas and liquid oxygen)
• Working knowledge of engine components such as turbomachinery, valves, combustion devices, and other high pressure and cryogenic fluid system components
• Understands instrumentation including pressure transducers, thermocouples, and accelerometers
• Proven track record to identify and handle risks in a sophisticated dynamic system
• Knowledge of systems engineering practices
• Desire to work in a collaborative, fast paced, and multifaceted environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Willingness to travel to support flight and test activities
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and strengthen our 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

• Advanced degree in aerospace/mechanical engineering or physics
• Experience with liquid rocket engine testing
• Experience with data processing and writing automated data scripts in Python

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

• Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%, and an Education Support Program.
• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.
• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion.
• Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

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