Lead Automation Project Engineer – Manufacturing

Blue Origin; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 182,000 - 254,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Origin’s Factory Automation team seeks an experienced Project Engineer with hands-on mechanical and controls experience to lead automated manufacturing projects from requirements through production. This role emphasizes real delivery of production-ready systems, not just R&D, with a focus on scalable, repeatable automation and cross-functional collaboration.

The ideal candidate brings 5+ years in automation, knowledge of machining, welding, metrology, and a passion for building robust

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls, Mechatronics, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years hands-on experience in the design, build, and commissioning of automated manufacturing systems, including minimum 2 years in a project management, technical lead, or equivalent leadership role on capital equipment or automation projects.
• Hands-on technical experience in industrial automation — including mechanical design, controls engineering, or both — sufficient to lead engineering teams, evaluate technical feasibility, and make informed design decisions without relying solely on analysis or simulation.
• Experience with automation simulation and cycle time analysis using tools such as Process Simulate, Visual Components, FlexSim, or similar.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Engage internal customers to define, document, and validate system requirements for automated manufacturing solutions.
• Develop conceptual simulations and cycle time models of individual machines and production lines to evaluate and recommend optimal automation strategies and production line architectures.
• Develop initial conceptual solutions for automated manufacturing equipment; present solutions and justifications to customer stakeholders and refine approaches based on feedback.
• Lead Design for Automated Manufacturing initiatives with product design teams; recommend product modifications to improve automated manufacturability and reduce system complexity.
• Prepare cost estimates, labor-hour projections, and project schedules for proposed automation solutions; develop scope of work documents for individual machinery for delivery to internal customers.
• Own project execution from requirements definition through commissioning, maintaining schedule, budget, and scope alignment throughout the project lifecycle.
• Maintain comprehensive technical knowledge of assigned projects; serve as the primary point of accountability for system requirements, design decisions, and project status.
• Identify and evaluate automation component suppliers; support procurement and sourcing decisions.
• Collaborate with engineering teams during detailed design; provide technical clarification and maintain alignment with conceptual intent.

Skills

Mechanical design

Controls engineering

Project management

Automation

Engineering principles

PLC concepts

CNC concepts

Manufacturing automation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls, Mechatronics, or related field

Tools

Process Simulate

Visual Components

FlexSim

Job description

Blue Origin’s Factory Automation team seeks an experienced Project Engineer with hands-on mechanical and controls experience to lead automated manufacturing projects from requirements through production. This role emphasizes real delivery of production-ready systems, not just R&D, with a focus on scalable, repeatable automation and cross-functional collaboration.

The ideal candidate brings 5+ years in automation, knowledge of machining, welding, metrology, and a passion for building robust