Manager-Mechanical Engineering

Blue Origin LLC; Torch of Friendship (FL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off + holidays

Stock options

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC is seeking a Manager-Mechanical Engineering for the Large Mechanisms team at LC-36, Cape Canaveral, FL. You will balance hands‑on technical leadership with people management, setting direction, mentoring engineers, and interfacing with program leadership.

You will drive critical design decisions, oversee external partners, and ensure safety, quality, and schedule adherence across multiple concurrent mechanism design programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or closely related discipline.
• 10+ years of professional mechanical engineering experience with large‑scale mechanisms or GSE.
• 4+ years of direct engineering management or team lead experience.
• Experience leading mechanical design programs from concept through commissioning and operations.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD and PLM platforms (CREO/Windchill).
• Experience with FEA software (ANSYS or equivalent).
• Knowledge of GD&T (ASME Y14.5) and tolerance stack‑up analysis.
• Experience managing external design/fabrication partners.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership as the mechanical authority for the Large Mechanisms team.
• Lead recruitment, coaching, and performance development for direct reports.
• Manage scope, schedule, budget, and technical quality across concurrent design programs.
• Interface with program leadership and cross‑functional stakeholders to ensure launch‑site readiness.

Job description

About the Role

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 Blue Origin Operations, which is comprised of Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance. This includes Manufacturing and Supply Chain support across all Blue Origin facilities.

Manager-Mechanical Engineering As Technical Manager of the Large Mechanisms team, you will lead a high‑performing group of mechanical engineers designing, developing, and delivering the ground mechanical systems and GSE (Ground Support Equipment) that support Blue Origin's launch operations at LC-36 (Cape Canaveral, FL). You will balance hands‑on technical leadership with people management, setting the technical direction for the team, developing your engineers, driving execution, and serving as the primary interface between your team and program leadership. This is a technical management role and is not a purely administrative management position. You will be expected to maintain meaningful technical engagement with the work your team produces, provide engineering judgment on critical design decisions, and be a credible technical voice with stakeholders across the program.

Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership Serve as technical authority for the large mechanisms team, provide engineering guidance and judgment on complex design challenges. Establish and maintain mechanical design standards, analysis methods, and best practices for the team. Review and approve critical design packages, FEA analyses, tolerance stack‑up analyses, and engineering drawings. Drive design reviews at key project milestones; ensure all team deliverables comply with applicable codes, standards, and specifications.
• People Leadership Directly manage a team of Mechanical Engineers supporting large mechanisms and GSE design. Recruit, hire, and onboard engineering talent, actively build and maintain a strong team pipeline. Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and career development conversations, identify skill gaps and develop targeted growth plans for all direct reports. Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and safety‑first team culture consistent with Blue Origin's values.
• Program Execution & Cross‑Functional Leadership Own team deliverables, manage scope, schedule, budget, and technical quality across multiple concurrent mechanism design programs, identify and communicate risks early and drive mitigation plans. Oversee external design and fabrication partners, ensure technical compliance, quality, and schedule adherence through the full project lifecycle including fabrication, assembly, installation, and testing & activation. Interface with program managers, systems engineers, operations leads to align on priorities and ensure designs are operationally supportable and launch‑site safe. Represent the large mechanisms team in program‑level reviews, technical interchange meetings, and leadership forums, contribute to budget, headcount planning, and resource allocation in coordination with senior leadership.

Minimum Qualifications (required)

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or closely related discipline.
• 10+ years of professional mechanical engineering experience with significant focus on large‑scale mechanical systems, mechanisms, or GSE.
• 4+ years of direct engineering management or team lead experience, including performance management and career development of direct reports.
• Demonstrated experience leading mechanical design programs from concept through commissioning and operations.
• Experience with ASME Y14.5 Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) and tolerance stack‑up analysis.
• Experience designing and analyzing bolted connections, mechanical interfaces, and load‑bearing joints in precision mechanical assemblies.
• Experience with heavy‑duty mechanism types including locking mechanisms, linkage systems, quick release systems, and alignment mechanisms.
• Experience analyzing mechanical systems under dynamic loading conditions including vibration, shock, and fatigue.
• Experience managing external design and fabrication partners through complete project lifecycles.
• Proficiency in 3D parametric CAD modeling and PDM/PLM platforms (PTC Creo/Windchill or equivalent).
• Proficiency in commercial FEA software for mechanical, structural, and dynamic analysis (ANSYS or equivalent).
• Knowledge of engineering change and configuration management processes and document management and tracking tools.
• 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.

Desired (not required)

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, or closely related field.
• PMP certification.
• 5+ years direct GSE design and analysis experience.
• Experience building or scaling engineering teams in a fast‑paced aerospace or industrial environment.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license (Mechanical).
• Experience with ANSYS.
• Experience with PTC Creo/Windchill.

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 BlueOrigin, 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 (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 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.

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Closing

We’re committed to building the road to space so our children can build the future. We are a mission‑driven company focused on ideas and innovation, and encourage fresh perspectives from bold voices. At Blue, our team is building the future as their unique selves. Thank you for your interest in working at Blue Origin! Blue Origin was founded with a vision to enable a future where millions of people are living and working in space to benefit Earth. In order to preserve Earth, Blue Origin believes in the need to enable humanity to expand, explore, find new energy and material resources, and move industries that stress Earth into space. Blue Origin believes it has an important role in building a road to space and lowering the cost of getting there. At Blue Origin, we’re working on this today by developing fully reusable launch vehicles and systems that are safe, reliable and affordable. Every launch vehicle is designed for human spaceflight from the beginning and able to ferry payloads to space.