Manufacturing Design Engineer III - GSE & Tooling

Blue Origin LLC; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 121,000 - 169,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Blue Origin in Kent, WA seeks an experienced Manufacturing Engineer to design tooling, fixtures, and Ground Support Equipment for lunar vehicle hardware, emphasizing modularity and rapid deployment. You'll collaborate with design, manufacturing, technicians, quality, and operations to improve build processes and tooling concepts.

The role requires a BS in mechanical/aerospace/manufacturing engineering, 5+ years in tooling or GSE in aerospace or regulated industry, CAD proficiency, GD&T, and

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing Engineering or related field; or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years in tooling design, GSE design, or hardware development in regulated industry.
• Experience releasing tooling, fixtures, and GSE for mechanical assemblies.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD, GD&T, tolerancing, and design for manufacturability/assembly.
• Experience supporting production operations and nonconformances resolution.
• Hands-on with structural hand-calculation methods and documentation control.

Responsibilities

• Design tooling, fixtures, handling equipment, and GSE for efficient production and test of flight hardware.
• Work with design, manufacturing, technicians, quality, and operations to develop build processes and tooling concepts.
• Plan and support builds of demonstrators and prototype hardware with hands-on fabrication, assembly, and testing.
• Drive DFX, conduct producibility assessments, and develop roadmaps to close manufacturing gaps.
• Develop, release, and maintain CAD models, drawings, specs, and procedures for tooling and production.
• Support tooling fabrication, validation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Tooling design

GSE design

3D CAD

GD&T

Manufacturing engineering

Production support

Hand calculations

Issue tracking

MS Office

Education

B.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing Engineering, or related

Tools

Creo

CATIA

NX

Windchill

ANSYS

MBD

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 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.As part of Blue Origin’s Lunar Permanence team, you will work with specialists, technicians, and engineers to develop and implement manufacturing and production processes that support the development and production of lunar vehicles, with a strong emphasis on tooling and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) design.You will translate design requirements into effective tooling, GSE solutions, and production systems that enable efficient, high-quality aerospace hardware manufacturing. This role supports the full lifecycle of tooling and GSE development, including requirements definition, concept and detailed design, fabrication coordination, validation, implementation, and continuous improvement.You will also develop and release engineering artifacts, provide guidance to design engineering to improve manufacturability, assembly, test, and integration, and ensure processes, tooling, GSE, and procedures comply with engineering specifications, contract requirements, safety standards, and applicable regulations.Special MentionsLocation: Kent, WARelocation providedTravel expected up to 10% of the timeFirst Shift (Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm)Interviews will include a technical assessmentResponsibilities include but are not limited to:Design tooling, fixtures, handling equipment, and Ground Support Equipment supporting efficient manufacturing, assembly, integration, and test of flight hardware, with an emphasis on modularity, usability, and rapid implementation.Work directly with cross-functional teams, including design engineering, manufacturing engineering, technicians, quality, and operations, to develop new or revised build processes, tooling concepts, and concepts of operations.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.Proactively drive the definition, development, and refinement of tooling and GSE requirements to enable rapid design, fabrication, deployment, and iteration.Develop, release, and maintain engineering documentation, including CAD models, drawings, specifications, procedures, and other artifacts required to support tooling and production implementation.Support tooling fabrication, validation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient production of lunar vehicle hardware.Minimum QualificationsB.S. degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing Engineering, or related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.5+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, tooling design, GSE design, production support, or hardware development, preferably in aerospace or another highly regulated industry.Demonstrated experience designing, developing, releasing, and implementing tooling, assembly fixtures, handling equipment, test support equipment, or other complex GSE for mechanical assemblies.Proficiency with 3D CAD tools, engineering design fundamentals, GD&T, tolerance analysis, design for manufacturability/assembly, and configuration-controlled documentation.Extensive experience supporting production operations, including working with technicians, resolving nonconformances, improving processes, and ensuring compliance with engineering, safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.Demonstrated experience using hand-calculations for structural analysis of tooling and GSE strength, stability, and failure modes.Experience using issue-tracking tools and Microsoft Office applications used to develop, release, and manage engineering documentation and production support tasks.The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills, a high degree of independence, a strong sense of urgency, and the ability to thrive in a highly dynamic and sometimes ambiguous environment.Flexibility to support critical milestones, which may require extended hours.Preferred QualificationsHigh proficiency in Creo, CATIA, NX, Windchill, or similar CAD/PLM tools, including configuration-controlled design release.Experience using ANSYS or similar FEA tools to evaluate tooling and GSE for strength, stiffness, stability, and load-case requirements.Experience working within Model-Based Definition (MBD) design environments.Base Pay Range for:WA applicants is $121,023.00 - $169,432.20Other site ranges may differCulture StatementDon’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 RegulationsApplicants 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 CheckRequired for all positions: Blue’s Standard Background CheckRequired for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installationRequired 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 physicalBenefitsBenefits include: 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 OpportunityBlue 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.Affirmative Action and Disability AccommodationApplicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at [e-mail] . Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.