Manufacturing Engineer III Hardware

Front Door Defense; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Stock options

Job summary

Blue Origin seeks a Manufacturing Engineer III in Huntsville, AL, to lead manufacturing strategy from concept to demonstrator builds. You will define engineering strategies, partner across PM, Design Eng, and Ops, and drive DFX and producibility for vehicle architectures.

The role requires strong leadership, deep welding expertise (GMAW/GTAW), and CAD proficiency with NX/CATIA/SolidWorks, to deliver manufacturable concepts and hands-on support during fabrication and testing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Industrial, or related technical field.
• Strong understanding of component and system development lifecycle from concept through production.
• Deep technical understanding of common welding methods: GMAW (MIG) and GTAW (TIG).
• Ability to provide technical leadership and coordinate activities across stakeholders.
• Experience planning and supporting R&D hardware builds and defining manufacturing requirements.
• Proven ability to influence design requirements and develop manufacturing processes.
• Experience with CAD and PLM tools and presenting to leadership.
• Willingness to work extended hours to meet milestones.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the manufacturing focal for subsystems/AI&T activities, establishing plans for vehicle architectures.
• Support builds of demonstrators, test articles, and prototype hardware with hands-on fabrication and testing.
• Drive DFX, producibility assessments, and roadmaps to bridge manufacturing gaps.
• Develop artifacts like Production Readiness Levels, build strategies, and tooling designs.
• Partner with PM, Design Eng, and Operations to identify risks and mitigation plans.
• Mentor engineers and foster continuous improvement.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Welding (GMAW)

Welding (GTAW)

CAD: NX

CAD: CATIA

CAD: SolidWorks

PLM tools

Project management

Communication to leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related technical field

Tools

NX

CATIA

SolidWorks

PLM tools

Job description

Manufacturing Engineer III

Lead manufacturing strategy for a vehicle architecture from concept to demonstrator builds

Location: Huntsville, Alabama

About The Role

Engineer - Manufacturing III

Join the Manufacturing Engineering team supporting the Advanced Concepts & Enterprise Engineering business unit, where we provide technical solutions across multiple early-stage development programs. This role will set manufacturing operations direction for vehicle and subsystem-level architectures, define engineering strategies, and ensure Blue Origin's most innovative concepts are manufacturable from inception.

As a small, agile team operating at the intersection of innovation and manufacturability, we work with programs from initial concept through preliminary design definition representing the collective voice of manufacturing, supply chain, test, and other operations support functions. We place significant effort on planning, trades, and architecture development before hardware builds begin. From early planning to hands‑on support of demonstrators, we ensure manufacturing considerations shape rather than react to design decisions. We thrive in ambiguity, make strategic recommendations quickly with limited data, and own technical roadmaps that impact programs at critical early stages.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Serve as the manufacturing technical focal for assigned subsystems and/or Assembly, Integration, and Test (AI&T) activities, establishing manufacturing plans for vehicle architectures and presenting solutions to leadership
• 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
• Develop manufacturing artifacts including Production Readiness Level assessments, manufacturing management plans, build strategies, facility capacity plans, and tooling designs
• Partner with Program Management, Design Engineering, and Operations support teams to identify manufacturing risks, establish mitigation plans, and influence design/programmatic decisions
• Mentor engineers, challenge teams to question requirements and identify elegant solutions, and foster a culture of integrity and continuous improvement

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related technical field
• Strong understanding of component and system development lifecycle from concept through production
• Deep technical understanding of common methods like GMAW (MIG), GTAW (TIG), and welding methodologies
• Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership, set strategic direction for manufacturing solutions, and apply project management skills to coordinate activities across multiple stakeholders
• Experience planning and supporting R&D hardware builds including defining/reviewing design requirements, authoring manufacturing work instructions, managing BOMs, process documentation, and non-conformance resolution/RCCA
• Proven success influencing design requirements and developing manufacturing processes
• Experience with CAD systems (NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks) and PLM tools
• Excellent written and oral communication skills including experience presenting to senior leadership, with demonstrated ability to earn trust and maintain positive professional relationships
• Flexibility to support critical milestones, which may require extended hours

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, or similarly complex manufacturing environments
• Background in designing weld fixtures and tooling to control part distortion.
• Spacecraft or launch vehicle integration experience with demonstrated technical expertise in one or more of the following areas: Fluids/Propulsion Systems, Harnessing, Electrical Power Systems, Thermal Protection Systems, Environmental Control and Life Support Systems, Integrated Vehicle Test, MGSE/EGSE
• Experience in technical leadership roles, with or without direct reports
• On-Site R&D/prototype experience establishing novel manufacturing processes, tooling/fixturing/GSE, and ensuring producible designs through application of DFX principles
• Experience developing or maintaining subsystem or AI&T artifacts in hardware development programs
• Project management experience, training, and/or certification (PMP, Agile, etc.)
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and assembly

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

• Benefits 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 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

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin's Affiantive 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.