Principal Propulsion Engineer, Blue Thrusters

Blue Origin; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Origin Engines in Seattle, WA seeks a senior propulsion engineer to design, analyze, and test thruster combustion devices and related propulsion components. You will work across systems to integrate injectors, chambers, valves, and drive electronics while delivering robust performance and reliability.

The role emphasizes hands-on testing, root-cause analysis, mentorship of junior engineers, and collaboration with cross-functional teams on complex spaceflight hardware.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in liquid rocket engine or spacecraft thruster development
• Hands-on experience designing and analyzing injectors and thrust chambers, including performance, combustion stability, and thermal analysis
• Experience planning, conducting, and analyzing hot-fire testing of liquid propulsion hardware
• Solid understanding of propellant valves and their impact on ignition, transients, and thruster behavior
• Experience supporting technical failure investigations and design corrections
• Ability to work across disciplines and make sound technical decisions with incomplete information
• Strong communication and mentoring skills
• US citizen or eligible for export-controlled work

Responsibilities

• Design, analyze, and develop thruster combustion devices, injectors, and chambers for performance and stability
• Contribute to thruster-level design integrating valves, feed interfaces, and drive electronics
• Perform analyses and correlate with test data to improve designs
• Plan and support hot-fire test campaigns, data review, and instrumentation
• Investigate root causes and apply first-principles corrective actions
• Mentor engineers on injector and chamber design, testing, and data review
• Collaborate with systems, vehicle, electrical, software, manufacturing, and test ops teams
• Identify technical risks and communicate with team leadership
• Create and review technical reports, test plans, and specs

Skills

10+ years of propulsion/thruster dev

Hand-on injector/thrust chamber design

Hot-fire testing experience

Valve understanding and transients

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Mentoring engineers

Strong communication skills

US citizenship or eligible

Education

B.S. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

M.S. preferred

Tools

ROCCID/TDK/NASA CEA/ROCETS

Creo 3D CAD

Python scripting

Job description

Application close date:

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

About the Role

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.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, analyze, and develop thruster combustion devices, including injectors and chambers, with a focus on performance, combustion stability, and thermal behavior
• Contribute to thruster-level design work that integrates combustion devices, propellant valves, feed system interfaces, and drive electronics
• Perform and review performance, stability, thermal, and transient analyses, and correlate results with test data to improve designs
• Develop a working understanding of valve capabilities and limitations (response time, flow characteristics, leakage, actuation type, and operating environment) and partner with the valve engineers on requirement and interface definition
• Plan and support thruster hot-fire test campaigns, including test article definition, instrumentation, test execution, and data review
• Investigate anomalies and failures from root cause through corrective action, applying first-principles analysis
• Drive engineering trade studies with sound analysis and clear recommendations
• Develop and improve analysis tools and practices, such as performance and stability codes, hot-fire data trending, and data reduction and plotting tools
• Mentor and coach engineers on injector and chamber design, analysis, hot-fire testing, and data review
• Collaborate with systems, vehicle, electrical, software, manufacturing, and test operations teams to define interfaces and resolve integration issues early
• Identify technical risks early and communicate them clearly to your team and leadership
• Author and review technical reports, test plans, qualification documentation, and engineering specifications

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field
• 10+ years of experience in liquid rocket engine or spacecraft thruster development
• Hands-on experience designing and analyzing injectors and thrust chambers, including performance, combustion stability, and thermal analysis
• Experience planning, conducting, and analyzing results from hot-fire testing of liquid propulsion hardware
• Solid understanding of propellant valves (solenoid, pneumatically actuated, or similar) and how valve characteristics affect ignition, start and shutdown transients, pulsing performance, and overall thruster behavior
• Experience supporting technical failure investigations and implementing design corrections
• Ability to work across disciplines and make sound technical decisions with incomplete information
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with experience mentoring other engineers
• 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

• M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
• Experience with thruster or engine hardware that has progressed from clean sheet through qualification and flight
• Experience with cryogenic propellants (e.g., LOX, LNG, LH2), gaseous (GOX, CNG, GH2), and liquid storable or hypergolic propellants (e.g., MMH, NTO)
• Experience with combustion stability and performance tools such as ROCCID, TDK, NASA CEA, and ROCETS, or similar
• Experience with engine and thruster transient modeling, including startup and shutdown behavior
• Experience with additive manufacturing, welding, and brazing for injector and chamber hardware, including design for manufacturability
• Experience with high-frequency data analysis and building tools or databases for hot-fire data review and trending
• Familiarity with 3D CAD (Creo preferred) and GD&T per ASME Y14.5
• Proficiency in scripting and analysis tools such as (e.g. Python)
• Experience at a fast-moving propulsion or launch vehicle developer

Base Pay Range for:

CA applicants is $169,624.00 - $237,473.25WA applicants is $169,624.00 - $237,473.25
Other site ranges may differ

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 Affinity 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.