Principal Structural Design Engineer - New Glenn

Blue Origin LLC; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 162,000 - 228,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in aerospace is seeking a Principal Structural Design Engineer to contribute to the development of the New Glenn launch vehicle. This role is pivotal in shaping the future of space exploration, focusing on the design and analysis of critical structures. You will work with a passionate team, ensuring the highest standards of safety and quality in aerospace engineering. If you have a strong background in structural design, a passion for innovation, and a desire to make a significant impact, this opportunity is for you. Join a company that values collaboration, diversity, and the relentless pursuit of excellence in the quest for space travel.

Benefits

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid Time Off

Paid Parental Leave

Short and Long-term Disability

Education Support Program

Discretionary Bonus

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in structural design and analysis.
• Hands-on experience with launch vehicles or similar hardware.

Responsibilities

• Design and analyze pressurized and unpressurized structures for launch vehicles.
• Mentor junior engineers and lead configuration development.

Skills

Structural Design

Mechanical Design

Finite Element Analysis

Material Development

Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerance

Leadership Skills

Cost Reduction Techniques

Education

B.S. degree in engineering

Tools

Creo

CATIA V5

Ansys

Nastran

Optistruct

LS Dyna

Hypermesh

Hypersizer

Job description

Principal Structural Design Engineer - New Glenn

Apply locations Seattle, WA time type Full time posted on Posted 7 Days Ago job requisition id R48263

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 diverse team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!

This role supports the development and operations of New Glenn, a single-configuration, heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle capable of routinely carrying people and payloads to low-Earth orbit, geostationary transfer orbit, cislunar, and beyond. Its first stage is fully reusable, and the vehicle was designed from the beginning to be human-capable.

As part of a small, hardworking, passionate, diverse, and accomplished team of experts, you will be responsible for the design, analysis, development, testing, and qualification of tanks for New Glenn Stage 1 (GS1). Employees will work with the Director of the Stage 1 Tanks team. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your dedicated commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable spaceflight.

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and dedication to quality to build the road to space. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Responsibilities:

• Structural design and configuration of launch vehicle pressurized and unpressurized structures, including interfaces.
• Perform detailed design, analysis, development, and testing of primary and secondary structures.
• Perform research, develop concepts, and run trade studies with emphasis in manufacturability and cost reduction.
• Build 3D models, detail part drawings, assemblies, installations, and interface control documents.
• Build test plans, specifications, and other documentation for the development of flight hardware.
• Provide technical mentorship for integration.
• Ability to travel 0%-20% of the year to Suppliers and Manufacturing Facility in FL to support manufacturing as needed.
• Lead configuration development and trade studies.
• Participate in subsystem test planning, execution, data reduction and analysis.
• Work with multi-functional teams that are responsible for selecting materials, manufacturing processes, and suppliers to produce world class aerospace hardware.
• Develop component specifications and support supply chain in selecting suppliers.
• Plan, coordinate, conduct tests, and review test data.
• Maintain and report on activity schedule, budget, and technical status.
• Coach, mentor, and technically assist junior engineers.
• Find opportunities for improvements and operational cost savings.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of a B.S. degree in engineering and 10+ years of related experience.
• Experience on launch vehicles, aircraft or similar. Hands on experience with hardware “on the production floor” and/or “in service.”
• Design of minimal-mass structure, especially with aim to reduce cost and manufacturing time.
• Material development and structural testing.
• Experience with composite structures and adhesive bonds.
• Strong understanding of structural design and analysis principles, for composites and metals.
• Strong mechanical design skills using Creo and CATIA V5.
• Ability to conduct structural analysis using classical hand-calculation and finite element techniques.
• Experience with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerance analysis (ASME Y14.5).
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion.
• 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:

• Experience designing for manufacturability and value engineering, with focus on cost reduction and build time hour optimization.
• Experience designing hot and cryo structures.
• Experience with rapid development techniques for hardware.
• Demonstrated expertise with any industry standard analysis codes: Ansys, Nastran, Optistruct, LS Dyna, Hypermesh, Hypersizer.
• Familiarity with buckling, fatigue and/or fracture failure modes.
• Experience or expertise with fabrication of large-scale composite structures.
• Knowledge of systems engineering practices, fabrication and integration processes, and quality control.
• Experience with Optimization and DOE methods as applied to design, analysis, and testing.
• Experience working in a multi-functional team responsible for selecting materials, manufacturing processes, and developing the design to produce world-class engineered products.

Compensation Range for: WA applicants is $162,465.75-$227,452.05

Inclusivity 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 a diverse, inclusive, and 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 (DIBDS) 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, Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing (CDL drivers only), vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.

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.
• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.
• Discretionary bonus: Bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results.
• Eligibility for benefits varies by role type, please check with your recruiter for a comprehensive list of the benefits available for this role.

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, diverse, 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, in which all employees recognize and appreciate the diversity of individual team members. 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, gender, 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.

About Us

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.