Quality Engineer I: Machining & Welding (PPAP)

Blue Origin; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation provided

Job summary

Blue Origin in Huntsville, AL is seeking an early-career Quality Engineer to support fabrication operations, including precision machining and structural welding. You’ll work with manufacturing engineers, machinists, welders, and inspectors to ensure parts meet drawings and specifications, with mentoring from senior quality engineers.

The role emphasizes learning the shop floor, solving real problems, and building strong quality practices within a growing operation aligned to ISO9001:2015 and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM discipline (e.g., Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Welding, or Materials Engineering, or a related field)
• 0–2 years of engineering experience
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel or similar tools for data analysis
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work on-site in a fabrication shop environment and wear PPE (safety glasses, hearing protection, safety footwear)
• 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
• Internship or co‑op in quality, manufacturing, machining, or welding engineering
• Hands‑on project team experience (e.g., Formula SAE, Baja SAE, robotics, or similar) that involved fabricating, machining, or welding hardware
• Familiarity with GD&T per ASME Y14.5
• Exposure to CNC machining processes and dimensional inspection tools (calipers, micrometers, height gages, CMM)
• Coursework or exposure to statistics, SPC, or design of experiments; Six Sigma Green Belt training a plus
• Familiarity with problem-solving methods such as 8D, A3, or FMEA
• Familiarity with PPAP and APQP concepts
• Exposure to ISO 9001 and/or AS9100 quality management systems
• Experience with data tools such as Minitab, JMP, Power BI, or Python
• Pursuit of or interest in AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) or ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) certifications

Responsibilities

• Support quality for machined and welded components from first part verification through production
• Review drawings, routers, work instructions, and inspection plans for clarity, inspectability, and alignment to requirements
• Help perform and document first part verification on new or changed machined and welded parts as part of the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)
• Help assemble PPAP packages, including dimensional results, material and process records, measurement system analysis, and initial process capability studies
• Support weld quality by reviewing Weld Procedure Specifications (WPS), Procedure Qualification Records (PQR), and welder qualifications, and by assisting with visual weld inspection
• Coordinate nondestructive testing (NDT), such as PT, MT, UT, and RT, with qualified personnel, and review the results
• Help write nonconformance reports (NCRs), support NC dispositions, and keep records complete and traceable
• Participate in RCCA investigations using 5 Whys, fishbone (Ishikawa), and 8D; track actions to verified closure
• Help develop process flow diagrams, process FMEAs, and control plans for machining and welding processes
• Collect and analyze quality data (defect trends, scrap, rework, first-pass yield, SPC) and present clear findings and recommendations
• Support measurement activities, including gage selection, calibration status checks, CMM report review, and basic Gage R&R studies
• Help write and improve procedures, forms, and work instructions, and support internal audits
• Spend significant time on the shop floor, learning machining and welding processes firsthand and building strong relationships with production teams

Skills

Read engineering drawings

Excel/data analysis

Clear written and verbal communication

On-site fabrication shop work

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Tools

GD&T knowledge

Calipers

Micrometers

Height gauges

CMM

Job description

Blue Origin in Huntsville, AL is seeking an early-career Quality Engineer to support fabrication operations, including precision machining and structural welding. You’ll work with manufacturing engineers, machinists, welders, and inspectors to ensure parts meet drawings and specifications, with mentoring from senior quality engineers.

The role emphasizes learning the shop floor, solving real problems, and building strong quality practices within a growing operation aligned to ISO9001:2015 and