Senior Materials & Processes Engineer – Rocket Engine Tribology

Tribonet; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 102,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking a senior tribologist to join a focused team advancing the tribology of rocket engine mechanisms, seals, bearings and sliding interfaces. You will collaborate with design engineers to select materials and develop wear-resistant solutions for operation in launch and space environments.

Candidates should have a strong background in mechanical or aerospace engineering, hands-on wear testing, and a track record of supporting flight production programs.

Qualifications

• Extensive product-focused tribology experience.
• Hands-on wear testing and friction measurement.
• Ability to support operation in high vibration environments.
• Experience supporting flight production programs.

Responsibilities

• Provide tribology support for rocket engine mechanisms and select material systems.
• Develop wear-resistant materials, finishes and geometries for robust operation.
• Identify and mitigate lubrication and wear risks in high-performance mechanisms.
• Recommend coupon testing to screen materials for wear life.
• Audit suppliers to ensure coatings and finishes meet requirements.
• Identify technology gaps and advance TRL for future designs.

Skills

Tribology

Wear testing

Friction analysis

Materials science

Education

Master's or PhD in engineering or materials science

BS in Mechanical/Aerospace/Materials

Tools

SEM

XRF

Optical microscopy

Job description

An educational platform on tribology — the science of friction, wear and lubrication

Who is it for

Engineers, researchers, students and industry professionals

We are a diverse team of collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers who are relentlessly committed to a culture of safety. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your dedicated commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable spaceflight. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space and enabling Blue Origin’s vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth.As part of a small, passionate and accomplished team of authorities, you will be responsible for Tribology of mechanisms and interfaces of various spaceflight systems, with a focus on Engines. You will share in the team’s impact on all aspects of material system selection, design for producibility, and rugged and robust design.We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and dedication to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Responsibilities

• Working one-on-one with component design engineers, provide tribology support relating to rocket engine mechanisms (seals, bearings, and sliding interfaces), and collaborate with other partners to select material systems that meet design requirements.
• Assist component design engineers in developing wear collaborate with suitable materials, finishes and geometries capable of robust operation in launch and in-space environments.
• Identify and mitigate lubrication and wear risks in high performance vehicle mechanisms
• Recommend and implement coupon testing to screen materials for wear life and damage modalities.
• Collaborate with and audit suppliers to ensure all processes, coatings and finishes meet design and qualification requirements
• Identify technology gaps in rocket engine tribological interfaces and complete development efforts to improve technology readiness for future designs.

Qualifications

• Minimum B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Material Science Engineering, or related field.
• Extensive product-focused tribology experience (level commensurate on experience).
• Hands-on experience developing test plans, measuring and characterizing friction and wear of tribological systems containing metallic and non-metallic elements.
• Fundamental understanding of the behavior of material interfaces in relative motion, in order to support design decisions with respect to operation in high vibration environments.

Specialized Experienced In At Least One Of The Following

• Vacuum-compatible dry film lubricants and deposition processes.
• Tribology of metal-on-metal interfaces exposed to wide temperature ranges from cryogenic fluids to hot combustion products.
• Vacuum- and propellant-compatible greases.
• Experience with surface engineering, residual stress treatments, superfinishing, coatings and other surface modifications.
• Experience with characterization of wear surfaces and materials using methods such as: optical microscopy, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy, x-ray fluorescence, fractography, debris sampling and quantification, wear particle analysis, etc.
• Ability to travel approximately 10% of the time.
• 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.
• Masters or PhD in engineering, material science or related field
• Experience in methods of contact analysis and wear modeling
• Demonstrated experience supporting flight production programs
• Proven experience leading technology development projects, measuring technical progress, resources, and handling budgets.
• Experience with statistical analysis methods and related tools
• Experience running ambient, elevated temperature, and cryogenic thermomechanical testing

Compensation range for on site WA applicants is $112,000-$200,000Compensation range for on site CA applicants is $112,000-$200,000Compensation range for on site AL applicants is $102,000-$184,000

Other Site Ranges May Differ

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.

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. For more information on “EEO Is the Law,” please see here and here. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Washington Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants 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].

Benefits

Employee Benefits include: Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave (must be employed at time of birth or adoption), short and long-term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%, and an Education Support Program available after 1 year of service.Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays for all regular employees (including part-time), fixed-term, and interns.Discretionary bonus: Employees may be eligible for discretionary bonuses in addition to base pay. Bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results.