Sr. Propulsion Engineer, Blue Thrusters Valves

Blue Origin LLC; Seattle, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 203,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) match

Paid time off

Education support

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC is seeking a Senior Propulsion Engineer to lead a valve hardware product line within the Blue Thrusters team. You will guide design, analysis, and testing from requirements through production, ensuring high reliability for spaceflight hardware.

The role emphasizes collaboration across mechanical, propulsion, electrical, and software engineers, with mentorship of junior staff and active participation in design reviews. WA state-based, on-site position with competitive benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of industry experience designing and developing fluid control hardware, with demonstrated expertise in valve design for aerospace or high‑reliability applications.
• Hands‑on experience with both electromechanical (solenoid) and pneumatically actuated valve designs.
• Strong fundamentals in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, mechanical design, electromagnetic design, and structural mechanics.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD software (Creo preferred) and GD&T per ASME Y14.5 standards.
• Experience with hardware fabrication, integration processes, and quality control.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with ability to lead technical discussions and mentor peers.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident or eligible.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical lead and subject matter expert for the Blue Thrusters Valve product line, encompassing direct acting solenoid and pneumatically piloted valve designs.
• Mentor valve responsible engineers, developing their expertise in design, manufacturing, and test.
• Develop, establish, and maintain team‑wide design, build, and test tools, processes, and standards to ensure consistency, quality, and efficiency across the product line.
• Perform and review fluid, structural, and electromagnetic analysis for definition and validation of requirements across pressure, temperature, electrical, and dynamic environments.
• Document these processes and results to build a technical basis for use among engineers.
• Define and implement margin strategies to ensure products meet requirements without excessive cost and mass impacts.
• Collaborate with systems, propulsion, electrical, and software engineers to define interfaces, refine requirements, and integrate valve hardware into broader thruster systems.
• Lead design reviews, provide technical mentorship to junior engineers, and contribute to a culture of engineering excellence and continuous improvement.
• Engage with suppliers to drive component development, ensure quality, and resolve technical issues throughout the supply chain.
• Support fabrication, assembly, and testing of development and flight hardware; review and disposition non‑conforming hardware with sound engineering judgment.
• Author and review technical reports, qualification packages, test plans, and engineering specifications.

Skills

Valve design

Electromechanical valves

Pneumatic valves

3D CAD Creo

GD&T ASME Y14.5

Fluid mechanics

Thermodynamics

Electromagnetic design

Structural mechanics

Cross-functional leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

ANSYS

COMSOL

AFT Fathom/Arrow

Job description

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 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.

About the Role As a Senior Propulsion Engineer on the Blue Thrusters team, you will serve in a technical leadership capacity over a product line of flight‑critical valve hardware, including direct acting solenoid and pneumatically piloted valves. You will be the go‑to technical authority for your product line—driving the tools, processes, and standards that govern how we design, build, and test these systems. You will guide engineers from initial requirements definition through qualification and into production, working closely with cross‑functional teams to ensure every valve we deliver meets the highest standards of performance and reliability. We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical lead and subject matter expert for the Blue Thrusters Valve product line, encompassing direct acting solenoid and pneumatically piloted valve designs
• Mentor valve responsible engineers, developing their expertise in design, manufacturing, and test
• Develop, establish, and maintain team‑wide design, build, and test tools, processes, and standards to ensure consistency, quality, and efficiency across the product line
• Perform and review fluid, structural, and electromagnetic analysis for definition and validation of requirements across pressure, temperature, electrical, and dynamic environments
• Document these processes and results to build a technical basis for use among engineers
• Define and implement margin strategies to ensure products meet requirements without excessive cost and mass impacts
• Collaborate with systems, propulsion, electrical, and software engineers to define interfaces, refine requirements, and integrate valve hardware into broader thruster systems
• Lead design reviews, provide technical mentorship to junior engineers, and contribute to a culture of engineering excellence and continuous improvement
• Engage with suppliers to drive component development, ensure quality, and resolve technical issues throughout the supply chain
• Support fabrication, assembly, and testing of development and flight hardware; review and disposition non‑conforming hardware with sound engineering judgment
• Author and review technical reports, qualification packages, test plans, and engineering specifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
• 8+ years of industry experience designing and developing fluid control hardware, with demonstrated expertise in valve design for aerospace or high‑reliability applications
• Hands‑on experience with both electromechanical (solenoid) and pneumatically actuated valve designs
• Strong technical fundamentals in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, mechanical design, electromagnetic design, and structural mechanics
• Proficiency in 3D CAD software (Creo preferred) and experience creating engineering drawings with GD&T per ASME Y14.5 standards
• Demonstrated experience with hardware fabrication, integration processes, and quality control
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a demonstrated ability to lead technical discussions across a wide variety of stakeholders, build cross‑functional alignment, and mentor peers
• 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

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
• Experience establishing or improving team‑level design standards, processes, or toolsets in a valve or fluid systems engineering environment
• Familiarity with analytical tools such as ANSYS, COMSOL, AFT Fathom/Arrow, or similar FEA/CFD/fluid modeling packages
• Experience with propellant control valves for liquid rocket engines or thruster systems, including exposure to propellants such as Oxygen, Hydrogen, Methane, MMH, and NTO
• Experience with full valve development lifecycle: design, development, qualification, acceptance, and production
• Experience collaborating with electrical and software engineers on closed‑loop control systems or valve drive electronics
• Familiarity with leak testing, proof/burst testing, vibration, shock, thermal, and functional test methodologies for fluid control hardware
• Experience with Windchill or similar PDM/PLM systems

Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $145,188.00 - $203,263.20. 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

• 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 affirmatively 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. We’re committed to building the road to space so our children can build the future. We are a mission‑driven company focused on ideas and innovation, and encourage fresh perspectives from bold voices. At Blue, our team is building the future as their unique selves.

Other Information

Thank you for your interest in working at Blue Origin! 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.

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