Technician - Manufacturing Sr.

Blue Origin LLC; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental and vision

Life insurance

Paid parental leave

Short and long‑term disability

401(k) with company match

Education Support Program

Stock options

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Technician to hands‑on assemble, test, and integrate high‑pressure valves and related hardware in a development manufacturing setting. You will collaborate with design and systems engineers to translate engineering intent into repeatable floor instructions and mentor junior technicians.

The role emphasizes on‑the‑floor leadership, documentation discipline, and close interaction with engineering to ensure manufacturability and process integrity.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 6+ years of hands‑on manufacturing/assembly experience.
• Demonstrated valve experience in assembly, rebuild, repair, installation, or maintenance.
• Strong understanding of valve function and actuator/stem interaction; leakage causes.
• Experience writing or revising work instructions or travelers.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and GD&T callouts.
• Proficiency with hand and power tools and calibrated torque tooling.
• Ability to work independently and make sound judgments on the floor.
• Strong written communication; able to document a process clearly.
• Comfortable collaborating with engineers and challenging designs when needed.
• Able to lift up to 50 lbs and stand for extended periods.

Responsibilities

• Lead valve build and test activities per work instructions and vendor docs.
• Perform seat and seal work and verify leakage
• Set up and verify actuators (pneumatic, hydraulic, electromechanical)
• Lead first‑article walkthroughs and document redlines
• Develop and improve shop floor work instructions and sequencing
• Break drawings and specs into executable build sequences
• Mentor junior technicians on methods, tooling, and troubleshooting
• Coordinate daily cell work and ensure material readiness and schedule adherence
• Ensure cleanliness and proper PPE adherence on the shop floor
• Collaborate with engineering on design for manufacturability and tolerance stack‑up
• Maintain BOMs, traveler content, and routing with engineering/quality
• Identify tooling needs and support shop aids development
• Review engineering changes for floor impact and update instructions

Skills

Hands-on manufacturing

Valve assembly and testing

Reading engineering drawings (GD&T)

Work instruction writing

Independent on-floor decision making

Communication skills

Lifting up to 50 lbs

Mentoring junior technicians

Process documentation

Education

High school diploma or GED

Vocational/technical training in mechanical assembly

Tools

Calibrated torque tooling

Hand tools

Calipers

Micrometers

Dial indicators

Bore gauges

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 Blue Origin Operations, which is comprised of Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance. This includes Manufacturing and Supply Chain support across all Blue Origin facilities.

Senior Manufacturing Technician

The successful candidate will work hands‑on in a development manufacturing facility, leading the assembly, test, and integration of valves and high‑pressure hardware. Emphasis is on valve work: assembly, teardown, seat and seal fit‑up, actuator integration, and leak verification. This role operates independently and works in close daily contact with engineering. The technician will partner with design and systems engineers on the floor, give direct feedback on manufacturability and build sequence, and translate engineering intent into clear, repeatable work instructions. The role also serves as a technical resource and mentor to junior technicians. Strong candidates bring both the hands‑on skill to build the hardware and the process discipline to document how it should be built. No two days will look the same in this early phase of the program.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Valve build and test Assembling, disassembling, and rebuilding globe, gate, ball, check, butterfly, needle, relief, and control valves per work instructions and vendor documentation
• Performing seat and seal work, including soft goods replacement, seat contact verification, and seat leakage troubleshooting
• Installing and adjusting stem packing, live‑loaded packing sets, and bellows stem seals to specification
• Setting up pneumatic, hydraulic, and electromechanical actuators, including bench set, spring preload, stroke verification, and travel calibration
• Leading functional and acceptance testing, including proof pressure, seat leakage, stroke timing, and helium leak checks
• Assembling and torquing high‑pressure flanged, threaded, and cone‑and‑thread connections with calibrated tooling and documented torque sequences
• Troubleshooting sticking stems, seat damage, actuator response, and external leakage, and documenting root cause and corrective action
• Working in cleanliness‑controlled systems, including precision cleaning, bagging and purging, and maintaining cleanliness through final installation
• Work instruction planning and engineering support
• Authoring and improving shop floor work instructions, including step sequencing, tooling callouts, torque tables, inspection points, and data collection fields
• Breaking drawings, models, and specifications down into an executable build sequence
• Leading first‑article walkthroughs, capturing redlines during the build, and closing them into released documentation
• Partnering with engineering on design for manufacturability, including tolerance stack‑up, tool access, part orientation, and handling risk
• Maintaining kitting lists, bill of material callouts, traveler content, and routing steps with engineering and quality
• Identifying tooling and fixture needs and supporting development of shop aids
• Reviewing engineering changes for floor impact and updating affected instructions
• Floor leadership Serving as a hands‑on technical resource and mentor to junior technicians on methods, tooling, and troubleshooting
• Planning and sequencing daily work at the cell level and coordinating with leads on priorities, material readiness, and schedule risk
• Performing mechanical assembly, sub‑assembly builds, kitting, and hardware preparation, including material identification and traceability
• Supporting equipment setup and work cell preparation
• Maintaining a safe, organized work area and adhering to all PPE and safety requirements
• Identifying and helping resolve quality concerns, safety hazards, and material discrepancies

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED
• 6+ years of hands‑on experience in manufacturing, assembly, or a related technical trade. Vocational or technical training counts toward this requirement.
• Demonstrated hands‑on valve experience in assembly, rebuild, repair, installation, or maintenance
• Strong understanding of valve function, including isolation versus modulating service, the role of trim and seat geometry, actuator and stem interaction, and common causes of internal and external leakage
• Experience writing or substantially revising work instructions, assembly procedures, or travelers
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T callouts, and assembly documentation
• Proficient with hand tools, power tools, and calibrated torque tooling
• Ability to work independently and make sound judgment calls on the floor
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to document a process clearly enough for another technician to execute without additional explanation
• Comfortable working directly with engineers and pushing back constructively when a design or process will not work on the floor
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and stand for extended periods in a shop floor environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Vocational or technical training in mechanical assembly, instrumentation, or fluid systems
• Experience with high‑pressure valves and fittings
• Familiarity with metal‑seated valves and bellows‑sealed stem designs
• Experience with control valve assembly, calibration, and troubleshooting
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs and instrument loop diagrams
• Hands‑on experience with leak detection methods, including helium mass spectrometry, bubble testing, and pressure decay
• Experience in aerospace, defense, semiconductor, cryogenic, or precision industrial manufacturing
• Experience in PLM, MES, or ERP systems such as Teamcenter, Windchill, or SAP
• Proficiency with calipers, micrometers, dial indicators, and bore gauges
• Familiarity with cleanliness‑controlled or oxygen‑clean assembly practices
• Experience mentoring or leading junior technicians
• Forklift certification or experience with overhead cranes and pallet jacks
• Experience with 5S or lean practices
• First aid, CPR, or OSHA 10 or 30 certification
• Flexible to work varied shifts or overtime as the schedule requires

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 Affimination 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.

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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