Principal Structural Engineer - Upper Stage Tank Design

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 propellant tanks for New Glenn Upper Stage. 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 propellant tanks, internal structures, and interfaces.
• Perform detailed design, analysis, development, and testing of primary and secondary composite structures directly exposed to cryogenic liquids.
• Perform research, develop concepts, and run trade studies.
• 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.
• Provide manufacturing and production support, including travel when needed.
• Support 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 lead suppliers.
• Plan, coordinate, conduct tests, and review test data.
• Participate in the development and purchase of new equipment and tooling.
• 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.
• 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.
• Experience on launch vehicles, aircraft or similar in one or more of the following areas:
  • Design of minimal-mass structure, especially pressurized structures.
  • Design of interfaces to fluid systems such as baffles, anti-vortex devices, or cryogenic seals.
  • 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong communication skills, with an ability to quickly build consensus among stakeholders.
• Experience with rapid development techniques for hardware.
• Demonstrated expertise with any industry standard analysis codes: Ansys, Nastran, Optistruct, LS Dyna, Hypermesh, Hypersizer.
• Experience with fabrication using automated fiber placement (AFP) and tape laying (ATL), including ply by ply designs with variable paths and orientations.
• Experience or expertise with fabrication of large-scale out-of-autoclave composite structures.
• Demonstrated experience developing manufacturing processes for production at rate.
• 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: $162,465.75-$227,452.05

Other site ranges may differ.

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

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.

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 workforce. 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. For more information on “EEO Is the Law,” please see here .

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 .

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