Principal Structural Engineer - Customer & Payload Accommodations - New Glenn

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 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 a Principal Structural Engineer for New Glenn’s second stage and payload fairing (GS2PA), you will work with the Sr. Director of New Glenn’s second stage Customer & Payload Accommodations team, and directly support the execution of multiple programs. This is the largest and most capable upper stage ever developed and the largest commercial fairing available. Coupled with the reusable first stage, this provides New Glenn customers with outstanding payload launch capabilities.

This position will support all aspects of program management, engineering, and execution to include cost, schedule, technical build, and risk management, as well as working with Blue Origin internal organizations, external customers, and suppliers to deliver qualified systems. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your dedicated commitment and attention towards safe and reliable spaceflight.

Responsibilities:

• Technical and Programmatic Leadership - Provide technical and programmatic leadership by offering engineering insight, supporting technical reviews, and advising leadership as well as the team on recommended paths forward.
• Program Execution - Drive execution of complex development programs on budget and schedule while ensuring sustained production operations, efficiency, and urgency.
• Program Management – Plan and coordinate the resources necessary to successfully design, build, complete testing, and certify new hardware for New Glenn second stage Customer and Payload Accommodations team.
• Work with chief engineers and design teams to identify and resolve technical issues across multiple engineering teams, and the entire product lifecycle.
• Manage product development planning, testing, qualification, and certification with focus on commercial and government customer satisfaction.
• Develop project summary presentations for reviews, internal team meetings, and support to Blue Origin communications team.
• Participate on interview panels, facilitate training, and mentor junior engineers.
• Develop and standardize program metrics across multiple projects, hold reviews, report on monthly cost and schedule variances, corrective actions, establish program targets, and support finance and schedule updates.
• Establish and maintain regular business rhythm, consistent products, action tracking, and consolidate information for effective decision making.
• Support proposal development and submissions to customers.
• Subcontract and Supplier Management – Act as a liaison between various internal/external businesses partners and process owners as needed.
• Effectively coordinate with supplier management and supply chain teams for planning, procurement, addressing critical actions, negotiations, and driving recurring cost reduction initiatives.
• Inspire change management initiatives to improve processes, evaluate existing processes, coordinate and approve new requirements, or make changes to company policies and program directives.
• Identify risks and document, track, review, and implement mitigation plans.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Prior experience as a technical subject matter expert or subsystem lead.
• B.S. in an aerospace, mechanical, or systems engineering-related field, with 10+ years of complex product development experience.
• Prior management experience, with 5+ years managing a technical team.
• Program and technical leadership experience in an aerospace development environment, with experience in full lifecycle development of aerospace systems, designing, deploying, and supporting one or more complete flight systems.
• Prior experience managing a large and geographically dispersed development project.
• Highly organized leader with excellent technical written and verbal communication skills, a demonstrated track record of resourcefulness, passion for the mission, vested ownership of scope, strong business and technical judgement, and bias for action from their previous assignments.
• Successful experience in hiring and developing great people with skill sets, and a demonstrated ability to motivate and organize effective teams and resolve conflicts.
• Comfortable working in a fast paced, highly multifaceted work environment.
• Ability to travel in support of the program, customer, and supplier activities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• M.S. in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or systems engineering and experience with launch vehicle development, production, and operations.
• MBA, Program Management Professional (PMP) certification and Earned Value Management System (EVMS) experience. Experience with critical path scheduling, IMP/IMS, risk management, requirements management and Cost Account Management such as EVM.
• Strong business management competence and experience managing large, geographically dispersed programs with large subcontractors.
• Experience with verification, integration, and test, of orbital launch vehicles or human rated spacecraft.
• Other site ranges may differ

Compensation Range For:

WA applicants is $164,682.00-$230,554.80

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 (CDL drivers only), 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.
• 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 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 Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.

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