Mechanical Engineer III - Pressurized Structures

BLUE ORIGIN • Seattle, WA

1d

About The Position

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 part of a passionate and accomplished team of experts, you will be responsible for the design, development, and qualification of high-performance Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPVs) for the New Glenn orbital launch vehicle. You will share in the team’s impact on all aspects of the design, analysis, manufacturing, and testing of flight-critical hardware, both internal development and oversight of suppliers for delivery to Blue Origin. Our team is at the forefront of developing the key technologies that will enable Blue Origin's vision of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your dedicated commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable spaceflight.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical, Aerospace, or a related engineering field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the design and analysis of mechanical systems, pressure vessels, and structures.
• Demonstrated proficiency with 3D CAD software (Siemens NX/Teamcenter preferred) for complex part and assembly design.
• Strong understanding of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5.
• Proven experience performing structural analysis using FEA tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, or Nastran).
• Direct experience with the design, analysis, or testing of pressure vessels, composite structures, or other highly loaded hardware.

Nice To Haves

• Master of Science or PhD in a relevant engineering field.
• 7+ years of experience with direct, hands-on design of Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPVs) for aerospace applications.
• Experience with the filament winding process and composite manufacturing techniques.
• Deep understanding of composite micromechanics, laminate theory, and failure criteria.
• Familiarity with industry standards for pressure vessel design and certification (e.g., ASME BPVC Section VIII, AIAA S-080/081).
• Experience working with cryogenic propellants and high-pressure fluid systems.
• Proficiency with programming languages (such as Python or MATLAB) for automating analysis and data processing tasks.
• Experience in a fast-paced, iterative design environment within the aerospace industry.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design and development of COPVs and other pressurized structures, from initial concept and requirements definition through manufacturing and flight operations.
• Create and maintain detailed 3D models and 2D drawings of vessel assemblies and components using Windchill and Creo.
• Perform structural analysis, including classical hand calculations and Finite Element Analysis (FEA), to verify design integrity against program requirements for pressure, thermal, and dynamic load environments.
• Author and execute component-level test plans for qualification, acceptance, and proto-flight testing, including pressure cycle, burst, and damage tolerance tests.
• Collaborate closely with manufacturing engineers and suppliers to establish and refine fabrication processes, including filament winding, curing, and assembly.
• Develop and manage component specifications, interface control documents (ICDs), and manufacturing work instructions.
• Disposition non-conformances and provide engineering support for hardware through the entire production and integration lifecycle.
• Present analysis and design details at internal and external design reviews.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the continuous improvement of team processes and standards.

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.
• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level