Build & Refurb Reliability Engineer - New Shepard

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 diverse team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!  

We are a diverse team of collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers who are relentlessly committed to a culture of safety. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable space flight. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space and enabling Blue Origin’s vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth!

This role is part of the New Shepard program. New Shepard is a reusable suborbital rocket system designed to take astronauts and research payloads past the Kármán line – the internationally recognized boundary of space. Through operational reusability, New Shepard supports our mission of lowering the cost of access to space.

As part of a hardworking and diverse team of engineers, technicians, and specialists, you will improve the repeatability and reliability of New Shepard. You will use hands on engagements with operations team / hardware and data to determine the factors that drive reliability and support initiatives to drive improvements in design, production, test, maintenance, and flight reliability. You will lead investigations to understand the direct technical cause and systemic / root causes of reliability issues and vehicle down times.  This role spans from development to the production floor and launch site as you will work with operations engineers, senior technical leaders, and maintenance professionals to identify & implement design improvements, improve maintenance strategies and processes. We seek a detail-oriented problem solver with technical expertise, a passion for finding & fixing issues, and dedication to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. High ownership and passion for our mission is required!

Van Horn Specific information

Being at the heart of Blue Origin operations, the West Texas Site in Van Horn, TX offers eligible employee’s additional attractive financial incentives to supplement their competitive base earnings, including a living allowance and relocation assistance.  Eligibility for these additional benefits is based on the employee’s ability to permanently relocate to Van Horn, TX, or travel to Van Horn from another Blue location a minimum of 50% of the time.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead refurbishment & manufacturing improvement projects, optimizing / automating processes, and addressing recurring issues.

• Investigate hardware failures to uncover direct and root causes.

• Own implementation of corrective actions, including design changes, work order changes, and test/inspection changes to address findings.

• Support non-conformance corrective action process, ensuring thorough review and resolution with a focus on technical robustness.

• Develop tracking tools and monitor to address trends, including hands-on testing, operations support, and data analysis.

• Provide surge support and be the second set of eyes for production engineering to ensure seamless operations.

Qualifications:

• B.S. degree or higher in Mechanical, Aerospace, Industrial Engineering or other major requiring engineering, mathematical or scientific core courses

• 6+ years in an engineering / scientific / operational role

• A proven track record of working successfully in multiple technical disciplines such as mechanical, fluid, and/or electrical systems

• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, fluid schematics, and/or electrical circuit diagrams

• Knowledge of quality and configuration management systems

• Critical thinking (ex. FMECA), causal analysis (ex. Fishbone, fault tree analysis), and problem-solving skills

• Strong written, communication, interpersonal, and computer skills

• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships with experts from varying engineering fields, provide constructive feedback about safety and reliability concerns, and contribute to our inclusive culture

• Ability to travel to our West Texas Launch or Kent, WA facility one week per month, depending on primary work location

• 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

Desired:

• M.S. degree or higher in Mechanical, Aerospace, Industrial Engineering or other major requiring engineering, mathematical or scientific core courses

• 3+ years working in an operational, manufacturing or refurbishment environment

• Experience with non-conformance resolutions and/or reliability engineering

• Experience with JIRA, Confluence, Windchill, DOORS, and CREO.

• Demonstrated experience in human spaceflight systems

• Experience with work instruction authoring and review

• Experience with reliability/life test design (failure modes discovery, life demonstration, and screening)

Compensation Range for:

WA applicants is $117,498.00-$164,497.20

Other site ranges may differ

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.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blue’s Standard Background Check

• Required for Certain Job Profiles:  Defense Biometric Identification System (DIBDS) 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, 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.

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 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, 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 [email protected].

California Applicant Privacy Notice

If you are a California resident, please reference the CA Applicant Privacy Notice here.