Sr Structural Engineer - New Glenn Advanced Upper Stage Tank Design

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!  

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 8 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:

• A passion for developing linerless composite cryogenic tanks.

• 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 orientat