Senior Materials & Processes Engineering – Rocket Engine Tribology

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!  

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!

As part of a diverse and hardworking team of engineers, you will be responsible for Tribology of mechanisms and interfaces of various spaceflight systems, with a focus on Engines. You will share in the team’s impact on all aspects of material system selection, design for producibility, and rugged and robust design.

Your tasks will include working one-on-one with component design engineers to provide tribology support relating to rocket engine mechanisms (seals, bearings, and sliding mechanisms).  To provide such support, you will assess and develop wear interfaces with suitable material finishes, identify and mitigate lubrication and wear risks, and recommend and execute test campaigns to screen materials for wear life and damage modalities.

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight.  Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Minimum Qualifications:

• B.S. degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Material Science, or related field with a minimum of 8 years product-focused tribology experience.
• Hands-on experience developing, executing, and leading test plans, measuring and characterizing friction and wear of tribological systems containing metallic and non-metallic elements.
• Fundamental understanding of the behavior of material interfaces in relative motion, to support design decisions with respect to operation in high vibration and/or in-space environments.
• Expertise in at least one of the following:
  • Vacuum-compatible dry film lubricants and deposition processes
  • Tribology of metal-on-metal interfaces exposed to wide temperature ranges
  • Vacuum- and propellant-compatible greases
  • Experience with surface engineering, residual stress treatments, superfinishing, coatings and other surface modifications.
• Ability to travel for approximately 10% of the time.
• 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:

• Demonstrated experience supporting flight production programs.
• Expertise with auditing suppliers to ensure all processes, coatings and finishes meet design and qualification requirements.
• Experience with characterization of wear surfaces and materials using methods such as: optical microscopy, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy, x-ray fluorescence, fractography, debris sampling and quantification, wear particle analysis, etc.
• Proven experience managing technology development projects, measuring technical progress, resources, and managing budgets.
• Demonstrated experience authoring specifications and process control documents.
• Experience with statistical analysis methods and related tools.
• Familiarity with standard methods for testing mechanical properties (including fatigue, fracture, creep, stress rupture) of metallic and soft materials.
• Experience with failure analysis and forensic investigations.

Don’t meet every single requirement? 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 qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

 

Compensation Range for:

CA applicants is $136,467.00-$191,053.80;WA applicants is $136,467.00-$191,053.80

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