Propulsion Engineer III - BE7 Valves (RE Technical Focal/ Component Owner)

Blue Origin Engineer 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 is part of the Blue Origin Engines business unit, where our focus is the design, development, manufacturing, and testing of engines and propulsion systems. Built for multiple uses, our family of engines is powering the next generation of rockets for commercial, civil, national security, and human spaceflight.

As part of a passionate and hardworking team of engineers and specialists, you will take full ownership of a valve component on the BE-7 Engine Program. This responsibility will cover the full development lifecycle of the valve, including early conceptual trades, detailed design, manufacturing, test, final qualification, and production support. Discrete activities include design of valve parts, assemblies, selection of materials and processes, while taking into consideration manufacturability, mass, and recurring cost impacts. The role will also include various analysis deliverables, including performance predictions, tolerance stack-ups, test data analysis, and final review of structural, thermal, and fluids analyses delivered by FEA / CFD specialists on the team. You will work closely with manufacturing engineers to peer review manufacturing plans, procedures, tools, and other discrete deliverables defining the full process to produce the valve component. You will directly support Operations in their responsibility to produce and deliver valves on-time to meet demand. You will directly support component-level testing, both in planning and execution, to drive high bar for rigor and deliver test results that mitigate risk and verify compliance to key requirements. You will work with Blue's supply chain organization and directly with suppliers to ensure on-time delivery of procured parts, including definition of requirements for development of more complex parts and assemblies. In this position, you will mentor and lead other engineers on the team through development approaches, design trades, analytical methods, and sharing of tribal knowledge unique to valve design.

As the technical focal for a valve component, you will work closely with the other engineers on the component team to meet team-level goals, objectives, and milestones by providing oversight and direct input into manufacturing, test, materials, and analysis deliverables. As a key member of the engine program, you will collaborate closely with program leaders and engineers from other component teams like Systems Engineering, Avionics, Integration, and Engine Test to understand and action decisions with cross-program impacts. To support program-level goals and initiatives, you will coordinate closely with value stream leaders, technicians, and other production stakeholders at the Blue Valves Factory to support hardware manufacturing and delivery of valves to meet demand while ensure mature manufacturing processes deliver high quality valves to engine builds.

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to help Blue Origin reduce the cost of access to safe and make a significant impact to enabling safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Qualifications:

Education / Years of Experience:

• B.S. degree in engineering discipline (aerospace, mechanical, or physics desired)
• 5+ years of professional engineering experience with valves, pumps, mechanisms, electromechanical actuation, or fluid control systems, to include rocket or jet engine experience
• Possess high attention to detail and strong organizational/coordination skills

Technical Design and Analysis:

• Strong technical fundamentals in mechanical design, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and structural analysis
• Direct experience with design, manufacturing, and test of valves operating with either incompressible or compressible flow
• Detailed knowledge of fluid control components to describe system-level functionality, component-level architectures to achieve the desired functionality, key performance parameters, and trade-offs in performance as constrained by the design
• Strong knowledge of valve design processes, methodologies, and techniques related to valves
• Knowledge of common seal designs / polymers and their application in a valve component based on desired leak performance and operating conditions (static vs dynamic, pressures, thermal, fluid compatibility, wear)
• Knowledge and selection of part materials and processes based on application of material properties, taking into consideration valve load paths, joint design, tribological wear, structural limits, thermal conditions, material fluid compatibility, corrosion, and electrical bonding
• Interpretation and application of technical requirements into a product design, using margin / factors of safety to deliver a robust, reliable product with known risk of non-compliance
• Proficiency in 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) Modeling
• Proficiency in part and assembly drawing drafting
• Familiarity with data analysis and data processing

Manufacturing and Quality:

• Knowledge of subtractive cutting or forming manufacturing processes to produce complex custom metal parts and individual features (turning, milling, grinding, honing, bending, tapping, etc)
• Knowledge of quality processes and requirements used after manufacturing hardware at both the part-level and assembly-level
• Experience in evaluation of non-conforming hardware and preparation of disposition rationale based on part inspection and impact on product form, fit, and functionality

Test:

• Experience with the design, setup, execution, results evaluation, and reporting of component-level testing to verify compliance to valve requirements including flow rate, leakage, dynamic environments (shock / vibe), thermal environments, operational life
• Experience with the design, setup, and safe execution of component-level fluid flow testing, including the ability to select duct lengths / sizes, fittings, and instrumentation to achieve test objectives
• Experience with fluid flow and leak testing of component hardware using cryogenic fluids and high pressure gases

Desired:

• Advanced degree in engineering discipline
• Experience designing products for cryogenic fluids and high pressure gases
• Experience in Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA)
• Knowledge of methodology and application of FEA analysis tools (ANSYS preferred)
• Experience with Creo 10 or greater, and Windchill 12 or greater
• Familiarity with ASME Y14.100 Std for Engineering Drawing Practices and
• Familiarity with ASME Y14.5 Std for Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)
• Experience in supplier management

Compensation Range for: WA applicants is $117,498.00-$164,497.20. Other site ranges may differ.

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