Engineer III, Make-Buy Optimization (MBO)

About the role

This role is part of Blue Origin Operations, which includes Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance. It involves Manufacturing and Supply Chain support across all Blue Origin facilities.

Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed make-buy-where-when-how (MBWWH) analyses for assigned program parts, assemblies, and manufacturing processes
• Evaluate internal manufacturing capabilities against external supplier options, considering technical readiness, cost, schedule, and risk
• Build cost models and scenario analyses to support sourcing recommendations
• Identify, track, and resolve incomplete or missing make/buy designations within the assigned program's bill of materials
• Serve as the embedded MBWW representative for your assigned program, participating in design reviews and program milestone meetings
• Partner with Design, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering teams to assess producibility and design-to-cost opportunities that influence make vs. buy decisions
• Engage with engineering and program leadership as a technically credible peer — translating complex trade-offs into clear, data-backed recommendations
• Develop well-documented decision packages with clear assumptions, risk assessments, and sourcing recommendations
• Track and report on decision status, open items, and trends on a weekly basis
• Collaborate with Procurement, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing Operations, and Finance to validate assumptions used in analyses
• Support continuous improvement of MBWW tools, templates, and analytical workflows

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering — engineering degree is required; this role interfaces daily with technical engineering teams
• 3–5 years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, systems engineering, supply chain engineering, or a related technical discipline
• Working knowledge of aerospace manufacturing processes such as machining, fabrication, structures, composites, propulsion, or avionics integration
• Demonstrated ability to perform quantitative trade-off analyses involving cost, schedule, technical risk, and operational factors
• Comfortable engaging directly with engineers and program leaders — able to present technical recommendations and defend analytical conclusions
• Strong written and verbal communication skills — able to produce clear, concise decision packages for leadership consumption
• Proficiency in Excel or similar tools for data analysis, cost modeling, and reporting

Preferred Experience

• In a program-embedded supply chain, manufacturing engineering, or industrial engineering role
• Familiarity with launch vehicle or spacecraft development programs, including transition from development to production
• Experience with make-buy analysis, strategic sourcing, or supplier evaluation in an aerospace or defense environment
• Proficiency with data visualization tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or Smartsheet
• Exposure to MRL/TRL frameworks, manufacturing readiness assessments, or rate maturity evaluations
• Familiarity with Integrated Product Teams and program milestone review processes (PDR, CDR, PRR)