Materials and Process Engineer III - Engines

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.

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.

About the role

As part of a small, passionate and accomplished team of experts, you will be responsible for identifying materials and processes to increase manufacturability of liquid rocket engine hardware. You’ll be expected to develop these materials and processes and qualify them for use on production hardware, ensuring all requirements are met. 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 commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and select metallic materials for usage in liquid rocket engines, taking into consideration mechanical properties, thermal properties, and environmental factors.
• Collaborate with design and manufacturing teams to integrate material and process requirements into the overall vehicle or system design.
• Ensure specialized processes used in the manufacture of hardware have sufficient process controls to ensure a repeatable process.
• Act as Materials & Processes signatory for engineering drawings for rocket engines.
• Perform development and qualification testing for metallic materials to ensure performance under engine induced and external environmental requirements.
• Generate documentation for metallic material and process specifications to ensure adequate process control while optimizing for producibility.
• Provide technical support and disposition of nonconformance's from the application of material and/or process control requirements implementation.
• Stay informed on emerging technologies and industry trends related to liquid rocket engine materials.

Requirements

• Minimum B.S. in Material Science Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field
• 5+ years experience in Material and Process Engineering application in the aerospace industry (level commensurate with experience)
• Experience with one or more of the material systems used in the aerospace industry (Ni-based alloys, Cu-based alloys, Al-based alloys, Ti-based alloys, oxygen-compatible alloys…)
• Hands-on experience working with high-temperature materials, preferably on spacecraft, engines, or similar applications.
• Proven experience developing and executing test plans for analysis and qualification efforts of materials or material systems.
• Knowledge of metallic material processing including but not limited to forgings, castings, extrusions, hydroforming, etc.
• Knowledge of environmentally-assisted degradation and standard methods for testing mechanical properties (including fatigue, fracture, creep, stress rupture) of metals

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or PhD in Materials Science/Engineering or related field
• Demonstrated experience (M&P signatory authority) on a flight production program
• Familiarity with high-temperature, high-pressure oxygen engine applications
• Material selection and implementation for turbomachinery and/or gas turbine components.
• Familiarity with NASA-STD-6016, NASA-STD-5009, and other manned aerospace materials & processes requirements
• Understanding of design constraints of high-pressured hydrogen systems
• Experience running ambient, elevated temperature, and cryogenic thermomechanical testing.
• Experience with statistical analysis for the preparation of design allowables.
• Experience developing metallic materials for aerospace applications.
• Experience supporting the design and manufacture of liquid rocket engines.
• Proven experience managing technology development projects, measuring technical progress, and resources, and managing budgets.
• Understanding of standard Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) techniques used on spacecraft structures for applications related to corrosion and/or fatigue cracks

Benefits

• 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%
• Education Support Program
• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.
• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion.

Background Check

• Blue’s Standard Background Check (required for all positions)
• 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 (required for certain job profiles)