Structural Engineer III - Ground System Test Infrastructure

Application close date:

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 New Shepard program. New Shepard is a reusable suborbital rocket system designed to take astronauts and research payloads past the Kármán line – the internationally recognized boundary of space. Through operational reusability, New Shepard supports our mission of lowering the cost of access to space.

Blue Origin's test stands take on some of the most extreme structural loads in the industry — thermal shock, blast-level impulsive loads, and dynamic forces from rocket engine firings. As a Structural Engineer on the Ground System Design & Test team, you'll design and analyze the structures that make that testing possible — small to medium steel structures, flame diverters, engine test stand structural hardening, pipe and equipment supports, access platforms, and custom fixtures and test article mounts in steel and aluminum — using both hand calculations and FEA, across every Blue Origin engine and component test site. Reporting to the Director of Test Engineering and Development, you'll own structural deliverables from concept through activation, partnering with mechanical/fluids engineers, CAD designers, construction project managers, and civil contractors to bring test facilities to life.

Special Mentions

• Relocation provided
• Travel expected up to 25% of the time

Responsibilities include but are not limited to

• Perform structural analysis and design for structural steel frames, thrust structures, flame diverters, anchor systems, pipe/equipment supports, and facility structural elements subjected to static, dynamic, thermal, and impulsive/blast loads from rocket engine testing

• Design and analyze small to medium structural steel systems including primary load-bearing frames, bracing, access platforms, and embedded anchor systems per AISC and ASCE standards

• Produce structural analyses using both hand calculations and FEA (e.g., STAAD, ANSYS, or equivalent); release calculations, analysis reports, and supporting engineering documentation

• Develop 3D structural models and construction drawings, coordinating with the CAD drafting team to ensure design intent carries through to construction documents

• Design custom fixtures and test article mounts (steel and aluminum) for engine/component integration to test stands, partnering with mechanical engineering on interface and adapter structures

• Evaluate existing test stand structures against new load cases from upgrades, new engine configurations, or facility modifications, including structural hardening for new test campaigns

• Work with construction project managers and civil contractors to ensure design intent is realized in the field; support RFIs and non-conformance disposition

• Serve as the structural engineering representative in HAZOP and facility safety reviews, identifying and communicating structural risk across the project lifecycle

• Own structural deliverables with minimal oversight; mentor junior engineers and designers

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or related engineering discipline

• 6+ years of structural engineering experience, with demonstrated structural analysis and design of industrial or heavy structures

• Proficiency in structural analysis software, including STAAD and ANSYS (or equivalent — e.g., RISA, SAP2000, ETABS, NASTRAN), and demonstrated ability to analyze by both hand calculation and FEA

• Experience designing small to medium structural steel systems per AISC and ASCE 7 standards

• Experience producing structural construction drawings and 3D models using any standard CAD/BIM tool (e.g., Revit, Tekla, Creo, AutoCAD)

• Proficiency in geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) per the ANSI/ASME Y14.5 standard

• Demonstrated ability to independently own structural deliverables across the full design cycle

• Experience with root cause analysis and corrective actions for structural non-conformances

• Must hold, or be able to obtain, a Professional Engineer (PE) license in at least one U.S. state

• 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

Preferred Qualifications

• Active PE license in Washington, Alabama, Texas, or Florida; ability to obtain licensure in additional states supporting our test sites is a strong plus

• Pipe stress analysis experience is a plus but not required — we're glad to develop this skill on the job

• Experience with structural design/analysis of propulsion test stands, launch facilities, or comparable high-load industrial structures

• Experience with seismic design, blast/impulsive load analysis, or dynamic load environments from rocket engine or propulsion testing

• Experience with Creo specifically, or designing custom fabricated structural hardware / engine integration fixtures

• Experience coordinating structural scope with construction PMs and civil contractors during facility construction or modification

• Experience with HAZOP processes and facility safety reviews in an industrial or aerospace environment

Base Pay Range for:

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, 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 leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%, and an 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. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at 

EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com