Mechanical Design Engineer III, High-Speed Rotating Systems

Application close date:

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

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.

Who We Are 

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We're working to do that by making access to space cheaper and more reliable through reusable launch vehicles. Join our team of problem solvers as we add our next generation of launch vehicles and in-space systems to our fleet. 

The Role 

We are seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to join our team. The core challenge is achieving rotational performance at a scale and speed that has not been demonstrated before. 

This is a hands-on detailed design role built for someone who thrives in rapid development cycles. You will design, build, test, learn, and redesign — repeat. Success is measured by hardware on the test stand and data in hand, not by documents alone. 

Responsibilities 

• Own detailed mechanical design of a high-speed rotor assembly including structural members, retention features, balance provisions, and thermal management. 

• Develop and iterate thermal management solutions 

• Understand thermal and structural loads on the rotor; translate those into design requirements and geometry constraints 

• Author drawings, GD&T, assembly procedures, and acceptance criteria with sufficient rigor to build and test hardware quickly 

• Define and execute component- and system-level test plans; be present for test operations, teardowns, and inspection 

• Drive rapid design-build-test cycles — identify failure modes early, propose trades, and execute changes fast 

• Coordinate with manufacturing and supply chain to produce hardware on aggressive schedules and rates without sacrificing structural or thermal integrity 

• Participate in failure investigations and contribute to root cause analysis and corrective action 

Basic Qualifications 

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field 

• 3+ years of experience in mechanical design of rotating machinery  

• Demonstrated understanding of rotor structural mechanics, including centrifugal loading, retention design, and fit/preload strategies for components with thermal sensitivity 

• Proficiency with 3D CAD (CREO, NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, or equivalent) and drawing/GD&T per ASME Y14.5 

• Experience authoring and executing hardware test plans and participating hands-on in test operations 

• Experience with design for manufacturing and design to cost. 

• Comfortable with fast iteration: designing to 80%, building hardware, learning from data, and rapidly incorporating findings 

• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience designing integrated cooling features within rotating assemblies — internal flow passages, thermal interfaces, or conduction paths under rotation 

• Familiarity with high and low-cycle fatigue and fracture mechanics for rotating components operating at high peripheral velocities 

• Experience with composite or advanced alloy materials in high-stress rotating environments 

• Background in rapid hardware development programs with short design-build-test cycles and frequent design updates 

• Rotordynamics experience — critical speed analysis, unbalance response, bearing load estimation 

 

Base Pay Range for:

WA applicants is $121,023.00 - $169,432.20

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, 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. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.