Engineer III, Make-Buy Optimization (MBO)

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! 

The Make-Buy Optimization (MBO) organization is responsible for developing and executing the strategy behind how the company decides what to manufacture internally versus what to source externally — and where and when those decisions are made. As a program-embedded Engineer III, you will serve as the dedicated MBWWH resource for an assigned program, working directly alongside engineering and program teams to drive timely, data-driven sourcing decisions.

This role requires a strong engineering foundation. You will engage credibly with design engineers, manufacturing engineers, and program leaders — evaluating internal fabrication capabilities and supplier options through a technical lens. Your work directly influences program affordability, schedule, and supply chain resilience.

• 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

Required

• 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)

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.