Jettison Design Engineer, New Glenn 9x4 Interstage

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! 

We are hiring a Responsible Engineer (RE) and Single-Threaded Leader (STL) for the Interstage Adapter Assembly (ISA) separation system on New Glenn Gen 2 (9x4 configuration). This person will own the full technical scope of the Gen 2 ISA separation system — from requirements through design, analysis, test, qualification, and flight certification. They will be the single point of accountability for separation system performance on the 9x4 vehicle and will lead a cross-functional team of analysts, designers, test engineers, and manufacturing engineers to deliver flight-certified hardware for Gen 2's first flight and beyond.

• Relocation provided
• Travel expected as needed, up to 30% of the time
• Interviews will include a technical assessment
• Strong preference to hire in Kent, WA

Technical Ownership of jettison system for the Interstage Adapter:

• Separation system architecture — frangible joint, linear shaped charge (LSC), or similar release mechanism, initiation
  system, redundancy scheme, and separation plane definition
• Pusher / kick-off system — pneumatic or pyrotechnic pushers providing post-separation relative
  velocity; force-time profile specification and hardware selection
• Shock attenuation & management — defining shock isolation strategies for ISA-mounted
  components; specifying SRS environments at equipment interfaces
• Separation sequencing requirements — defining timing, ordnance firing sequences, and GNC
  interface requirements for stage separation
• Structural interface — separation plane joint design, ensuring structural integrity under all flight load cases prior to separation

Lifecycle Ownership of all aspects of the Jettison System:

• Requirements — derive separation system requirements from vehicle-level specs (separation velocity,
  tip-off rate limits, shock limits, clearance envelopes, reliability)
• Design — lead trade studies and architecture decisions; own the separation system design solution
  and drawing tree
• Analysis — oversee explicit dynamics simulation (LS-DYNA), shock propagation analysis, structural
  margins, and environments definition; review and approve analyst work
• Test — define qualification and acceptance test requirements; own test success criteria; lead test
  readiness reviews (TRR) and test anomaly resolution
• Qualification — drive separation system qual program to completion; manage qual status and open
  work through certification gates
• Production — support manufacturing readiness; define acceptance criteria for flight hardware;
  disposition nonconformances on separation system components
• Flight operations — support vehicle integration in Florida; own separation system constraints in
  countdown and flight rules; support post-flight data review

Cross-Functional Leadership (STL Role)

• Lead a virtual team of 3–6 engineers (dynamics analysts, mechanical designers, test engineers, M&P
  engineers) without direct reports — influence through technical authority
• Coordinate across GNC, Avionics, Propulsion, and Flight Software for separation event sequencing
  and interface definition
• Interface with GS1 Recovery team on post-separation booster state and refurbishment requirements
• Drive decisions at design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR, QR) and represent separation systems at vehicle level
  review boards
• Own the separation system schedule — identify long-lead items, qual risks, and critical path
  activities; escalate blockers proactively
• Represent separation systems in launch certification (CDR, PFDR) — defend readiness with data

• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
• 5 years of experience in aerospace structural/mechanical systems, with at least 3 years in a
  Responsible Engineer or technical lead role
• Direct experience with separation systems: frangible joints, linear shaped charges, hold-down release mechamism, marman clamps,
  V-band clamps, or pyrotechnic severance devices
• Strong understanding of pyrotechnic shock environments — generation, propagation, specification,
  and attenuation
• Experience owning hardware through the full lifecycle: requirements → design → analysis → test →
  qual → flight
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams without direct authority — driving alignment
  across structures, dynamics, GNC, avionics, and operations
• Experience with qualification testing of ordnance or separation systems, including test specification
  development and anomaly resolution
• Fluency in engineering analysis methods (FEA, explicit dynamics, or structural test) sufficient to direct
  analysts and critically review their work
• Experience with PLM/PDM systems (Windchill or equivalent) for design data management and
  engineering release
• Track record of closing technical problems end-to-end — not just identifying issues, but driving
  them to verified resolution
• Strong written and verbal communication — ability to present to leadership and defend technical
  positions at review boards
• 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.

• MS in Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Structural Dynamics
• Direct experience with launch vehicle stage separation specifically (Atlas, Delta, Vulcan, Falcon, or similar)
• Familiarity with LS-DYNA or equivalent explicit dynamics tools (Abaqus/Explicit, AUTODYN) —
  sufficient to guide modeling strategy even if not running daily
• Experience managing ordnance/pyrotechnic safety programs (AFSPCMAN 91-710 or equivalent)
• Background in shock isolation design (isolators, attenuators, structural filtering) for sensitive
  equipment protection
• Experience with New Glenn or similar heavy-lift vehicle programs
• History of supporting launch certification gates (CDR, FRR, PFDR)
• Familiarity with booster reuse requirements and how they constrain separation system design
• Experience with mission assurance requirements (NASA-STD-5001 or equivalent)

Base Pay Range for:

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.