CNC Machinist & Programmer III

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 a foundational member of the machining team for a new advanced hardware program at Blue Origin. The successful candidate will set up, operate, and optimize multi-axis CNC equipment to produce high-precision components for rotating machinery, heat exchangers, and structural assemblies. This includes 5-axis milling, CNC turning, grinding, and EDM operations on materials including nickel superalloys, stainless steels, and specialty alloys. As an early hire, this machinist will go beyond running parts — they will provide direct machinability feedback to the design engineering team, influence tolerancing and feature geometry before designs freeze, and play a key role in evaluating and selecting the CNC machines that will form the long-term production equipment plan. This is a development environment where the right candidate will shape the machining strategy from the ground up.

• Setting up and operating multi-axis CNC milling machines (3-axis through 5-axis) to produce precision components per engineering drawings and process plans

• Setting up and operating CNC lathes and turning centers for precision shaft, housing, and case machining

• Interpreting engineering drawings with complex GD&T requirements and planning machining sequences to achieve specified tolerances

• Providing machinability feedback directly to design engineering — advising on tolerancing, feature accessibility, fixturing constraints, and material selection to improve producibility before designs freeze

• Evaluating and recommending CNC machines for the long-term production equipment plan — assessing machine tool capability, work envelope, accuracy, and throughput against program requirements

• Performing first-article machining for new part numbers — optimizing feeds, speeds, tool paths, and fixturing for challenging materials and geometries

• Performing in-process measurement using precision instruments (CMM, micrometers, bore gauges, surface profilometers) and making offset adjustments to maintain tolerance

• Supporting post-processing of additively manufactured parts including finish machining of AM-printed components to final dimensions

• Maintaining tooling inventories, performing tool life management, and recommending tool selection for new applications

• Documenting machining results, tool life data, and process parameters for production knowledge capture

• Supporting process qualification and capability studies (Cp/Cpk) for critical dimensions

• Maintaining equipment through basic preventive maintenance and identifying issues requiring maintenance support

• High school diploma or GED; associate degree in machining technology or equivalent technical training preferred

• 15+ years of hands-on manufacturing experience in an aerospace environment

• 7+ years of experience working with multi-axis lathes and high-speed 5-axis mills producing complex parts with tight tolerances

• 7+ years of experience machining hardened metals including nickel-based alloys, stainless steels, and high-temperature superalloys

• Extensive experience with CNC controls including Mazak, Okuma, Fanuc, Heidenhain, Siemens, or equivalent platforms

• Excellent blueprint reading skills including GD&T per ASME Y14.5; ability to interpret engineering models, drawings, specifications, written work instructions, and test procedures

• CAM software experience, preferably Siemens NX

• Proficiency with precision measurement instruments (micrometers, bore gauges, indicators, CMM operation, surface profilometers)

• Ability to work effectively with close attention to detail in a fast-paced, dynamic team environment with rapidly changing roles and responsibilities

• A continuous improvement mindset — our job is never complete; we are always optimizing

• Extremely customer focused with strong verbal and written communication skills

• A demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with teams of multiple skills across large geographic distances

• Exceptional organizational and analytical skills and a proven ability to drive complex projects with minimal oversight

• Experience with turbomachinery components made from nickel-based alloys, stainless steel, copper, or titanium

• Tooling and fixture design experience — ability to concept and specify workholding for complex geometries

• Experience operating heavy lifting equipment such as cranes and forklifts around flight-critical hardware

• Outside processing knowledge (heat treat, plating, coating, EDM, grinding, etc.)

• Experience with post-processing of additive manufactured parts (finish machining AM components)

• Experience with 5-axis simultaneous machining (DMG Mori, Hermle, Mikron, or similar)

• Experience evaluating and selecting CNC machine tools for production — vendor assessment, capability studies, and factory acceptance testing

• Familiarity with AS9100 quality management systems

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.