Structural Engineer III - Ground System Test Infrastructure

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 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:

WA applicants is $99,201.00 - $138,880.35

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 an