Senior Automation Mechanical Engineer

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!  

About Blue Origin 

Blue Origin is a spaceflight and exploration company founded on the belief that humanity's future depends on our ability to live and work in space. We are working to lower the cost of access to space through reusable launch vehicles and in-space systems, enabling a future where millions of people live and work in space. We value curiosity, passion, integrity, and a relentless drive to achieve our mission. Blue Origin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

About This Role 

Blue Origin's Factory Automation team is part of the Advanced Manufacturing organization within Operations — serving as the in-house automation integrator responsible for designing, building, and deploying the custom equipment and systems that enable scalable, repeatable production across Blue Origin's manufacturing business units. We build manufacturing capability from the ground up, developing automated solutions that directly drive the delivery of Blue Origin's products across current and future programs. 

We are looking for an experienced Mechanical Engineer who brings deep hands-on expertise in custom automation design — someone who thrives in a build-it-and-refine-it environment and takes full technical ownership from concept through commissioning. In this role, you will lead the mechanical design of automated manufacturing equipment and collaborate across engineering disciplines to deliver systems that run in production. We are looking for engineers who understand the why behind the systems they design — who reason from physics and engineering fundamentals, diagnose problems at their root, and develop sound mechanical solutions to novel challenges. A passion for our mission — and for the discipline of building things that work — is essential. 

Responsibilities 

• Collaborate with applications engineers on conceptual automated manufacturing equipment and provide feedback to product design teams to improve Design for Manufacturability 

• Lead mechanical design of custom automated manufacturing equipment using 3D CAD 

• Design custom automation equipment including robotic end-of-arm tooling, material handling systems, fixtures, weldments, machine frames, safety guarding, and production cell layouts 

• Apply engineering first principles — including mechanics, kinematics, and materials science — to analyze system behavior, evaluate design trade-offs, and develop technically sound solutions to novel mechanical challenges 

• Drive iterative development cycles; make pragmatic design trade-offs to balance performance, cost, and schedule constraints 

• Integrate mechanical, electronic, pneumatic, and related components into unified systems 

• Lead equipment commissioning, startup, and production ramp-up; own resolution of mechanical issues during installation and debug 

• Create and deliver mechanical documentation packages including BOMs, drawings, recommended spare parts lists, and assembly procedures 

• Provide technical input to project schedules and budgets throughout the project lifecycle 

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field 

• Minimum 6 years of experience in the from-scratch design, assembly, and commissioning of custom automated tooling or manufacturing equipment, with demonstrated application of mechanical principles including load calculations, material selection, and motion/kinematics 

• Proficiency in 3D CAD for mechanical design (CREO, SolidWorks, or equivalent) 

• Working knowledge of control systems, robotics, and automated industrial equipment, machines, and processes 

• Demonstrated ability to create, interpret, and review mechanical drawings and engineering documentation 

• 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 

• Advanced CREO parametric modeling including top-down design and family tables 

• Experience with ANSYS or similar engineering simulation software for structural analysis, finite element analysis (FEA), or other multiphysics simulations 

• Familiarity with PLC, robot, and CNC programming for industrial control systems 

• Demonstrated ability to interpret and review electrical drawings 

• Demonstrated history of delivering custom automated equipment projects from concept through production ramp-up 

• Experience identifying product features that complicate automation and recommending design modifications to support Design for Automated Manufacturing (DfAM) 

• Demonstrated ability to apply engineering fundamentals — including mechanics, structural analysis, and kinematics — to diagnose complex system failures and develop first-principles solutions in novel or undefined problem spaces 

Base Pay Range for:

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 [email protected]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.