Senior Rotordynamics Engineer

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 Blue Origin Engines business unit, where our focus is the design, development, manufacturing, and testing of engines and propulsion systems. Built for multiple uses, our family of engines is powering the next generation of rockets for commercial, civil, national security, and human spaceflight.

As part of a dynamic and dedicated team of engineers, you will lead the rotordynamic assessments for our rotating machinery on assigned program. You will apply your technical expertise in structural dynamics, vibration, fluid-film and rolling-element bearings, seals, and thermal-structural behavior to ensure rotating hardware is stable, balanced, and robust across its full operating range. We are looking for someone who can demonstrate technical excellence, leadership skills, and commitment to quality while advancing our mission.

Responsibilities:

• Own rotordynamic analysis for rotating machinery, from initial requirements through design, qualification, and operation
• Collaborate with design, structural, thermal, and test engineers to resolve rotor-related design trades and nonconformance dispositions
• Perform lateral, torsional, and axial rotordynamic analyses, including critical speed maps, damped natural frequencies, stability, unbalance response, and transient run-up and coast-down response
• Model rotor support elements, including rolling-element and fluid-film bearings, annular and labyrinth seals, dampers, and couplings, and their interaction with the casing and supporting structure
• Define rotordynamic requirements and design margins for design teams, including balance, bearing stiffness and damping, seal clearances, and operating speed separation margins
• Develop test requirements and support test operations including instrumentation plans, procedures for spin, balance, and rig or engine rotordynamic testing.
• Correlate test data to analytical models and update models and design guidance based on results.
• Investigate rotor-related anomalies such as subsynchronous whirl, rubs, instability, and bearing distress, and drive root cause and corrective action
• Develop and maintain rotordynamic analysis methods, tools, and standards, while automating recurring analyses
• Document analyses and present findings and risk assessments at design reviews

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field
• Minimum of 10 years of industry experience in relevant engineering discipline
• Demonstrated experience in rotordynamics, structural dynamics, or vibration analysis of rotating machinery
• Working knowledge of rotordynamic theory, including critical speeds, mode shapes, damping, stability, and unbalance response
• Experience with rotordynamic or finite element analysis software (for example XLTRC2, DyRoBeS, MADYN, ANSYS, or equivalent)
• Experience with scripting or programming for analysis and post-processing (for example Python or MATLAB)
• Experience with data analysis and data processing

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree or higher in engineering discipline with a rotordynamics, vibrations, or structural dynamics focus
• Experience with high-speed turbomachinery such as rocket engine turbopumps, gas turbines, or high-speed machinery
• Experience modeling fluid-film, hydrostatic, or process-fluid-lubricated bearings and seals and their effect on rotor stability
• Experience with coupled rotor-casing-structure finite element models
• Experience planning and interpreting rotordynamic test data from component, rig, or engine tests, including balancing and instrumentation
• Experience with subsynchronous vibration, fluid-induced instability, and rub dynamics
• Experience with torsional dynamics of drivetrain systems
• Experience with hardware development and testing, including design reviews and qualification programs
• Experience developing analysis tools or automating analysis workflows

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.