Operations Engineer

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 diverse team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight! 

This role supports the development and operations of New Glenn, a single-configuration, heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle capable of routinely carrying people and payloads to low-Earth orbit, geostationary transfer orbit, cislunar, and beyond. Its first stage is fully reusable, and the vehicle was designed from the beginning to be human-capable.

As part of a diverse and hardworking team of engineers and technicians, you will contribute to the test and operation of the New Glenn orbital launch vehicle. As a Launch Operations Engineer, you will work with the Sr Manager of New Glenn Launch Vehicle Fluids Operations. You will be responsible for processing your systems, from receipt of the New Glenn stages at the launch site through launch and landing. You will work with other element teams to develop operational requirements and advocate for design-for-operations.  As a test conductor, you will author detailed procedures and help develop test equipment to complete integrated flight systems testing. As a task leader, you will accomplish your assignments by managing a team of technicians and engineers while ensuring the safety of the team and the vehicle. You will help develop and maintain production schedules, quality documents, and engineering. As a member of the Launch Operations team, you will ensure the launch vehicle and associated ground systems are prepared for flight. To prepare for launch, you will develop ground software requirements, write sequencer code, and help create controller panels. You will have the opportunity to earn certification as a launch controller, ultimately operating your assigned systems on launch day. You will determine and correct anomaly causes, often during time-critical operations. After flight, you will perform data reviews and incorporate process improvements.

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead and mentor a small team of engineers responsible for the preparation and launch of New Glenn launch vehicle.
• Become Launch Operation’s domain expert on vehicle fluids processing at the launch site, vehicle rollout to the pad, upending and fluids system launch countdown operations,
• Coordinate the activities of engineers, technicians, support equipment, outside agencies, and vehicle configurations for testing through launch.
• Develop and be accountable for Launch Operation’s Flight Fluids system requirements, procedures, budgets, and schedules.
• Work with design engineers to plan and perform tests of the ground and vehicle subsystems, ensuring the tests are designed to verify the pertinent requirements.
• Enforce safety policies during test planning and operations.
• Perform primary Test Engineer activities with overall responsibility for the test, the crew, and the procedure.
• Solve real time issues with ground and onboard flight systems in high pressure situations.

Minimum Qualifications:

• B.S. degree in Systems, Aerospace, Mechanical, or related Engineering field
• Successful candidates in this role typically have 6+ years of related experience.
• Proven ability to interpret and apply high-level system requirements to practical design solutions for a sophisticated physical assembly.
• In-depth knowledge of systems engineering practices (e.g., requirements development; standard verification methods; functional decomposition; standard diagramming techniques; risk and opportunity management
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment while regularly providing imaginative and detailed technical solutions to complex problems.
• Experience with requirements management software
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• M.S. in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related Engineering field
• Demonstrated control room or operations experience in a real-time, intense, and high consequence environment.
• Extensive experience with space launch vehicle systems, ground support equipment operations and maintenance, or manufacturing technologies
• Demonstrated successful experience writing technical procedures, non-conformance documentation, and specifications.
• Successful experience leading and managing teams integrating multiple subsystems to meet a top-level system requirement.
• Strong safety record and demeanor, including hands-on experience planning and conducting hazardous or critical tests and operations.
• Strong personnel management and mentoring skills
• Effective project management, budget management, and team leadership skills
• Experience in sub-contract management of suppliers including requests for proposals, specifications, and statements of work.
• Knowledge of fluids system operation and maintenance processes
• Recent experience with launch vehicle integration and launch operations
• Experience with requirements and V&V tracking tools
• Experience with performing system safety analyses including Functional Hazard Assessments (FHA), Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analyses (FMECA), and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA).
• Experience with Model Based System Engineering approaches.

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

Inclusivity 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 a diverse, inclusive, and 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.

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.

Paid Time Off:  Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.

Discretionary bonus: Bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results.

Eligibility for benefits varies by role type, please check with your recruiter for a comprehensive list of the benefits available for this role.

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, diverse, 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, in which all employees recognize and appreciate the diversity of individual team members. 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, gender, 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 “EEO Is the Law,” 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].

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