Director, Facilities Design Structural Engineering

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 Blue Origin corporate functions, providing centralized support across Blue Origin business unit teams, functions, and locations.

The Director, Facility Structural Engineering leads the structural design, analysis, and assurance of the buildings, foundations, and special structures that support launch vehicle manufacturing, test, and launch. This leader sets structural standards for the facilities organization, manages the engineering team and design partners, and is accountable for structural safety, constructability, and schedule across a rapidly growing site portfolio.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead structural design for manufacturing high bays, integration facilities, test stands, launch complex structures, hangars, and supporting buildings, including foundations, steel and concrete framing, and cladding and roof systems.
• Establish structural design criteria for loads specific to the business, including crane and lifting loads, vehicle and ground support equipment loads, acoustic and overpressure loads, thermal and cryogenic effects, wind, seismic, and hurricane or flood exposure.
• Oversee structural evaluation and retrofit of existing facilities, including condition assessments, concrete deterioration, steel connection and support issues, and load-path verification for new equipment.
• Review and approve structural calculations, drawings, specifications, and shop drawings, and serve as the technical authority on structural nonconformances and field changes.
• Direct structural support to equipment installation, including cranes, runway beams and rails, anchorage, platforms, and heavy tooling.
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards, and coordinate with authorities having jurisdiction on structural permitting and special inspections.
• Build, lead, and develop a team of engineers, designers, and technical leads, including hiring, performance management, and succession planning.
• Set technical standards, design criteria, and review practices for the discipline, and ensure consistent application across all sites and projects.
• Partner with Program, Operations, Manufacturing, Test, and Launch leadership to translate vehicle and production requirements into facility requirements and schedules.
• Own discipline cost, schedule, and quality performance for the facility capital program, and report status and risk to senior leadership.
• Manage and oversee architect/engineer-of-record firms, consultants, and construction contractors, including scope, fee, and deliverable quality.
• Support commissioning, acceptance, and turnover of new and modified facilities, and the closure of punch-list and nonconformance items.
• Respond to facility incidents and anomalies in the discipline, lead root cause and corrective action, and feed lessons learned back into standards.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering or a closely related field.
• 15+ years of structural engineering experience, with at least 5 years leading engineers or technical teams.
• Professional Engineer (PE) or Structural Engineer (SE) license in at least one U.S. state, or ability to obtain one within 12 months.
• Working knowledge of IBC, ASCE 7, ACI 318, AISC 360, and related structural codes and standards.
• Experience with industrial or heavy-load structures such as crane-supported buildings, equipment foundations, or special-purpose structures.
• Progressive leadership experience managing engineering teams and external design and construction partners.
• Demonstrated experience delivering complex capital projects from concept through construction and commissioning.
• Ability to communicate clearly with executives, program leaders, regulators, and contractors, and to make sound decisions under schedule pressure.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with blast, overpressure, or impulsive loading (for example UFC 3-340-02) and with launch, test stand, or propellant facility structures.
• Experience with seismic and high-wind or coastal design and with structural health monitoring.
• Structural Engineer (SE) license.
• Master's degree in a related engineering discipline.
• Experience in aerospace, launch, defense, energy, heavy industrial, or other mission-critical facilities.
• Experience supporting rapid build-out of new facilities alongside operating production and test sites.

Base Pay Range for:

WA applicants is $187,923.00 - $263,092.20

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.