Drafter CAD 3

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 a member of a small, high-performing structural design team, you'll join a group of problem solvers who own the entire development process from concept to commissioning. You will take designs from CAD model to fabricated, field-ready hardware.

Our team is the backbone of operational infrastructure for our program. We design essential support hardware including test stands, towers, lift fixtures, pipe supports, specialized assembly tooling, transporters, maintenance platforms, and dolly systems — routinely in steel and aluminum, often with piping and other energized subsystems. As a drafter, you'll bring 3D models to life, develop the detail and assembly drawings that bring hardware to the shop floor, and iterate the models in response to engineering feedback. You will also contribute creatively during concepting and design trades — proposing configurations, resolving packaging constraints, and helping the team land on the right design.

In this role, you'll partner directly with design engineers, technicians, and fabricators to hit program objectives. You'll own CAD model and drawing maintenance across large assemblies, apply drafting standards consistently, and act as the team's single point of contact for drafting conventions. Beyond documentation, you'll make judgment calls that optimize designs for cost, manufacturability, and schedule — simplifying details where it matters and challenging configurations that are hard to build.

We're looking for a drafter with sharp judgment, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to clearly convey how a design goes together — through models, drawings, and conversation. Someone who elevates the work of the team: catching the issue before it reaches the shop, proposing the cleaner configuration during a review, and raising the bar on drawing quality across the group.

Special Mentions

• Relocation provided
• Travel expected up to 20% of the time
• Interviews will include a technical assessment

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Develop 3D CAD models and 2D drawing packages for steel structures, tooling, and piping systems to industry standards (ASME Y14.3, Y14.5, Y14.100, Y14.41); iterate on models in response to engineering feedback and contribute design options during concepting and trade studies

• Develop design layouts, skeletons, installation drawings and overall packaging models; modify existing drawings and models to support design iteration

• Generate multiple packaging concepts for a given problem; present options and communicate relevant trade details to design engineers and stakeholders

• Coordinate model assemblies from other groups; create and maintain final end-item CAD models for team deliverables

• Translate development analysis models to master CAD models

• Manage large CAD assemblies and associated drawing packages, including configuration standards for product structure, bill of materials, and naming/organization of program data

• Act as the team's single point drafting standards checker; assist in the development and deployment of reasonable drafting standards across the group

• Apply Design for Manufacturing and Design for Assembly principles to achieve a balanced approach to cost, schedule, and performance

• Partner closely with design engineers, fabricators, and vendors to resolve drawing and model issues during fabrication and field integration

• Self-direct prioritization and scheduling of work activity in support of team deliverables

• Support configuration management and PDM workflows for program CAD data

Minimum Qualifications

• 7+ years of recent experience designing/drafting steel and aluminum structural parts, components, or subsystems in a 3D CAD environment

• Strong mechanical design and integration skills using Siemens NX 

• Experience using Siemens Teamcenter for CAD data management, configuration control, and release workflows

• Experience managing large CAD assemblies and associated drawing packages through the product life cycle

• Experience drafting structural equipment or tooling for aerospace, manufacturing, or other heavy industrial applications

• Proficiency with ASME Y14.3 (orthographic and pictorial views), Y14.5 (GD&T), Y14.100 (engineering drawing practices), and Y14.41 (model-based definition / digital product definition data practices)

• Familiarity with weld symbology and weld joint design per AWS D1.1 / D1.2

• Familiarity with existing applicable drafting standards and ability to apply them consistently across a team

• Practical knowledge of manufacturing processes (milling, turning, cutting, welding) and ability to design for fabrication

• Strong organization skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and drawing packages

• U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, or otherwise able to review all export-controlled technical information
• 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

• Hands-on fabrication, welding, or machining experience acquired through personal pursuits or professional work

• Familiarity with ASME B30.20 / BTH-1 for below-the-hook lifting devices

• Experience creating pipe spool installation and fabrication drawings 

• Large-scale model manipulation and performance management techniques for complex assemblies

• Experience with ergonomic and human factors considerations in tooling design

• Familiarity with OSHA 1910 subparts relevant to personnel access equipment

Base Pay Range for:

WA applicants is $39.34 - $55.07

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.