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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!  

As part of a hardworking team of specialists, technicians, and engineers, you will own the process and automation engineering work that turns the Solar Center of Excellence's (SCOE) SPM production line from installed equipment into a stable, controlled, MES-integrated manufacturing process. You will work hands-on through equipment commissioning, PLC/MES integration, and SOP development, and carry that same ownership forward into sustaining engineering and process improvement once the line is operational. This role sits between the NPI Systems Engineer, who owns the value stream as a system, and the process and GSE engineers who each own an individual equipment area – you are the connective tissue that gets the line running, instrumented, and continuously improving, and the person who carries it from commissioning into steady-state production.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Support the NPI Systems Engineer in execution activities during the SPM line's design, delivery, and commissioning – translating system-level requirements (capacity, takt, capability targets) into implementable equipment configurations and process parameters.

• Develop and own Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and work instructions for the SPM line, from cell intake through PVA build, as equipment arrives and processes are proven out.

• Serve as the process engineering counterpart to the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) buildout: use PLC/controls experience to stay embedded in implementation activities and ensure solar high-rate production requirements – yield tracking, traceability, in-process test data, equipment interlocks – are captured and addressed before the line goes live.

• Once equipment begins arriving and running, own or support process improvement efforts: root-cause yield loss and equipment/process technical issues on the floor, and feed proven changes back into SOPs and control plans.

• Partner directly with equipment vendors and Manufacturing Engineers during on-site commissioning to validate process capability against the line's rate targets, informed by SCOE's first-pass yield targets.

• Transition from implementation support toward full sustaining and process-improvement ownership as the low-rate production line moves from commissioning to operational status and on toward full-rate production.

• Flag production-consequence issues early enough to influence equipment and process specs still in development, working alongside the NPI Systems Engineer and process/GSE engineers.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

• 7+ years of experience in process engineering, manufacturing engineering, or automation/controls engineering in a high-volume production environment.

• Hands-on experience with PLC programming/integration and interfacing production equipment with a Manufacturing Execution System (MES).

• Demonstrated experience developing SOPs, work instructions, or control plans for equipment and processes in active production. 

• Experience diagnosing and resolving production equipment or process issues on the production floor, not only in a design or lab setting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience commissioning internal and vendor-supplied production equipment, including working directly with equipment vendors on-site (including internationally sourced equipment).

• Familiarity with MES architecture or implementation for a production line – data schema, equipment interlocks, traceability.

• Experience carrying a line from NPI/commissioning into sustaining engineering ownership.

• SPC and process capability analysis, gauge R&R, PFMEA, and control plans.

• Spacecraft solar arrays, photovoltaics, deployment mechanisms, or comparable high-reliability precision assembly – not required, a plus if present.

• Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9001, or other production quality systems.

Prior spacecraft solar array or aerospace experience is not required. This role needs process and automation engineering depth, and the willingness to take hands-on ownership of a line as it comes online – candidates from semiconductor, battery manufacturing, medical device, automotive, or comparable high-volume industries are encouraged to apply.

Special Mentions

• Relocation provided
• Travel expected (up to 25% peak, 10% average)
• Interviews will include a technical assessment.

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.