Materials and Process Engineer II – TPS, Sealants, Coatings, & Adhesives (Early Career)

About this role

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 Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin’s mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design.

We are a team of collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers who are relentlessly committed to a culture of safety. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable space flight. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space and enabling Blue Origin’s vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth.

As part of a unique, rapidly evolving team, you will learn to develop, qualify, and support the production of   thermal protection systems (TPS), structural/non-structural adhesives, environmental sealants, and engineered coatings   for flight hardware in accordance with Blue Origin’s strict aerospace specifications.

Under the mentorship of senior engineers, you will work hands-on with chemical/materials engineers, design teams, and technicians in the manufacturing area to build our launch vehicles and spacecraft. We seek people who are passionate about space, possess a strong desire to deliver results, and are eager to continuously learn and improve.

We are looking for a proactive, self-motivated individual to apply their foundational technical expertise and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Responsibilities • Assist senior engineers in the development, testing, and qualification of manual and automated application and curing processes for TPS, structural adhesives, elastomeric sealants, and protective coatings.

• Under guidance, execute coupon-level, component-level, and subscale process qualifications and verification test campaigns.

• Contribute to the drafting and editing of material specifications, process instructions, work travelers, and test plans.

• Participate in chemical/physical testing (such as DSC, TGA, FTIR, DMA, rheology) and mechanical properties testing (e.g., peel, lap shear, tensile) in our materials laboratory.

• Support the scale-up and implementation of chemical and application processes from lab-scale/prototype to production-scale execution on flight hardware.

• Provide day-to-day hands-on support on the shop floor (clean rooms, spray stalls, and assembly environments), tracking critical process metrics like shelf-life, out-time, and environmental controls (temp/humidity).

• Work with an interdisciplinary team of manufacturing engineers, tooling engineers, and skilled technicians to troubleshoot shop floor process issues.

• Support the investigation and disposition of non-conformances (MRB support) for processed hardware under the guidance of senior staff.

• Strictly adhere to and help enforce chemical safety standards (SDS), hazardous material handling/disposal, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) compliance.

• Travel as needed to support vendor visits, equipment support, or off-site development activities (typically ranging from 0% to 25% per month).

• Maintain a safe, clean, and organized work area in alignment with 5S standards.

Qualifications • B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, Chemistry, or a relevant technical engineering field.

• 2+ years of experience   (or strong academic/internship equivalent) in materials and process development, chemical processing, or laboratory testing.

• Foundational understanding of polymer chemistry, cure kinetics, rheology, surface preparation physics, and adhesion.

• Self-motivated, proactive, and eager to learn, with a demonstrated ability to take ownership of tasks and drive them to completion with guidance.

• Excellent technical writing and communication skills, with an interest in developing formal engineering process specifications.

• Ability to read and interpret basic engineering drawings, CAD models, and material/finishing callouts.

• Strong understanding of laboratory safety protocols, chemical storage, hazard evaluation, and Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

• Approachable disposition, broad-minded, and adaptable to rapidly changing requirements.

• Calm demeanor in high-pressure situations with a cooperative approach to problem resolution.

• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion.

• 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.

Desired • Prior internship, co-op, or undergraduate research experience in aerospace, automotive, or high-volume manufacturing environments.

• Hands-on experience operating materials characterization equipment (e.g., DSC, TGA, FTIR, tensile testers).

• Familiarity with surface preparation methods (such as solvent cleaning, grit-blasting, or plasma surface treatment).

• Familiarity with aerospace specifications and standards for non-metallic materials (e.g., ASTM, SAE AMS, MIL-SPECs).

• Experience with any CAD software is a plus.

• Strong personal computer skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

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, w

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