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 Operations, which is comprised of Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance. This includes Manufacturing and Supply Chain support across all Blue Origin facilities.
This role supports the development and qualification of welding processes for a new advanced hardware program at Blue Origin. The successful candidate will own weld process engineering across the full spectrum of program welding needs — from aerospace-grade GTAW on thin-wall nickel superalloy and stainless steel components to ASME pipe welding for high-pressure process piping systems. This role requires hands-on weld engineering depth: developing and qualifying welding procedure specifications (WPS), managing welder performance qualifications (WPQ), defining joint designs and weld parameters, and providing real-time shipside support during critical welding operations. The ideal candidate bridges the aerospace and pressure equipment/piping worlds — comfortable with both flight-heritage weld standards and ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code requirements. This is a greenfield environment where the welding process engineer will help stand up the entire welding operation from equipment selection through process qualification and rate production readiness.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Defining weld joint designs, fit-up tolerances, weld parameters, and acceptance criteria for both aerospace structural welds and ASME/B31.3 pressure-boundary pipe welds
- Providing Design for Weldability feedback to design engineering — influencing joint geometry, material selection, weld access, distortion control, and residual stress management early in the design cycle
- Evaluating, selecting, and specifying welding equipment — GTAW power supplies, orbital welding systems, mechanized weld heads, positioners, purge systems, and fixturing — to establish production weld capability
- Developing, qualifying, and maintaining welding procedure specifications (WPS) as applicable to program hardware
- Managing the weld procedure qualification record (WPQR) program — planning and executing procedure qualification tests, documenting results, and maintaining qualification records
- Developing weld maps, weld sequence plans, and detailed work instructions for complex welded assemblies including multi-pass pipe joints, structural weldments, and precision thin-wall components
- Providing shipside/lineside welding engineering support during production — monitoring weld parameters, verifying fit-up, witnessing critical welds, and making real-time process decisions
- Leading weld-related nonconformance investigations — performing root cause analysis on weld defects (porosity, cracking, lack of fusion, distortion), developing corrective actions, and authoring weld repair procedures
- Defining preheat, interpass temperature, and post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) requirements; developing thermal management plans for distortion-sensitive assemblies
- Collaborating with NDE/NDT to define inspection requirements, acceptance criteria, and NDE method selection for weld joints across all product areas
- Supporting weld automation initiatives — working with automation engineers on mechanized orbital welding, robotic GTAW, and automated parameter monitoring systems
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Science in Welding Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or related discipline
- 8+ years of experience in welding process engineering, weld procedure development, or manufacturing engineering with a strong welding focus
- Direct experience developing and qualifying welding procedures (WPS/WPQR)
- Working knowledge of ASME B31.3 (Process Piping) or B31.1 (Power Piping) weld requirements, or equivalent pressure piping code experience for ground support equipment
- Experience with GTAW (TIG) process engineering on stainless steels, nickel-based alloys (Inconel, Haynes), and/or carbon steel pipe
- Strong understanding of welding metallurgy — heat-affected zone behavior, solidification cracking, sensitization, and the effects of preheat/PWHT on weld properties
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, weld symbols per AWS A2.4, and GD&T per ASME Y14.5
- Experience with weld defect analysis and root cause investigation using NDE results (RT, UT, PT, VT)
- Strong written, personal, technical, and software skills (CAD, Issue Tracking, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
Preferred Qualifications:
- AWS Certified Welding Engineer (CWEng) or Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification
- Experience in aerospace welding to AWS D17.1 or equivalent aerospace weld standards (NASA-STD-5006, MSFC-STD-504)
- Experience with mechanized orbital GTAW systems (Arc Machines, Liburdi, or equivalent) including parameter development and qualification
- Background in both aerospace fabrication and ASME BPVC / pressure equipment fabrication environments — ability to bridge both code worlds
- Experience with dissimilar metal welding (DMW) and transition joints between different alloy systems
- Experience with electron beam welding (EBW), laser beam welding (LBW), or friction stir welding (FSW)
- Knowledge of weld residual stress analysis, distortion prediction, and mitigation techniques
- Experience standing up welding operations in a greenfield facility — equipment layout, gas distribution, ventilation, and weld shop infrastructure
- Lean/Six Sigma certification or equivalent
- Customer focused with a proven track record to work cooperatively with teams of different skills across large geographic distances
- Strong organizational and analytical skills
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 (CDL drivers only), 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.
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.
