Composites Automated Fiber Placement Programmer

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.

Composite Manufacturing Engineer

Automated Fiber Placement

Blue Origin is seeking a Composite Manufacturing Engineer specializing in Automated Fiber Placement to support the development, industrialization, and production of flight-critical composite structures for next-generation launch vehicles and spacecraft.

This position will develop, qualify, optimize, and sustain automated composite manufacturing processes while working directly with production technicians, design engineers, quality engineers, materials engineers, tooling teams, equipment suppliers, and operations leadership.

The successful candidate will combine practical composite manufacturing knowledge with automated equipment, process-control, and production-support experience. The position may be filled at the Engineer I, Engineer II, or Engineer III level based on the candidate’s education, experience, technical depth, and demonstrated level of responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Develop, qualify, document, and sustain Automated Fiber Placement processes for aerospace composite structures.
• Create and optimize ply books, layup sequences, tow paths, course boundaries, steering strategies, compaction parameters, tow-drop locations, and deposition rates.
• Program, simulate, verify, and release AFP programs using Vericut Composite Programming or equivalent offline programming software.
• Troubleshoot AFP equipment, Siemens-controlled motion systems, robotic cells, CNC interfaces, PLC logic, HMIs, sensors, and supporting industrial automation.
• Establish process parameters and acceptance criteria for laminate quality, dimensional accuracy, repeatability, and production throughput.
• Support composite manufacturing processes including hand layup, automated tape laying, vacuum bagging, autoclave curing, out-of-autoclave processing, composite assembly, trimming, drilling, and machining.
• Integrate probing, laser measurement, touch-probe, and in-process metrology systems to support equipment setup, calibration, alignment, and process verification.
• Support equipment installation, commissioning, Factory Acceptance Testing, Site Acceptance Testing, capability qualification, and production-readiness reviews.
• Investigate defects such as gaps, overlaps, wrinkles, bridging, tow-placement errors, foreign-object debris, porosity, delamination, and dimensional variation.
• Lead structured root-cause and corrective-action investigations using methods such as 5 Whys, fishbone analysis, fault-tree analysis, and 8D.
• Perform statistical process control, measurement-system analysis, capability studies, design of experiments, and process-performance evaluations.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing plans, work instructions, standard operating procedures, process specifications, PFMEAs, control plans, inspection requirements, and equipment setup documentation.
• Collaborate with design and materials engineering to evaluate manufacturability, material selection, laminate design, tooling concepts, cure cycles, and production risks.
• Support configuration control and implementation of engineering changes affecting tooling, equipment, software, programs, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Improve cycle time, first-pass yield, equipment availability, overall equipment effectiveness, scrap, rework, and production labor efficiency.
• Provide hands-on production support and technical direction to technicians, operators, programmers, and maintenance personnel.
• Mentor less-experienced engineers and technicians as appropriate for the assigned position level.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, materials, manufacturing, industrial engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience supporting composite fabrication, automated manufacturing, robotic manufacturing, CNC equipment, or another closely related aerospace production environment.
• Working knowledge of composite materials and processes, including prepreg handling, layup, debulk, vacuum bagging, curing, laminate defects, and material-storage controls.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, ply definitions, manufacturing plans, and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing requirements.
• Experience developing controlled manufacturing documentation such as work instructions, process specifications, manufacturing plans, or standard operating procedures.
• Experience troubleshooting manufacturing processes using data-driven root-cause and corrective-action methods.
• Ability to work directly with production personnel in a hands-on manufacturing environment.
• Strong written, verbal, analytical, and cross-functional communication skills.
• Ability to support flight-critical hardware in a fast-paced production and development environment.

Desired Qualifications

• Direct experience programming and developing Automated Fiber Placement processes.
• Experience with AFP equipment manufactured by Ingersoll Machine Tools, MTorres, Coriolis Composites, Electro impact or similar equipment suppliers.
• Experience with Vericut Composite Programming, CATIA, Siemens NX, Fibersim, Creo, or comparable composite CAD/CAM software.
• Experience with Siemens SINUMERIK 840D, Siemens PLCs, Siemens motion-control systems, or comparable industrial control platforms.
• Experience with FANUC, ABB, KUKA, or other industrial robotic systems.
• Experience with Renishaw probing, laser trackers, photogrammetry, CMM inspection, or other precision-metrology systems.
• Experience developing and validating autoclave and out-of-autoclave cure cycles.
• Understanding of laminate theory, composite material behavior, cure kinetics, tack, drape, compaction, and defect-formation mechanisms.
• Experience with CNC trimming, drilling, routing, machining, or assembly of composite structures.
• Experience conducting PFMEAs, design of experiments, statistical process control, measurement-system analyses, and Cp/Cpk studies.
• Experience with manufacturing execution systems, equipment-data collection, machine connectivity, digital work instructions, or predictive-maintenance systems.
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction, production ramp-up, or transition from development into rate production.
• Knowledge of AS9100, aerospace configuration control, process validation, and manufacturing requirements for flight-critical hardware.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent continuous-improvement experience.

If you are passionate about advanced composite manufacturing, automation, and helping build the future of spaceflight, we encourage you to join Blue Origin and contribute to the next generation of reusable launch systems and spacecraft.

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.