Fleet Naval Architect (Analyst / Naval Architect)

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.

As the Fleet Naval Architect (Analyst / Naval Architect), you will serve as the primary technical authority for Blue Origin's in-service maritime assets supporting New Glenn recovery operations. This is a hands-on, field-engineering role: you will live with the fleet, troubleshoot real problems on real ships, and keep the assets safe, classed, and mission-ready as launch cadence increases. You will work in close partnership with, and complementary to, the Technical Lead (Analyst / Naval Architect) who owns new vessel construction; this role owns the vessels once they are operating. You will interface directly with the recovery team's engineers and technicians, Cape Canaveral port authorities, ABS surveyors, USCG OCMIs, OEM field service representatives, and Blue Origin's internal engineering and program management stakeholders.

At Blue Origin, we are expanding the boundaries of civilization and establishing the foundation for humanity's future in space. The best-kept secret in space exploration is the critical role of marine assets and the use of one of Earth's most abundant resources, its oceans. The maritime industry has been paramount in the exploration of space since its earliest days: hardware and crewed capsules have splashed down in the ocean, and marine crews have recovered flight hardware and astronauts since the dawn of human spaceflight. As the commercial space industry accelerates toward reusability to lower the cost of access to space, the importance of purpose-built marine assets, and the teams who keep them running, has never been greater.

Blue Origin's recovery fleet supports active New Glenn launches today and is growing to meet a rising launch cadence. Two complementary technical leads anchor the marine engineering function:

• The Technical Lead (Analyst / Naval Architect) owns the new-build program: the design, shipyard execution, classification submissions, and delivery of new purpose-built recovery vessels.
• The Fleet Naval Architect (this role) owns the in-service fleet: the day-to-day technical health of operating vessels, drydock and survey cycles, modifications and upgrades to in-service assets, and field troubleshooting at the pier and at sea.

The two roles are deconflicted by lifecycle: new-build leads through delivery and warranty; fleet leads from acceptance forward. They share information freely, jointly develop operability and maintainability requirements during construction, and hand off vessels with documented technical baselines. Fleet support participates in new-build reviews in a co-review capacity for operability and maintainability items, with the new-build Technical Lead retaining primary technical authority during construction.

As the Fleet Naval Architect, you will be the primary technical authority across all disciplines for the in-service fleet: structural, mechanical, piping, HVAC, and automation. You will work hand-in-hand with the Senior Marine Electrical Engineer on in-service power and controls. You will lead trade studies on upgrades, modifications, and repair dispositions. You will defend or revise design decisions during active trades when operational reality challenges assumptions. You will read and assess drawings, schematics, and survey reports, and you will be on deck and in the engine room when needed. You will plan and execute drydock periods, ABS surveys, and USCG inspection cycles. You will direct port engineering and maintenance contractors and OEM field service representatives, holding technical authority over the port team without formal direct reports today.

If you have the ambition, drive, determination, and skillset to leave a permanent mark on both the maritime and aerospace industries, we are looking to give you the platform to do so. We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, experience, and commitment to quality and execution to positively impact safe human spaceflight and leave their mark on the history of the world.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical authority over Blue Origin's in-service maritime assets, including booster recovery vessels, support craft, and shoreside marine infrastructure.
• Provide engineering oversight of the operating fleet, ensuring continued compliance with ABS rules, USCG regulations (CFRs), flag and port-state requirements, and contractual specifications.
• Plan, scope, and technically execute drydock periods, special and annual ABS surveys, USCG COI / inspection cycles, and condition-based maintenance windows.
• Review and approve modifications, upgrades, and repair dispositions on in-service vessels: drawings, calculations, work packages, and test procedures.
• Coordinate with ABS surveyors and USCG OCMIs for all in-service regulatory obligations, including credit surveys, conditions of class, and inspection findings closure.
• Lead technical trade studies and risk management activities for in-service modifications, upgrades, and operational changes; defend or revise design decisions during active solution trades when the recovery mission, sea state, or aerospace interface drives new requirements.
• Interface with the Aerospace Engineering teams to ensure marine assets continue to accommodate recovery operations as recovery hardware, sequences, and concepts of operations evolve.
• Oversee Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and shipboard commissioning for in-service equipment replacements, automation upgrades, and major component overhauls; co-review FAT for new-build items where in-service operability or commonality is implicated.
• Coordinate with the Senior Marine Electrical Engineer on in-service electrical system health, integration of upgrades, and recommissioning after repair.
• Participate in new-build technical reviews led by the Technical Lead (Analyst / Naval Architect) as co-reviewer for operability, maintainability, sparing, and crew transition; provide field-derived feedback to inform construction decisions.
• Coordinate with the Recovery Offshore Operations Engineer on in-service vessel performance, recovery equipment integration, and operational requirements; assume primary mentorship of the Recovery Offshore Operations Engineer on vessel systems and classification topics post-delivery, in coordination with the new-build Technical Lead during construction.
• Hold technical authority over port engineering and maintenance contractors, OEM field service representatives, and shoreside support personnel; assign tasks, set technical direction, and verify execution.
• Read and assess blueprints, schematics, survey reports, and OEM service bulletins to ensure all maritime assets align with OEM best practices and to maximize system performance and lifetime.
• Manage subcontracts with marine repair yards, OEMs, and component suppliers, including requests for proposal, specifications, statements of work, budget tracking, and execution oversight.
• Lead casualty investigations, root-cause analyses, and corrective action plans for in-service failures, near-misses, and operational anomalies.
• Develop and maintain technical baselines, configuration records, and modification histories for each fleet asset; ensure clean handoff at delivery from the new-build program.
• Provide status reporting to senior management on fleet technical health, survey and drydock readiness, and modification execution.
• Plan and conduct hazardous or critical operations at the pier, in drydock, and at sea, with a strong safety mindset and hands-on involvement.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of a B.S. degree in Marine Engineering, Naval Architecture, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 10 years of combined relevant field experience in vessel asset management, port engineering, in-service vessel modifications and repairs, or sailing experience as Chief Engineer or 1st Assistant Engineer; new-construction oversight experience is valued but not a substitute for in-service field experience.
• Hands-on experience troubleshooting and resolving real-time technical issues on operating vessels, including engine room casualties, hull and structural findings, automation faults, and piping or HVAC failures.
• Experience planning and executing drydock periods, ABS surveys, and USCG inspections on operating vessels.
• Experience working with United States Coast Guard and local OCMIs on in-service matters (COIs, inspections, deficiencies, marine casualty reporting).
• Experience working with American Bureau of Shipping surveyors on in-service matters (annual, intermediate, special, and credit surveys; conditions of class).
• Experience performing work in compliance with CFRs, USCG standards, ABS guidelines, and other applicable standards for marine applications.
• Experience developing drawings, specifications, and work packages to define requirements for vessel repairs, modifications, and upgrades.
• Experience with FAT testing of marine electrical systems, automation, and major equipment, including shipboard commissioning.
• Experience managing repair and modification schedules and providing status reports to senior management.
• Experience leading schedule mitigation efforts during execution.
• Strong technical leadership skills with the ability to direct and mentor less experienced team members and to hold technical authority over contractors and OEM field representatives without formal direct reports.
• Experience in subcontract management of suppliers including requests for proposal, specifications, statements of work, and budget management.
• Strong safety mindset and experience, including hands-on experience planning and conducting hazardous or critical operations.
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a positive working culture.
• 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 Qualifications

• USCG license as Chief Engineer or 1st Assistant Engineer (Steam, Motor, or Gas Turbine), or equivalent international ticket.
• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) or relevant professional maritime certification.
• Experience with dynamic positioning systems, heavy-lift operations, or specialized recovery / offshore vessels.
• Experience with stability booklets, trim and stability calculations, loading instruments, and tonnage measurements on operating vessels.
• System safety analysis experience including Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), and Functional Hazard Analysis (FHA).
• Experience with marine casualty and failure investigations.
• Knowledge of systems engineering practices, manufacturing, fabrication and assembly processes, and quality control.
• Experience supporting proposal evaluations.
• Proficiency in naval architecture tools (e.g., GHS, NAPA, Maxsurf, AutoCAD, Rhino).
• Experience interfacing with aerospace or other non-marine engineering organizations on integrated mission systems.
• Prior experience standing up or growing a fleet engineering or port engineering function.

Travel

• Ability to relocate to Cape Canaveral, Florida.
• 20 to 30 percent job-related travel, primarily for drydock periods, OEM facility visits, vendor FAT for in-service equipment, and periodic visits to the new-build shipyard.
• International travel required.

Required Education

B.S. in Marine Engineering, Naval Architecture, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent.

Required Experience

10+ years field experience in vessel asset management, port engineering, in-service modifications/repairs, or sailing as Chief / 1st Assistant Engineer.

Citizenship Requirement

U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted refugee/asylee.

Additional Job Requirements

International travel required; periodic shipyard visits; drydock and at-sea work.

Desired Skills Tags

In-service vessel management; port engineering; fleet support; drydock; ABS surveys; USCG OCMI; CFRs; FAT; commissioning; field troubleshooting; root-cause analysis; recovery operations; aerospace interface; classification societies; stability; FMECA; FTA; trade studies; risk management.

EEO Category

Professionals.

FLSA Status

Exempt.

Security Clearance

None required (U.S. person status required).

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. 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.

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