HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – Six years after launching its Alabama facility with an expected 300 employees, aerospace company Blue Origin is again expanding its footprint in Huntsville with a current workforce of more than 1,600.
The company recently announced 100 new jobs to support its thruster production at one of its three Rocket City facilities.
“Alabama is proud to be home to Blue Origin and its innovative developments in the global aerospace industry,” said Governor Kay Ivey. “The continued expansion in Huntsville shows the expertise of our state workforce and the strong support of the local community to help the company achieve its strategic vision.”
Kent, Washington-based Blue Origin, founded by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, announced plans for the state-of-the-art production facility in Huntsville in June 2017.
At the time, Blue Origin said it chose Huntsville for this project because of its high-tech aerospace manufacturing workforce and ecosystem, including NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, nearly 300 private aerospace and defense contractors, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville, a top university for NASA research funding.
“Blue Origin is proud to call Rocket City home,” said Dave Limp, the company’s CEO. “With more than 1,600 employees across Alabama, we’re building propulsion systems that power American leadership in space.”
In early 2020, it celebrated the official opening of its 350,000-square-foot Engines Factory at Cummings Research Park, which produces the BE-4 to power Blue Origin’s New Glenn and United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan and the BE-3U used in the New Glenn upper stage.
Other locations are:
- The Jemison Manufacturing Facility in Jetplex Industrial Park, which produces BE-7 engines to power Blue Moon’s lunar vehicles, the Blue Ring spacecraft and thrusters.
- The historic Test Stand 4670 on Redstone Arsenal, where Blue Origin conducts hot-fire engine testing.
“Space exploration is thrilling to watch, but even more so knowing that Alabamians’ hard work and ingenuity are contributing to these missions,” Alabama Secretary of Commerce Ellen McNair said. “Blue Origin is one of many companies to discover that when you locate in Alabama, you grow in Alabama.”
Blue Origin’s thrusters support precision propulsion, providing spacecraft with fine control for attitude adjustment, orbital maneuvering and station-keeping. Unlike large rocket engines that provide primary propulsion, thrusters enable delicate movements essential for mission success. As humanity returns to the Moon and prepares for Mars exploration, reliable thruster systems will play a vital role in making these missions possible.
To explore job opportunities at Blue Origin in Huntsville, visit blueorigin.com/careers.
