James Engle
About James Engle
James Engle is the Chief Designer of Space Destinations at Blue Origin, with extensive experience in aerospace engineering and leadership roles at Boeing.
Current Role at BLUE ORIGIN
James Engle currently serves as the Chief Designer of Space Destinations at BLUE ORIGIN. He has held this role since 2022 and is based in Houston, Texas. In this capacity, he oversees the design and development of space destinations, aiming to advance human space exploration efforts. His work contributes to BLUE ORIGIN's mission to enable millions of people to live and work in space.
Previous Experience at Boeing
James Engle has an extensive history with Boeing, where he served in various high-level positions. From 2016 to 2022, he was the Chief Architect and Engineer for Human Exploration on the International Space Station, Space & Launch program. Prior to that, he worked as the Chief System Architect for Docking Systems in the Space Exploration division from 2011 to 2016. He also held the role of Deputy Program Manager for Program Integration on the Space Shuttle Program from 2004 to 2011. Earlier, he was the Systems Engineering Director for the Shuttle Program in the Space Systems Division from 2000 to 2004.
Early Career at Rockwell/Boeing North American
James Engle started his career in aerospace at Rockwell Space Systems Division, which later became part of Boeing. From 1992 to 1996, he was the Lead Engineer for Technology Applications in Shuttle Launch Support. He later advanced to Senior Manager of Advanced Software & Technology Applications for the Space Shuttle at Rockwell/Boeing North American from 1996 to 2000. His early work provided the foundational skills and experience that he later applied in higher-level roles.
Educational Background in Engineering and AI
James Engle has a solid educational background in engineering and artificial intelligence. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University, completed in 1986. He later earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis on Management from California State University-Long Beach, graduating in 1992. Additionally, he completed a Certificate Program in Artificial Intelligence at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1989 to 1990.
International Experience
James Engle has diverse international experience, having worked and lived in various countries including Japan, Taiwan, and Korea. In 1987, he briefly worked as a Design Engineer at Oem Systems Co. Ltd. in Kyoto, Japan, focusing on automated chromatography equipment. Earlier in 1985, he taught Business English at the Taipei English School in Taiwan. From 1982 to 1983, he served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Seoul and Suwon, Korea, further broadening his global perspective.