James Goss
About James Goss
James Goss is a Propulsion Engineer at Blue Origin with over 20 years of experience in rocket engine design, including work on the Merlin engines at SpaceX and the BE-3 engine at Blue Origin.
Current Role at Blue Origin
James Goss is currently a Propulsion Engineer at Blue Origin. Since joining the company, he has been responsible for the design of the BE-3 liquid hydrogen turbopump. He has also contributed to the development of the BE-3U engine and the New Glenn rocket. His role involves significant work with rocket engine components such as turbopumps, powerheads, and nozzles.
Previous Experience at SpaceX
Before his tenure at Blue Origin, James Goss worked at Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) from 2004 to 2008. During his time there, he played a key role in the design and integration of the Merlin engines for both the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 rockets. Notably, he designed the complex engine integration hardware known as the Tic-Tac-Toe configuration for Falcon 9's first stage.
Early Career Roles
James Goss has held several engineering positions early in his career. From 1995 to 1997, he served as a Mechanical Engineer at Litton. He then worked as a Product Engineer at Northrop Grumman Space Technology from 1997 to 1998. Following that, he became a Mechanical Design Engineer at Rocketdyne, where he worked from 1998 to 2004. These roles provided him with essential experience in mechanical and product engineering, helping to lay the foundation for his more specialized work in propulsion technology.
Educational Background
James Goss holds both a BS and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from UC Santa Barbara. He completed his BS from 1991 to 1995 and his MS from 1995 to 1997. His academic focus provided him with a solid foundation in mechanical engineering principles that he would later apply extensively in his professional roles.
Engineering Software Expertise
Throughout his career, James Goss has gained extensive experience in using various engineering software for structural analysis and mechanical design. His proficiency includes tools like Unigraphics, Pro/E, and Ansys. These software skills have been integral to his work on complex propulsion systems, allowing him to perform detailed design and analysis tasks effectively.