Megan Harrington

Fluid Systems Design Engineer, Blue Origin

Seattle, WA

Fluid Systems Design Engineer| Blue Origin

Address

Seattle, WA

What I Do

I support the design of fluid systems for a reusable space vehicle.
Why Engineering?

I chose engineering because it's challenging, I like understanding how things work, and I want to see more people exploring space.
School Days

I went to undergrad in Reno, NV for my BS in Mechanical Engineering, and I went to Brisbane, QLD Australia for my MS in Engineering Science to study abroad and learn more on scramjets and hypersonics.
My Day At Work

My day-to-day activities evolve throughout the duration of the project and by the end will have covered the full engineering life cycle, from concept and requirements development to design and analysis to testing and operations. One day I might be doing a deep dive into a thermo-fluid analysis problem and another day I might be building test plans for hardware. It's a nice diverse range :)
Best Part

Having my small part in a much bigger effort to get more people working and living in space.
Proud Moments

The big picture results: knowing the work our teams are accomplishing together will help expand human presence beyond Earth.
Challenges

Tackling the fear of not knowing enough, welcoming a healthy work/life balance, and practicing the art of saying 'no'
My Family

My family are my role models and I wouldn't be here without them.
Dreams and Goals

Build for space.
Go to space.
Work in space.
Inspiration

My parents. They encouraged my brother and I to pursue our dreams and passions, and emphasized that we could be anything we wanted to be when we grew up. Having this freedom to dream up any future for ourselves provided the foundation to discover our passions. I wouldn't be here without their encouragement.
Want to be an Engineer?

Find out what you're passionate about and chase it! It fuels you forward in the long run.
Hobbies

I like to be outside exploring as much as I can. Outdoor hobbies include running, cycling, hiking, camping, swimming, snowboarding, paddle boarding, kayaking, rock hounding, and stargazing. If I'm indoors, I typically find myself reading something nerdy like technical docs, or going for a creative hobby like painting and photography. I'm always looking to learn something new.
Additional Thoughts

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I'm a mechanical engineer in the aerospace industry. I earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nevada, and a M.Eng in Engineering Science from the University of Queensland Australia, with research background in magnetorheological fluids, hypersonic vehicles, and high speed flow dynamics. I spent a few years at NASA Stennis Space Center supporting the design modifications to test stands that were built to support full-scale liquid propulsion engine testing, and more recently included test campaigns for the RS-25 engine, J-2X, and the Space Launch System (SLS) core stage testing. I spent a few years after that supporting test facility and launchpad design at Blue Origin for BE-4 testing and New Shepard launches. I have spent the past few years supporting the design of fluid systems for our new reusable, heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle, New Glenn. Model rockets, fireworks, and stargazing in the rural deserts are where I started. Feel free to ask me anything.