Structural Engineer III - Thermal Hardware - Lunar Permanence

BLUE ORIGIN; Quinte West; On-site; CAD 181,000 - 254,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Paid time off

Education support program

Job summary

Blue Origin is building reusable space vehicles and sustainable lunar transport. This role contributes to the Lunar Core Components Heat Transfer team, performing structural analysis on radiators, cold plates, and heat exchangers, and guiding design toward optimal thermal hardware for flight-ready lunar vehicles.

Join a mission-driven team focused on safety, quality, and collaboration, with opportunities for travel up to 15% and participation in technical assessments during interviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering with 6+ years of related experience.
• Experience on launch vehicles, spacecraft, or similar.
• Strong understanding of structural design and analysis fundamentals.
• Experience with Creo for mechanical design.
• Ability to perform structural analysis via hand calculations and FEA.
• Familiarity with aerospace sizing methods (Bruhn, Niu, Roark).
• Knowledge of GD&T (ASME Y14.5).
• Understanding aerospace hardware verification and validation processes.

Responsibilities

• Interpret and derive loads for secondary structures and hardware.
• Lead trade studies on structural integrity and configuration.
• Design, analyze, and test secondary structures incl. additively manufactured parts and composites.
• Collaborate with thermal engineers on structurally sound components.
• Create 3D models, drawings, and interfaces to drive analysis.
• Coordinate with subsystem teams on structural interfaces.
• Provide on-site manufacturing support and travel when needed.
• Participate in verification test planning and data analysis.
• Develop tooling and equipment for manufacturing facilities.
• Mentor junior engineers and drive continuous improvements.

Skills

Structural design

Creo

FEA

Bruhn/Niu/Roark

ASME Y14.5

Leadership

materials selection

Education

B.S. in engineering

M.S. in engineering

Tools

Ansys

Nastran

Optistruct

LS-Dyna

Hypermesh

Hypersizer

Job description

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 the Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Origin’s Blue Moon landers and related products. To further Blue Origin’s mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth, we are building sustainable infrastructure for our transport of crew and cargo from Earth to the lunar surface.

This role is part of the Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Origin’s Blue Moon landers and related products. To further Blue Origin’s mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth, we are building sustainable infrastructure for our transport of crew and cargo from Earth to the lunar surface.

As a key member of the Lunar Core Components Heat Transfer team, you will be applying your skills to performing structural analysis on Lunar vehicle components (radiators, cold plates, and/or heat exchangers). You will use the insight from these analyses to provide design suggestions to the Responsible Engineers so they can create a more optimal thermal hardware design for their application. You will work through the product lifecycle and see this hardware mature from an initial CAD model to a flight qualified hardware that is installed onto our Lunar vehicles.

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, communication skills, and dedication to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Special Mentions:

• Travel expected up to 15% of the time
• Interviews will include a technical assessment

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Interpret, decompose, and derive structural loads and requirements, utilizing vehicle provided load factors for secondary structures and interfacing hardware.
• Lead any trade studies that will inform structural integrity of the component and assembly design, configuration as required.
• Design, analysis, development, and testing of secondary structures, including additively manufactured parts, composites and metallic piece parts, as well as integrated structural assemblies.
• Work with thermal hardware engineers to develop structurally sound and thermally appropriate components.
• Build 3D models, detail part drawings, assemblies, installations, and interface control documents as required to drive structural analysis and design.
• Coordinate with other subsystem teams on the design of structural interfaces
• Provide on-site manufacturing and production support, including travel when needed.
• Participate in subsystem structural verification test planning, execution, data reduction and analysis
• Work with multi-functional teams that are responsible for selecting materials, manufacturing processes, and suppliers to produce world class aerospace hardware
• Develop tooling and equipment requirements in support of specification and procurement of manufacturing and assembly facilities for thermal hardware
• Maintain and report on activity schedule, budget and technical status
• Coach, mentor and technically assist junior engineers
• Find opportunities for improvements and operational cost savings

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of a B.S. degree in engineering and 6+ years of related experience
• Experience on launch vehicles, spacecraft, aircraft or similar in one or more of the following areas:
  • Structural design of metallic components and assemblies
  • Vehicle load path distribution, and first order strength assessment and sizing
  • Knowledge of material selection, compatibility, and manufacturing techniques
• Strong understanding of structural design and analysis fundamentals
• Strong mechanical design skills using Creo.
• Ability to conduct structural analysis using both classical hand-calculation methods and finite element analysis techniques
• Familiarity with classical aerospace sizing methods (ex: Bruhn, Niu, Roark).
• Strong skills with both authoring and interpreting Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerance analysis (ASME Y14.5)
• Understanding of aerospace hardware verification and validation process

Preferred Qualifications:

• M.S. degree in engineering and 9+ years of related experience
• Deep knowledge of bonded and bolted joint design, mechanics, and relevant analysis techniques.
• Strong communication skills, with an ability to quickly build consensus among stakeholders
• Demonstrated expertise with any industry standard analysis codes: Ansys, Nastran, Optistruct, LS-Dyna, Hypermesh, Hypersizer
• Experience with rapid development techniques for hardware
• Performing trades with vehicle level and subsystem design teams to better enable fabrication and integration of component parts
• Demonstrated composites integration, analysis, and manufacturing knowledge.
• Demonstrated experience developing manufacturing processes for production
• Proven experience with designing for manufacturability
• Knowledge of systems engineering practices, fabrication and integration processes, and quality control
• Experience with a variety of hardware manufacturing practices including drilling, shimming, fastening, composites fabrication, fluids integration, avionics integration, instrumentation

Base Pay Range for:

CA applicants is $130,706.00 - $182,987.70

CO applicants is $119,814.00 - $167,738.55

WA applicants is $130,706.00 - $182,987.70

Other site ranges may differ

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, 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 Affiantive Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at [e-mail]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.