Lead Mechanisms Engineer, Space Systems

Blue Origin; Merritt Island (FL); On-site; USD 151,000 - 211,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Education Support Program

Paid Time Off

Stock Options

Job summary

Blue Origin seeks a senior mechanisms engineering leader on Merritt Island to guide design, development, and qualification of propulsion‑related mechanisms in a high‑reliability space program. You will mentor engineers, drive technical strategy for deployables, latches, actuators, and gimbals, and ensure successful integration with systems engineering, structures, avionics, and manufacturing.

You will oversee test planning and risk management while promoting a culture of safety, ownership, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• 8+ years in mechanism design, development, testing for aerospace/high-reliability industries.
• 2+ years in people leadership/technical lead roles.
• Experience designing/qualifying mechanisms such as deployables, latches, actuators, or separation systems.
• Experience with gimbal system design (engine gimbals, antenna pointing).
• Experience with deployable structures (solar arrays, landing legs, antennas, extendable booms).
• Strong understanding of kinematics, tribology, mechanism failure modes.
• Experience leading design reviews/technical decisions in fast-paced development.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of mechanisms engineers and provide technical guidance.
• Own the technical strategy for mechanism design, development, integration, and qualification.
• Guide design of deployable, actuated, and separation mechanisms (hinges, latches, dampers, actuators, release devices).
• Lead design and qualification of gimbal systems supporting engine actuation and articulation requirements.
• Drive design trade studies, architecture decisions, and make/buy decisions for subsystems.
• Ensure mechanisms meet structural/thermal/kinematic/reliability requirements across mission environments.
• Oversee test planning, execution, and anomaly resolution for mechanism qualification and testing.
• Manage team workload and hiring to meet program needs.

Skills

Mechanism design

Gimbal system design

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Design reviews

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

ANSYS

Adams

Nastran

Job description

Blue Origin seeks a senior mechanisms engineering leader on Merritt Island to guide design, development, and qualification of propulsion‑related mechanisms in a high‑reliability space program. You will mentor engineers, drive technical strategy for deployables, latches, actuators, and gimbals, and ensure successful integration with systems engineering, structures, avionics, and manufacturing.

You will oversee test planning and risk management while promoting a culture of safety, ownership, and