Principal Mechanisms Design Engineer - TeraWave
Blue Origin
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Qualifications
- 10+ years of relevant experience in opto-mechanical systems.
- Experience in designing telescopes or similar precision optical instruments.
- Hands-on experience with advanced mirror materials.
Responsibilities
- Lead the mechanical design of the telescope structure.
- Author and manage contamination control plans.
- Plan and oversee environmental qualification tests.
Skills
Education
Tools
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 TeraWave, a satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. This network will service tens of thousands of enterprise, data center, and government users who require reliable connectivity for critical operations.
As a Principal Opto-Mechanical Engineer at Blue Origin, you will lead the mechanical design for the optical heart of a communications terminal. You will be responsible for a telescope and precision pointing system that must maintain wavefront quality and angular stability in the harsh environment of space. You will own the physical system from concept and material selection through final assembly and validation.
You will design and build the precision opto-mechanical systems at the core of a next-generation optical communications terminal. Your work will involve making critical design trades, managing key suppliers, and closing tolerance budgets to ensure the system achieves its unprecedented performance goals.
- Relocation assistance is available for this position
- Travel expectations: 10-15% travel may be required for vendor visits, design reviews, and test campaigns
- Opto-Mechanical Design Leadership: Lead the mechanical design of the telescope structure, incorporating precision alignment features, kinematic mounts, and athermal design principles
- Develop and close comprehensive tolerance budgets for Wavefront Error (WFE) and alignment stability, informed by STOP analysis in collaboration with optical design team
- Engineer robust solutions for straylight and ghost suppression, including baffle design, scatter control strategies, and optical coating specifications
- Author and manage contamination control plans and cleanliness procedures
- Ensure designs are optimized for manufacturability, assembly, and alignment (DFMA), defining all necessary tooling and Ground Support Equipment (GSE)
- Provide technical mentorship to junior engineers on the team
- Lead the development path and trade studies for mirror materials, evaluating CTE stability, specific stiffness, polishability, surface finish, and thermal performance
- Draft detailed Statements of Work (SOWs) for vendors, defining technical requirements and acceptance test criteria for optical components
- Manage vendor relationships, conduct design reviews, and analyze manufacturing and test data to ensure compliance
- Develop and maintain relationships with key suppliers in the optical manufacturing industry
- Collaborate with the STOP analyst to define stiffness targets that mitigate jitter and gravity release effects
- Integrate thermal control hardware (thermal straps, heaters, radiators) and cable management solutions compatible with precision gimbal motion
- Perform hand calculations and preliminary FEA to rapidly validate design concepts and inform detailed analysis cycles
- Lead cross-functional technical reviews to ensure integrated system performance
- Plan and oversee environmental qualification tests, including thermal cycling, dimensional stability, and vibration testing
- Provide hands-on support for optical alignment, system integration, and metrology activities in the lab
- Refine designs based on straylight test data and validate the effectiveness of contamination control procedures during assembly
- Develop and document lessons learned to improve future designs
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field with 10+ years of relevant experience (M.S./Ph.D. preferred)
- Demonstrated experience in designing telescopes or similar precision optical instruments for space or aerospace applications
- Proven expertise in straylight analysis, contamination control, baffle design, and coating selection for sensitive optical systems
- Hands-on experience with advanced mirror materials, including understanding of their fabrication, polishing, and testing methods
- Experience integrating mechanical designs with structural, thermal, and optical performance analyses
- Proficiency in a major CAD package (e.g., PTC Creo, Siemens NX) for detailed mechanical design
- Experience leading technical teams and mentoring junior engineers
- Track record of successful delivery of complex opto-mechanical systems for demanding applications
- Direct experience using STOP analysis to drive mechanical design decisions
- Proficiency in SigFit, ANSYS Thermal Desktop, and Zemax OpticStudio
- Experience with space environmental testing (thermal cycling, vibration, TVAC) and test-model correlation
- Design or integration experience with precision pointing mechanisms or gimbals for space
- Knowledge of athermalization techniques for optical systems
- Experience developing and executing optical alignment procedures using interferometry and metrology tools
- Previous experience with optical communications systems or laser-based instruments
- Experience with systems engineering practices and requirements flow-down
- Publication record or patents in relevant technical areas
Compensation Range for: CA applicants is $183,193.00 - $256,469.85; WA applicants is $183,193.00 - $256,469.85. Other site ranges may differ.
Culture Statement: Don\'t meet all desired requirements? If you are excited about this role but your past experience doesn\'t align perfectly with every desired qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway.
Export Control Regulations: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident, or otherwise lawfully admitted into the U.S.
Background Check: Blue\'s Standard Background Check; DBIDS if required for access; CDL/driver-related checks where applicable; Merchant Mariner Credential considerations as applicable.
Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, 401(k) with company match, and Education Support. PTO up to four weeks per year, plus holidays. Blue Origin is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We provide equal opportunities for hire and advancement regardless of race, religion, sex, or other protected characteristics. For more information, see our policies and rights.
California Applicant Privacy Notice: If you are a California resident, reference the CA Applicant Privacy Notice here.
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