Senior Mechanical Engineer - Lunar Permanence, Avionics Packaging

Blue Origin LLC; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off & holidays

Education Support Program

Stock options

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking a senior mechanical engineer to lead the design, analysis, and testing of ruggedized avionics enclosures for lunar missions. You will guide a cross-functional team, develop requirements, and ensure high reliability in harsh environments through Creo-based CAD work and FEA assessments.

You will mentor junior engineers, participate in design reviews, and collaborate with Electrical, Systems, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to deliver flight-ready components and

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• 10+ years designing ruggedized electronic enclosures or similar high-reliability hardware.
• Experience with static structural, modal, random vibration, and thermal analysis.
• 3D CAD modeling (Creo preferred).
• FEA tools (Ansys preferred).
• Solder fatigue experience (Steinberg/Engelmeier).
• GD&T implementation and analysis (ASME Y14.5).
• Self-directed with ability to balance multiple projects.
• Proven design communication and autonomous leadership.
• Experience with environmental testing (vibration, shock, thermal).
• Root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Willingness to mentor junior engineers and collaborate across teams.
• U.S. citizen or eligible to work in the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership in a cross-disciplinary design team for avionics enclosures.
• Participate in the design cycle of flight and mission-critical avionics.
• Define requirements and design architecture with stakeholders.
• Incorporate PCB/interconnect packages with thermal and structural analysis.
• Lead design trade studies and create mechanical interfaces.
• Create 3D CAD models, drawings, installation docs.
• Build and evaluate prototype assemblies and test fixtures.
• Document best practices and conduct engineering tests and reviews.
• Deliver technical presentations and training materials.
• Review and approve designs and documentation from team members.

Skills

Structural analysis

Thermal analysis

3D CAD (Creo)

FEA (Ansys)

GD&T (ASME Y14.5)

Leadership

Design reviews

Cross-functional collaboration

High-reliability enclosures

Education

B.S. in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

Creo

Ansys

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. As part of a hardworking team of engineers, specialists, and technical designers, you will support the mechanical design, analysis, test, and review of avionics packaging for a variety of avionics equipment for Lunar missions. As a member of the highly collaborative and fast-paced Lunar Permanence organization, you will engage with personnel from other teams including Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Manufacturing, Test Engineering, Production, Procurement, and Quality. This senior-level role requires providing leadership, technical expertise, and training for the mechanical team. This opportunity reports to the Core Avionics group inside of the Lunar Permanence business unit, and the person in this role will play a key role in developing Lunar systems that build the path toward our vision of millions of people living and working in space. We're shaping our future in space, and we’re looking for dedicated and inspired people to join us! Passion for our mission and vision is required. Special Mentions: Relocation available Travel expected on an as-needed basis up to 15% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership as a member of a cross-disciplinary team in a fast-paced design environment
• Participate in the entire design cycle of flight and mission critical avionics
• Collaborate with customers and stakeholders to define requirements and design architecture
• Collaborate with the electrical engineering team to incorporate printed circuit board and interconnect systems, including thermal and structural analyses of these components
• Lead design trade studies
• Design avionics enclosure solutions for performance and high reliability in harsh environments
• Create mechanical interface definitions, specifications, and control documents
• Create 3D CAD models and assemblies, part and assembly drawings, installation drawings, and other required technical documentation
• Build and evaluate prototype assemblies
• Build assembly aids and test fixtures
• Collaborate on and document team mechanical best practices
• Plan and conduct engineering tests and data reviews
• Create and deliver presentations, proposals, and training material on technical subjects
• Review assembly instructions and support hardware builds
• Validate requirements through design, test, analysis, and inspection
• Support Production and Quality Engineering as needed, including dispositioning material defects
• Manage revisions of the product design configurations through the product lifecycle
• Mentor and train junior engineers
• Review and approve designs and documentation created by other team members

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering
• 10+ years of recent experience designing ruggedized electronic enclosures or similar high-performance/high reliability hardware
• Skilled with static structural, modal, random vibration, and thermal analysis
• Skilled with 3D CAD modeling programs (Creo preferred)
• Skilled with FEA tools (Ansys preferred)
• Experience with Steinberg or Engelmeier solder fatigue
• Skilled with GD&T implementation and analysis (ASME Y14.5)
• Ability to be self-directed and balance several projects at one time
• History of communicating design concepts and analysis results effectively
• History of demonstrating autonomous project leadership
• History of technical expertise/authority being recognized by the larger team/organization
• Experience with environmental testing including vibration, shock, and thermal testing
• Experience performing failure analysis and establishing root cause and corrective actions
• Flexibility and openness to tackling varied assignments and learning new skills
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with one or more of the following packaging disciplines: avionics, power regulators and distributors, batteries, optics, sensors, motor controllers, RF radios and amplifiers, displays, controls, antennas, navigation instrumentation, radar, or LiDAR
• Experience with aerospace, launch vehicle, or spacecraft avionics systems
• Experience with recent versions of Creo, Windchill, Ansys
• Experience with fatigue analysis and fracture mechanics
• Experience with aerospace industry standard structural analysis methods (Bruhn, Marks’, Shigley, Steinberg, Roark’s)
• Experience with additional environmental testing including EMI/RFI, TVAC
• Experience training and mentoring junior level engineers
• Experience directing the activities of other engineers
• Hands‑on, practical mechanical abilities

Base Pay Range for:

CO applicants is $144,179.00 - $201,849.90 WA applicants is $156,802.00 - $219,522.45 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.

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

• 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 Affi… Please contact us at [e-mail]. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.

We’re committed to building the road to space so our children can build the future. We are a mission‑driven company focused on ideas and innovation, and encourage fresh perspectives from bold voices. At Blue, our team is building the future as their unique selves.

Thank you for your interest in working at Blue Origin!

Blue Origin was founded with a vision to enable a future where millions of people are living and working in space to benefit Earth. In order to preserve Earth, Blue Origin believes in the need to enable humanity to expand, explore, find new energy and material resources, and move industries that stress Earth into space. Blue Origin believes it has an important role in building a road to space and lowering the cost of getting there. At Blue Origin, we’re working on this today by developing fully reusable launch vehicles and systems that are safe, reliable and affordable. Every launch vehicle is designed for human spaceflight from the beginning and able to ferry payloads to space.

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