Space Mechanisms Engineer - Gimbals & Pointing Systems

Blue Origin; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 81,000 - 114,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Blue Origin seeks a Mechanisms Engineer II for Opto-Mechanical Systems to help design precision gimbal assemblies and pointing mechanisms for the TeraWave optical terminal constellation. You’ll work under senior engineers to develop performance requirements, perform analyses, and support qualification testing in a multi-disciplinary team.

You will contribute to design, analysis, and documentation, participate in tolerance studies and interface definitions, and support production transitions,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace, Automotive or related technical field.
• Exposure to design or analysis of gimbal assemblies, multi-axis pointing mechanisms, or similar precision mechanical systems.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD software (e.g., Creo, NX, SolidWorks); exposure to finite element analysis tools (e.g., ANSYS, NASTRAN, Comsol).
• Foundational knowledge of mechanism kinematics, dynamics, and structural analysis.
• Familiarity with space qualification testing concepts including vibration, shock, and thermal vacuum.
• Familiarity with bearing systems, drive trains, or precision actuators.
• Working knowledge of GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, and interface control documentation.
• Awareness of DFM/ DFA principles.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop precision gimbal assemblies and pointing mechanisms for space-based optical communications terminals, under guidance of senior engineers.
• Develop mechanism performance requirements, error budgets, and design margins across structural, thermal, and dynamic domains.
• Perform design trade studies and analyses for gimbal configurations (mass, volume, stiffness, pointing accuracy, on-orbit lifetime).
• Support mechanism qualification activities including testing in shock, vibration, and thermal vacuum environments.
• Prepare mechanism design documentation, analysis reports, and test procedures for senior engineer review.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on mechanism integration, harness routing, and interface definition.
• Apply mechanism design principles and grow skills under mentorship of senior and principal engineers.
• Support production transition activities including tolerance analysis and DFM/DFA reviews.

Skills

Gimbal design

Pointing mechanisms

Precision mechanisms

3D CAD

GD&T

Tolerance analysis

DSA/DFM feedback

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Automotive or related field

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Creo/NX/SolidWorks

ANSYS/NASTRAN/COMSOL

Job description

Blue Origin seeks a Mechanisms Engineer II for Opto-Mechanical Systems to help design precision gimbal assemblies and pointing mechanisms for the TeraWave optical terminal constellation. You’ll work under senior engineers to develop performance requirements, perform analyses, and support qualification testing in a multi-disciplinary team.

You will contribute to design, analysis, and documentation, participate in tolerance studies and interface definitions, and support production transitions,