Space Mechanisms Engineer III — Precision Gimbal & Drives

Blue Origin; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Up to 20% travel

Job summary

Blue Origin’s Emerging Systems unit seeks a Mechanisms Engineer III to own end-to-end design of precision gimbal assemblies for space-based optical communications. You will work from concept through flight qualification on a small, fast-moving team, with high autonomy and accountability for your hardware.

You will collaborate with senior engineers, drive design trades, and contribute to mechanism-level performance, testing, and documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Automotive or related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in precision mechanisms design for space, aerospace, or high-reliability applications.
• Demonstrated ability to independently own the design, analysis, and qualification of gimbal assemblies, multi-axis pointing mechanisms, or similar precision mechanical systems.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD software (e.g., Creo, NX, SolidWorks) and finite element analysis tools (e.g., ANSYS, NASTRAN, Comsol)
• Working knowledge of mechanism kinematics, dynamics, and structural analysis.
• Hands-on experience with space qualification testing including vibration, shock, and thermal vacuum

Responsibilities

• Own the design and development of precision gimbal assemblies and pointing mechanisms for space-based optical communications terminals, from concept through flight qualification.
• Develop and be accountable for mechanism-level performance requirements, error budgets, and design margins across structural, thermal, and dynamic domains.
• Drive design trades for gimbal configurations, balancing mass, volume, stiffness, pointing accuracy, and on-orbit lifetime, and defend your recommendations in design reviews.
• Plan and execute mechanism qualification including component- and system-level testing in shock, vibration, and thermal vacuum environments, and own the resulting data and corrective actions.
• Author and maintain mechanism design documentation, analysis reports, and test procedures supporting hardware build and test.
• Coordinate directly with cross-functional partners on mechanism integration, harness routing, and interface definition — acting as the point of contact for your hardware.
• Partner with senior and principal engineers on the toughest technical problems, escalating risks early and proposing solutions.
• Support production transition through tolerance analysis, DFM/DFA improvements, and direct supplier engagement

Skills

Precision mechanisms design

3D CAD

FEA tools

GD&T

Space qualification testing

Self-directed work style

Education

Bachelors in Mechanical/Aerospace/related

Tools

Creo/NX/SolidWorks

ANSYS/NASTRAN/Comsol

Job description

Blue Origin’s Emerging Systems unit seeks a Mechanisms Engineer III to own end-to-end design of precision gimbal assemblies for space-based optical communications. You will work from concept through flight qualification on a small, fast-moving team, with high autonomy and accountability for your hardware.

You will collaborate with senior engineers, drive design trades, and contribute to mechanism-level performance, testing, and documentation.