Sr. Design Engineer, Project Sunrise

Blue Origin LLC; Littleton (CO); On-site; USD 134,000 - 187,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Stock options

Paid time off

Education support program

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC is seeking a Senior Design Engineer to turn engineering concepts into producible spacecraft hardware. You will lead complex component designs, perform structural and thermal analyses, and guide GD&T-driven manufacturing processes.

You will collaborate with analysis, manufacturing, and electrical teams to deliver integrated hardware with high accountability. A strong CAD background and aerospace experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• 8+ years of design and analysis experience on complex mechanical systems.
• Proficiency in CREO for 3D modeling and detailed design.
• Hands-on design, analysis, and testing of space mechanisms or similar hardware.
• Strong fundamentals in statics, dynamics, materials, and machine design.
• Ability to manage complex design projects with high accountability.
• U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or export-control eligible.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of complex spacecraft components and subsystems in CREO.
• Conduct trade studies to optimize system architecture and meet requirements.
• Perform structural, thermal, and tolerance analyses to validate designs.
• Apply GD&T to ensure functional, manufacturable designs.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver robust hardware.

Skills

CREO

GD&T

Structural analysis

Trade studies

Mechanical principles

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering

Tools

ANSYS

NASTRAN

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 Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin’s mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design. Join Blue Origin as we build infrastructure in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re developing a satellite constellation of orbital data centers, Sunrise, designed to transform how compute infrastructure is deployed and leveraged. As a Senior Design Engineer, you will be a key technical contributor responsible for turning engineering concepts into producible hardware. You are a creative problem-solver, combining past experience with innovative approaches to design spacecraft systems. This person is someone who can take an idea, design it, analyze it, and see it through testing and iteration themselves. This role requires deep expertise in CAD, a strong understanding of engineering principles, and the ability to execute on challenging designs with a high degree of accountability.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of complex spacecraft components and subsystems, creating detailed 3D models, component specifications, and production-level drawings in CREO.
• Conduct and document trade studies to drive design decisions, optimize system architecture, and ensure requirement compliance.
• Perform and guide structural, thermal, and tolerance analyses to validate design integrity and performance.
• Apply knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) to ensure functional and manufacturable designs.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including analysis, manufacturing, and electrical engineering, to deliver highly integrated and robust hardware solutions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in the detailed design and analysis of complex mechanical systems.
• Expertise in CREO for 3D modeling and detailed design.
• Hands‑on experience designing, analyzing, and testing space mechanisms or similar complex hardware.
• Strong fundamentals in mechanical engineering principles, including statics, dynamics, materials, and machine design.
• Proven ability to execute on complex design projects with a high degree of accountability.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or eligible for authorization under U.S. export regulations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Proven track record of taking multiple flight hardware components or systems through the full product lifecycle.
• Experience with design for high-rate, low-cost manufacturing of complex systems.
• Hands‑on building, assembly, and manufacturing experience.
• Experience with Model Based Definition (MBD) and its application in a production environment.
• Familiarity or fluency with AI tools and their application for design optimization or analysis.
• Expertise in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and its application to complex assemblies.
• Familiarity with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools (e.g., ANSYS, NASTRAN) for structural analysis.

Base Pay Range

For: CO applicants is $133,500.00 - $186,898.95 WA applicants is $145,188.00 - $203,263.20 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.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

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 Affiant plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at [e-mail]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.

About Blue Origin

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.