Mechanical Design Engineer - Lunar Permanence

About the role

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 and technical designers, you will directly impact the history of space exploration and require your commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable space flight. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space and enabling Blue Origin's vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth. This opportunity reports to the RF Systems group inside of the Lunar Permanence business unit.

Responsibilities

• Contribute 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 mechanical structures and electronics packaging
• Support developmental trade studies for mechanical design, materials, mounting concepts, and thermal/structural design approaches
• Create mechanical interface definitions, specifications, and control documents for precision structures and assemblies
• Collaborate with RF and electrical engineering teams to integrate electronics (PCBs, RF front ends, and associated components) into mechanically robust assemblies, including detailed thermal and structural analyses
• Design mechanical structures and electronics packaging for performance, stability, and high reliability under launch, transit, and lunar surface environments
• Create 3D CAD models and assemblies of precision structures and supporting hardware; generate part and assembly drawings, installation drawings, and other required technical documentation
• Build and evaluate prototype assemblies and iterate designs based on structural and thermal performance test data
• Create assembly aids, metrology fixtures, and test fixtures to verify alignment, surface accuracy, and mechanical performance
• Plan and conduct engineering tests (vibration, shock, thermal cycle, and thermal vacuum) of mechanical structures, and lead data reviews to assess structural margins and thermal performance
• Review assembly instructions and support hardware builds, including bond and fastener processes
• Validate mechanical and thermal requirements through design, detailed structural/thermal analysis, test, and inspection
• Support Production and Quality Engineering by dispositioning material defects and nonconformances on mechanical hardware
• Manage revisions of design configurations through the product lifecycle

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering
• 5+ years of experience designing aerospace mechanical structures, electronics packaging, or similar high-performance, flight-qualified hardware
• Experience with static structural, modal, random vibration, and thermal analysis of precision structures (level commensurate with experience)
• Experience with 3D CAD modeling programs (Creo preferred)
• Experience with FEA tools (Ansys preferred)
• Experience with Steinberg or Engelmeier solder fatigue
• Experience 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
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with composite structures (e.g., carbon fiber) including laminate design, bonding, and integration into precision assemblies
• Experience with antenna structures, RF hardware, or precision mechanical systems
• Experience with recent versions of Creo, Windchill, Ansys Mechanical
• Experience with fatigue analysis and fracture mechanics
• Experience with aerospace industry standard structural analysis methods (Bruhn, Marks', Shigley, Steinberg, Roark's)
• Experience with environmental testing including vibration, shock, and thermal cycle
• Experience with mentoring or training others

Pay

For WA applicants the base pay range is $121,023.00 – $169,432.20. Other site ranges may differ.

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%
• Education Support Program
• Stock options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
• Paid Time Off: up to four weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays

Schedule

Travel not typically expected, but on an as-needed basis up to 15%.