Sr Structural Analyst - New Glenn Upper Stage Development

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 supports the development and operations of New Glenn, a single-configuration, heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle capable of routinely carrying people and payloads to low-Earth orbit, geostationary transfer orbit, cislunar, and beyond. Its first stage is fully reusable, and the vehicle was designed from the beginning to be human-capable.

About the role

As part of a hardworking team of engineers, designers and specialists, you will perform analysis of structural subsystems for New Glenn’s second stage using classic hand calculations as well as Finite Element Model (FEM) simulations to support design, manufacturing, and operations. A thorough understanding of structural analysis and load path is required as we strive for a weight-optimized design. You will be responsible for creating concise and accurate analysis documentation and performing peer reviews of analysis and reports generated by other team members. You will also provide structural analysis guidance to design engineers and junior structural analysts.

Responsibilities

• Apply standard engineering techniques to collect, aggregate, and analyze data measuring the performance and reliability of aerospace systems and components to improve design, producibility, and efficiencies
• Evaluate and analyze structural systems to establish environments and ensure hardware is appropriately specified for those environments
• Develop predictions of structural dynamic responses through analytical techniques, including hand calculations, FEA, and SEA, some of which may require developing software tools to implement algorithms
• Identify trends in technical performance or reliability and prepare reports detailing these trends as well as anticipated impact or cost to the organization
• Improve and maintain current systems or create new systems; apply engineering techniques and analyses within the scope of the assignment
• Detailed hand calculations and FEM analysis of primary and secondary aerospace structures for production support and sustainment initiatives
• Documentation of stress analysis to support release of engineering drawings/documents
• Deep understanding of repair methods and analytical practices for both metallic and composite structures
• Perform technical assessment of damage or out-of-tolerance conditions and provide guidance on repair or use
• Provide technical guidance on design concepts (risk vs. cost vs. performance)
• Maintain and report on technical status
• Participate in subsystem test planning, execution, data reduction, and analysis
• Prepare technical content and present to internal and external customers
• Support cross-organizational teams with input for production activities and configuration development
• Perform analysis checks for designers and junior structural analysts in stress/stability/fracture analysis and best practices
• Improve enterprise analysis capabilities, such as creating process automation tools for model creation, strength checks, and analysis report generation

Requirements

• Minimum of a B.S. degree or higher in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or related field
• 8+ years of experience within the fields of aircraft, spacecraft, or launch vehicle structures
• Experience with analyzing/dispositioning non-conformances
• Complete hand calculations including free-body diagrams for internal and reaction load derivation
• Bolted joint calculations (bolt preload, joint stiffness, shear-tension interaction, insert pull-out, etc.)
• Knowledge of engineering materials and their applications to achieve optimal structures
• Strong experience with classical and aerospace analysis methods (Bruhn, Niu, Roark, Blodgett, Mark’s Shigley, etc.)
• Demonstrated knowledge of vehicle load path and stress analysis of metallic and/or composite structures (pressure vessels, skin-stringer, fittings, sandwich panels, etc.)
• Demonstrated expertise with at least two of the following analysis codes: Ansys, Nastran, Optistruct, LS Dyna, Hypermesh, Hypersizer, NASGRO, Abaqus
• Demonstrated experience using scripting languages (VBA, Matlab, Python, FORTRAN, etc.)
• Understanding of FEM modeling techniques (boundary conditions, bolted connections, contact, verification methods, etc.)
• Mesh generation (e.g., mid-surfacing) and understanding of element types
• Analysis of stability-critical structures (local buckling phenomenon, global buckling, crippling)
• Experience with development and/or qualification testing (test requirements, setup/configuration, test predictions, test conduct/monitoring, etc.)
• Able to effectively communicate and collaborate across a varied team
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• MS degree in engineering or equivalent
• Experience and understanding of Non-Destructive Evaluation techniques
• Knowledge of aerospace and/or launch vehicle structural requirements
• Experience in large-scale structural test and instrumentation
• Experience with analysis of mechanical systems
• Experience with analysis of hydraulic/pneumatic system loads development
• Experience with Creo (ProEngineer Wildfire 4 or greater)

Pay

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.

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 (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 additional benefits and bonuses

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.