Senior Opto-Mechanical Engineer

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!

Part of the In‑Space Systems business unit, the position focuses on space infrastructure and increasing mobility on‑orbit, leading the mechanical design of the optical heart of a communications terminal. The engineer will own the telescope and precision pointing system from concept through final assembly, ensuring wavefront quality and angular stability in space.

Design and build precision opto‑mechanical systems for a next‑generation optical communications terminal. Manage design trades, suppliers, and tolerance budgets to meet unprecedented performance goals.

• Relocation assistance is available for this position.
• Travel expectations: 10‑15% travel may be required for vendor visits, design reviews, and test campaigns.

• Lead the mechanical design of the telescope structure, incorporating precision alignment features, kinematic mounts, and athermal design principles.
• Develop and close comprehensive tolerance budgets for Wavefront Error (WFE) and alignment stability, informed by STOP analysis and in collaboration with the optical design team.
• Engineer robust solutions for stray light and ghost suppression, including baffle design, scatter control strategies, and optical coating specifications.
• Author and manage contamination control plans and cleanliness procedures.
• Ensure designs are optimized for manufacturability, assembly, and alignment (DFMA), defining all necessary tooling and Ground Support Equipment (GSE).
• Provide technical mentorship to junior engineers on the team.

• Lead trade studies for mirror materials, evaluating CTE stability, specific stiffness, polish ability, surface finish, and thermal performance.
• Draft Statements of Work (SOWs) for vendors, defining technical requirements and acceptance test criteria for optical components.
• Manage vendor relationships, conduct design reviews, and analyze manufacturing and test data to ensure compliance.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key suppliers in the optical manufacturing industry.

• Collaborate closely with the STOP analyst to define stiffness targets that mitigate jitter and gravity release effects.
• Integrate thermal control hardware (thermal straps, heaters, radiators) and cable management solutions compatible with precision gimbal motion.
• Perform hand calculations and preliminary FEA to validate design concepts and inform detailed analysis cycles.
• Lead cross‑functional technical reviews to ensure integrated system performance.

• Plan and oversee environmental qualification tests, including thermal cycling, dimensional stability, and vibration testing.
• Provide hands‑on support for optical alignment, system integration, and metrology activities in the lab.
• Refine designs based on stray light test data and validate the effectiveness of contamination control procedures during assembly.
• Develop and document lessons learned to improve future designs.

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field with 10+ years of relevant experience (M.S./Ph.D. preferred).
• Demonstrated experience in designing telescopes or similar precision optical instruments for space or aerospace applications.
• Proven expertise in stray light analysis, contamination control, baffle design, and coating selection for sensitive optical systems.
• Hands‑on experience with advanced mirror materials, including understanding of fabrication, polishing, and testing methods.
• Experience integrating mechanical designs with structural, thermal, and optical performance analyses.
• Proficiency in a major CAD package (e.g., PTC Creo, Siemens NX) for detailed…