Principal Opto-Mechanical Engineer - TeraWave
Listed on 2026-02-20
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Engineering
Systems Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Aerospace / Aviation / Avionics, Engineering Design & Technologists
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 Tera Wave, a satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth.This network will service tens of thousands of enterprise, data center, and government users who require reliable connectivity for critical operations.
As a Principal Opto-Mechanical Engineer at Blue Origin, you will lead the mechanical design for the optical heart of a communications terminal. You will be responsible for a telescope and precision pointing system that must maintain wavefront quality and angular stability in the harsh environment of space. You will own the physical system from concept and material selection through final assembly and validation.
The Mission:
You will design and build the precision opto-mechanical systems at the core of a next-generation optical communications terminal. Your work will involve making critical design trades, managing key suppliers, and closing tolerance budgets to ensure the system achieves its unprecedented performance goals.
Special Mentions:
Relocation assistance is available for this position
Travel expectations: 10-15% travel may be required for vendor visits, design reviews, and test campaigns
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Opto-Mechanical Design Leadership
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 in collaboration with optical design team.
Engineer robust solutions for straylight 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
Materials & Vendor Management
Lead the development path and trade studies for mirror materials, evaluating CTE stability, specific stiffness, polishability, surface finish, and thermal performance
Draft detailed 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
Structural-Thermal Integration
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 rapidly validate design concepts and inform detailed analysis cycles
Lead cross-functional technical reviews to ensure integrated system performance
Verification & Assembly/Integration/Test (AI&T) Support
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 straylight test data and validate the effectiveness of contamination control procedures during assembly
Develop and document lessons learned to improve future designs
Minimum Qualifications:
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 straylight analysis, contamination control, baffle design, and coating selection for sensitive optical systems
Hands-on experience with advanced mirror materials, including an understanding of their 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 mechanical design
Experience leading technical teams and mentoring junior engineers
Track record of successful delivery of complex opto-mechanical systems for demanding applications
Preferred Qualifications:
Direct experience using STOP analysis to drive mechanical design decisions
Proficiency in Sig Fit , ANSYS…
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