Principal Opto - mechanical Engineer - Terawave

Principal Opto - mechanical Engineer - Terawave Own our optical ground station architecture for space-based communication systems

Location:

Seattle

Compensation: $183, USD / year

Job Tags:
Hardware

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!

The Emerging Systems business unit at Blue Origin is pioneering the future of space-based communications with Tera Wave, a revolutionary satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. This multi-orbit constellation will consist of 5,408 optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and 128 satellites in medium Earth orbit (MEO), providing enterprise-grade connectivity for critical operations worldwide.

Blue Origin's Emerging Systems is seeking an exceptional Principal Engineer to provide technical leadership in opto-mechanical design for our Tera Wave constellation. In this role, you will focus on developing critical optical systems including telescopes and gimbal assemblies while providing technical guidance on avionics enclosures and optical ground stations.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead the architectural design of opto-mechanical systems for space-based optical communications, with emphasis on telescope design and gimbal assemblies
• Develop STOP (Structural-Thermal-Optical-Performance) analysis workflows to predict on-orbit performance
• Create detailed budgets for manufacturing, thermal, structural, alignment, and measurement errors
• Lead technical trade studies balancing cost, schedule, performance, and risk
• Provide technical guidance to engineering teams on system architecture and integration challenges
• Mentor junior engineers in opto-mechanical design principles
• Support production transition efforts through knowledge transfer and documentation

Examples of additional areas where you may contribute include:

• Optical ground station design
• Avionics enclosure packaging optimization
• Design for manufacturing improvements
• Supplier development for specialized optical components

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field
• 15+ years of experience in opto-mechanical engineering for space or aerospace applications
• Demonstrated experience designing, manufacturing, and integrating complex optical and precision mechanical systems
• Experience with altitude-over-azimuth gimbal systems and compact telescope designs
• Proficiency in CAD software and finite element analysis tools
• Knowledge of space qualification testing including vibration and thermal vacuum environments
• Experience with optical alignment techniques and metrology
• Strong understanding of structural, thermal, and optical performance interactions

Preferred qualifications:

• Master's degree or PhD in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• Experience with optical communications systems for space applications
• Knowledge of single-point diamond turning manufacturing techniques
• Experience with fast steering mirror systems and precision pointing mechanisms
• Background in developing optical ground stations or space terminals
• Experience transitioning complex optical systems from development to production
• Experience with Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles and techniques
• Experience with statistical process control and production data analysis

Compensation Range for:

CA applicants is $ - $ WA applicants is $ - $ Other site ranges may differ

Benefits

• Benefits include:
  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.
• 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…