Principal Opto-Mechanical Engineer - TeraWave

Blue Origin LLC

Seattle, WA

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JOB DETAILS

JOB TYPE

Full-time, Employee

SKILLS

Acceptance Testing, Aerospace Engineering, Aerospace and Defense, Affirmative Action, Analysis Skills, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Budgeting, CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing), CDL Driver's License, Campaigns, Communication Systems, Cross-Functional, Desktop PC, Disability Accommodations, Federal Laws and Regulations, Finite Element Analysis, Genetics, Government, Hazardous Materials/Substances, Integration Testing, Laser Communications, Leadership, Legal, Machine Tool, Maintain Compliance, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Analysis, Material Moving, Materials Analysis, Materials Management, Mechanical Design, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Records, Mentoring, Metrology, Military, Network Design, Network Operations Center, Norton Ghost, Onboarding, PTC Creo, Patents, Performance Analysis, Polishing, Problem Solving Skills, Publications, Quality Assurance Methodology, Quality Management, Regulations, Requirements Management, Road Tests, Satellite Communications, Siemens PLM Software NX (fka UGS NX), Stability Analysis, State Laws and Regulations, Statement of Work (SOW), Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), System Integration (SI), Team Lead/Manager, Technical Leadership, Test Data, Test Design, Test Requirements, Thermal Management, Trade Studies, Vendor/Supplier Management, Vendor/Supplier Relations, Willing to Travel, Writing Skills

LOCATION

Seattle, WA

POSTED

30+ days ago

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 TeraWave, 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 SigFit , ANSYS Thermal Desktop, and Zemax OpticStudio

Experience with space environmental testing (thermal cycling, vibration, TVAC) and test-model correlation

Design or integration experience with precision pointing mechanisms or gimbals for space

Knowledge of athermalization techniques for optical systems

Experience developing and executing optical alignment procedures using interferometry and other metrology tools

Previous experience with optical communications systems or laser-based instruments

Experience with systems engineering practices and requirements flow-down

Publication record or patents in relevant technical areas

Compensation Range for:
CA applicants is $183,193.00 - $256,469.85
WA applicants is $183,193.00 - $256,469.85

Other site ranges may differ

Culture Statement

Don't meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

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.

Background Check

Required for all positions: Blue's Standard Background Check

Required for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation

Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing (CDL drivers only), vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.

Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

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 recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on "Know Your Rights," please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin's Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us atEEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.

California Applicant Privacy Notice

If you are a California resident, please reference the CA Applicant Privacy Notice here.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government commercial space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3), applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, lawfully admitted for permanent residence into the U.S. (i.e. current green card holder), or lawfully admitted as a refugee or granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. § 1157-1158. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified, diverse, and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork, in which all employees recognize and appreciate the diversity of individual team members. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For more information on “EEO Is the Law,” please see here and here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation
Applicants wishing to view a copy of Blue Origin’s Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com.

About the Company

Blue Origin LLC

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