Mechanisms Design Engineer II - Deployable Solar Arrays

BLUE ORIGIN • Los Angeles, CA

22h

About The Position

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 Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin’s mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design. As part of a hardworking team of specialists, technicians, and engineers, you will be a key contributor to the design and development of the mechanical systems that will power Blue Origin's future in space. In this role as a Mechanisms Design Engineer on our Deployable Solar Array team, you will design, build, and test next-generation deployable structures, taking hardware from concept to flight. Your responsibilities will include the design of specific components and subsystems, performing detailed analysis, and participating in hands-on testing. You will apply your engineering knowledge to solve complex challenges related to packaging, deployment, mass, and reliability in the harsh environment of space. Special Mentions: Relocation provided Travel expected up to 15% of the time Interviews will include a technical assessment

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science Degree in an Engineering discipline (Mechanical or Aerospace engineering preferred).
• 2-5+ years of relevant experience in mechanical design and hardware development.
• Demonstrated experience designing and building mechanical hardware from blank sheet design.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD modeling (CREO preferred).
• Experience applying GD&T (ASME Y14.5) and performing tolerance stack analysis.
• Experience with standard manufacturing processes (e.g., machining, fabrication, assembly) and working with suppliers.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a drive to learn and take on new challenges.

Nice To Haves

• Master of Science in an engineering discipline.
• Experience with deployable structures, such as solar arrays, booms, or antennas.
• Familiarity with aerospace mechanism design best practices (e.g., NASA-STD-5017).
• Familiarity with designing hardware for space or other harsh environments (vacuum, radiation, thermal extremes).
• Experience with material selection for space applications, including coatings and lubricants.
• Experience using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools for static and dynamic structural analysis.
• Hands-on experience with environmental testing (vibe, thermal, vacuum) and data acquisition systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop components and subsystems for deployable space solar array mechanisms, from concept through detailed design and manufacturing.
• Execute the full design cycle for your hardware, including contributing to trade studies, performing detailed design in CREO, and generating component and assembly drawings.
• Own and perform detailed analysis for mechanism systems, including kinematic studies, component sizing, and tolerance stack-ups.
• Apply Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFM/DFA) principles to create efficient and producible hardware.
• Build and test hands-on prototypes to mature designs and retire risk on fast-moving research and development projects.
• Develop test plans and support the execution of hardware qualification tests, including functional and environmental testing.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (structural, thermal, electrical, and manufacturing) to ensure your designs are fully integrated and meet all system-level requirements.

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%, 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level