Mechanisms Engineer II — Opto-Mechanical Systems

Blue Origin•Los Angeles, WA

About The Position

The Emerging Systems business unit at Blue Origin is pioneering the future of space-based communications with TeraWave, 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 a motivated Mechanisms Engineer II to support the design, analysis, and qualification of precision mechanical systems for the TeraWave constellation. In this role, you will work under the guidance of senior and principal engineers, contributing to gimbal assemblies, pointing mechanisms, and related hardware while building your expertise in space mechanism design. This is an excellent opportunity to grow your skills on challenging spaceflight hardware within a collaborative, mentorship-focused team.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Automotive or related technical field
2+ years of experience in mechanisms design for space, aerospace, or high-reliability applications
Exposure to the design or analysis of gimbal assemblies, multi-axis pointing mechanisms, or similar precision mechanical systems
Proficiency in 3D CAD software (e.g., Creo, NX, SolidWorks); exposure to finite element analysis tools (e.g., ANSYS, NASTRAN, Comsol)
Foundational knowledge of mechanism kinematics, dynamics, and structural analysis
Familiarity with space qualification testing concepts including vibration, shock, and thermal vacuum
Familiarity with bearing systems, drive trains, or precision actuators
Working knowledge of GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, and interface control documentation
Awareness of Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles
Eagerness to learn and grow under mentorship, with strong collaboration and communication skills

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Automotive or related field
Exposure to optical communications terminals or lasercom pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) systems
Exposure to lubrication and tribology for space mechanisms (e.g., dry film, ionic liquid, oil-impregnated)
Awareness of STOP (Structural-Thermal-Optical-Performance) analysis workflows
Interest in transitioning precision mechanisms from development into production
Exposure to statistical process control or production data analysis

Responsibilities

Support the design and development of precision gimbal assemblies and pointing mechanisms for space-based optical communications terminals, under the direction of senior engineers
Assist in developing mechanism-level performance requirements, error budgets, and design margins across structural, thermal, and dynamic domains
Perform design trade studies and analyses for gimbal configurations (mass, volume, stiffness, pointing accuracy, on-orbit lifetime) with guidance and review from senior staff
Support mechanism qualification activities including component- and system-level testing in shock, vibration, and thermal vacuum environments
Prepare mechanism design documentation, analysis reports, and test procedures for senior engineer review
Collaborate with cross-functional teams on mechanism integration, harness routing, and interface definition
Apply mechanism design principles and analysis methods while developing your skills under the mentorship of senior and principal engineers
Support production transition activities including tolerance analysis and DFM/DFA reviews
Motor and encoder selection for precision drive systems
Bearing selection, preload analysis, and lubrication strategies for space mechanisms
Mechanism-level FMEA and reliability analysis