Optical Design/ Coating Engineer
About The Position
Blue Origin is seeking a detail-oriented Optical Design/ Coating Engineer to design, develop, and optimize advanced optics and coatings for next-generation space vehicles, sensors, and optical payloads. The role bridges theoretical optical design with hands-on optics and coating manufacturing, delivering high-performance anti-reflective (AR), high-reflective (HR), and custom spectral-filter coatings for components such as star trackers, LIDAR systems, laser communication terminals, spacecraft windows, and onboard imaging systems. The engineer will collaborate with R&D, systems engineering, manufacturing technicians, and quality assurance teams to develop robust, flight-qualified optical components that can withstand the extreme thermal, vacuum, and radiation environments of space. The position supports hardware for orbital and suborbital missions and is part of Blue National Security, which develops launch and spacecraft systems for national security missions. The position must be performed onsite in a cleanroom/manufacturing environment, and the candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. The listed Colorado base pay range is $144,179.00–$201,849.90; ranges at other sites may differ. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.
Requirements
- Bachelor's, master's, or Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
- At least 7 years of hands-on experience in optical design, coatings, and optical metrology; aerospace or defense industry experience is strongly preferred.
- Proficiency with thin-film design software such as FilmStar, Essential Macleod, or similar.
- Deep understanding of high-vacuum systems, thin-film growth mechanics, and material properties of oxides, fluorides, and metals relevant to space-qualified optics.
- Experience using optical characterization tools, including spectrophotometers, white-light interferometers, and ellipsometers.
- Familiarity with environmental durability testing, including humidity, abrasion, thermal shock, and adhesion testing under MIL-C-48497 or similar standards.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and ability to collaborate in a multidisciplinary, fast-paced aerospace manufacturing environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills for cross-functional technical collaboration.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.
- Ability to work onsite in a cleanroom/manufacturing environment.
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals, U.S. permanent residents, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as refugees or granted asylum.
Nice To Haves
- Experience designing coatings for space-flight hardware, satellite optics, or high-power laser systems.
- Familiarity with laser damage threshold testing for high-energy laser communication or directed-energy applications.
- Experience with automated coating platforms and chamber hardware customization.
- Knowledge of AS9100/ISO 9001 quality standards and implementation of statistical process control.
- Background in radiation-hardened or radiation-tolerant optical materials.
- Experience with ASTM E595 outgassing testing and materials selection for vacuum environments.
Responsibilities
- Design and model multilayer thin-film optical coating stacks using industry-standard simulation software to meet spectral, thermal, and space-environment durability requirements for flight hardware.
- Develop, scale, and optimize physical vapor deposition processes, including e-beam evaporation, ion-assisted deposition, and ion beam sputtering, in high-vacuum chambers.
- Support environmental qualification testing, including thermal vacuum, vibration, and ASTM E595 outgassing testing, to verify aerospace-grade reliability and material outgassing standards.
- Test and analyze spectral performance with spectrophotometers, ellipsometers, and interferometers, verifying transmission, reflection, absorption, and laser damage threshold specifications.
- Diagnose coating defects, spectral shifts, and adhesion failures using data-driven methods, including Statistical Process Control, DOE, and Six Sigma, to improve yield and support low-defect production.
- Transition prototypes into full-scale manufacturing and author standard operating procedures, work instructions, and training documentation compliant with aerospace quality systems such as AS9100.
- Collaborate with systems engineers, mechanical designers, and mission assurance teams to integrate optical components into avionics, sensor suites, and payload systems supporting New Glenn, New Shepard, and Blue Moon programs.
- Support supplier qualification and define incoming inspection criteria for outsourced coating processes when applicable.
Benefits
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Basic and supplemental life insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Short- and long-term disability
- 401(k) with company match of up to 5%
- Education Support Program
- Stock options for regular employees working at least 20 hours per week
- Up to four weeks of paid time off per year based on weekly scheduled hours
- Up to 14 company-paid holidays
- Some employees may be eligible for bonuses, depending on role type and job level; amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
