Senior Opto-Mechanical Engineer

Blue Origin • Altadena, CA

14h

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! The role is part of the In-Space Systems business unit, which is focused on addressing two of the most compelling challenges in spaceflight today: space infrastructure and increasing mobility on-orbit. The role is part of the In-Space Systems business unit, which is focused on addressing two of the most compelling challenges in spaceflight today: space infrastructure and increasing mobility on-orbit. As a Senior 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 for vendor visits, design reviews, and test campaigns

Requirements

• 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

Nice To Haves

• 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
• P revious 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

Responsibilities

• Opto-Mechanical Design Leadership Lead the mech anical design of the telescope structure, in corporating 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

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.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees