Solar Array Responsible Engineer - TeraWave

Blue Origin • Los Angeles, WA

4d

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! 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 optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO), providing enterprise-grade connectivity for critical operations worldwide. As the Solar Array Responsible Engineer, you will drive the development of Solar Panels for Blue Origin’s TeraWave satellites in a key technical leadership role. You will participate in the full product life cycle from early concepts to prototypes to qualified and deployed flight hardware. The ideal candidate has the ability to work across electrical, mechanical, thermal, optical, and manufacturing domains to seamlessly integrate Solar Panels with multiple vehicle subsystems. Your leadership and technical contributions will enable flight of state-of-the-art aerospace vehicles and missions. We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, experience, enthusiasm, and dedication to quality to support TeraWave’s mission. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Requirements

• B.S. in Mechanical, Electrical, Material Science, Physics, Aerospace Engineering or related areas of study
• 5+ years of direct experience in solar panel development (or similarly constructed products); 3+ year in space applications desired
• Experience across the full product development lifecycle, including concept definition, architecture, requirements capture and development, implementation, verification, system integration, qualification, and release
• Demonstrated experience designing, specifying, procuring, and testing of space grade panels and adhesives
• Familiarity with photovoltaic cells, design/construction of solar panels, and associated test methods (such as AIAA S-112)
• Knowledge of space environment effects on solar panels, such as vacuum, radiation, UV, temperature cycling
• Experience with high-voltage (>50V) spacecraft design

Nice To Haves

• Advanced graduate degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Material Science, Physics, Aerospace Engineering or related areas of study
• 8+ years of direct experience in solar panel development (or similarly constructed products); 5+ year in space applications desired
• Demonstrated experience with solar panel standards such as AIAA S-112
• Subject-matter expertise (SME) to drive solar array architecture trade studies, performance characterization, and component selection
• Proficiency with common engineering design and simulation software (e.g. CREO, ANSYS, MATLAB/Simulink, Simscape, STK)
• Desire to work hands-on, both independently and as part of a team, throughout the development and production phases
• Self-starting who thrives in a fast-paced new product development environment
• Ability to earn trust and maintain positive and professional relationships
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of space-grade photovoltaic assemblies from concept through flight-qualified hardware
• Serve as technical lead, responsible for planning and coordinating the efforts of cross-discipline engineers (mechanical, electrical, systems, M&P)
• Drive new product development from requirements definition through production readiness for modular and scalable products
• Lead internal design reviews and participate in reviews with suppliers and customers; support design for test/manufacture/cost (DFx)
• Effectively communicate development status, risks, and challenges to management
• Analyze, track, and report key performance metrics contextualized against vehicle requirements
• Support the development and execution of component-level test programs, including characterization, risk reduction, qualification, and integrated vehicle-level testing
• Routinely collaborate with manufacturing operations, supply chain, and other teams within the company to ensure smooth execution
• Serve as the subject matter expert for integration into the vehicle and assist in troubleshooting and vehicle integration.
• Experience with high-voltage solar array designs and high-voltage/dual-voltage power bus architectures.

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.
• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
• 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: Senior