Sr. Structural Engineer, Spacecraft, Orbital Data Centers
About The Position
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. Join Blue Origin as we build infrastructure in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re developing a satellite constellation of orbital data centers, Sunrise, designed to transform how compute infrastructure is deployed and leveraged. As a Senior Structural Engineer, you will be a key technical contributor responsible for ensuring the structural integrity and reliability of the spacecraft. You will apply your deep expertise in structural analysis to guide the design from concept through qualification, ensuring our hardware can withstand the harsh environments of launch and in-orbit operation. This role requires a hands-on, first-principles approach to solving challenging engineering problems and making critical decisions to drive mission success.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline.
- 7+ years of professional experience in structural analysis, with a focus on space, aerospace, or a similar high-performance industry.
- Expert proficiency with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software such as ANSYS, NASTRAN, or Abaqus.
- Demonstrated experience performing classical hand calculations for stress analysis.
- Strong fundamentals in solid mechanics, dynamics, and material science.
- Experience analyzing hardware for launch and operational environments in space (random vibration, shock, thermal cycles, etc.).
- Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or eligible for authorization under U.S. export regulations.
Nice To Haves
- Master's or Ph.D. in a relevant engineering discipline.
- Experience with the analysis of composite structures and bonded joints.
- Familiarity with fracture mechanics and fatigue analysis (e.g., using NASGRO).
- Experience correlating analysis models to structural test data.
- Proficiency in scripting (e.g., Python, MATLAB) for automating analysis workflows and processing data.
- Familiarity with CAD software (e.g., CREO, NX) for model preparation and interrogation.
Responsibilities
- Own and execute the structural analysis for critical spacecraft components and assemblies, from initial concept to final design and verification.
- Perform detailed Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to model and predict stress, strain, deformation, and modal response of complex mechanical systems.
- Conduct hand calculations and develop analytical models to anchor and validate FEA results.
- Analyze hardware for static, dynamic (random vibration, shock), and thermo-elastic loads.
- Support develop and execution, as required, of structural test plans and physical testing including static loads, vibration, and shock.
- Correlate analysis models with test data to refine and improve predictive accuracy.
- Work closely with design engineers to drive design improvements, optimize for mass and stiffness, and ensure structural performance requirements are met.
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to other engineers in the domain of structural analysis.
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%
- 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
- up to 14 company-paid holidays
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
