Mechanisms Engineer II — Opto-Mechanical Systems

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!  

About the Role 

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. 

Special Mentions 

• Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates. 

• Travel expectations: Up to 20% travel may be required for integration activities, launch campaigns, and customer/vendor meetings. 

Responsibilities 

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

• 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 

Examples of additional areas where you may contribute include: 

• Motor and encoder selection for precision drive systems 

• Bearing selection, preload analysis, and lubrication strategies for space mechanisms 

• Mechanism-level FMEA and reliability analysis 

Minimum Qualifications 

• 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 

Preferred Qualifications 

• 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 

Why Blue Origin 

At Blue Origin, we are driven by our company motto, Gradatim Ferociter, meaning "Step by Step, Ferociously." We believe in methodical innovation to achieve our vision of enabling millions of people to live and work in space for the benefit of Earth. As a Mechanisms Engineer II for Opto-Mechanical Systems, you will grow your engineering skills alongside world-class teams, learn from experienced mentors, and contribute to revolutionary optical communication technologies for the TeraWave constellation — all while working on missions that will shape the future of space exploration and utilization.