Senior Mechanical Engineer – Avionics… at Blue Origin · Seattle

Application close date: Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

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.

This role sits within the TeraWave Spacecraft Bus Electrical Power Subsystem team. We are seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to own the mechanical packaging for the Power Management and Distribution (PMAD) Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) — one of the most integration-intensive assemblies on the spacecraft. You will be responsible for everything the enclosure touches: card retention, thermal paths, connector access, mounting interfaces, serviceability, mass optimization, producibility, and integration flow. You will drive this hardware from concept through formal qualification, production release, and flight support — at constellation scale.

This is a senior role. You will lead design trades, mentor junior engineers, and serve as a technical authority recognized across the broader organization. TeraWave's production rate of thousands of units means your packaging decisions directly drive manufacturing yield, cost, and schedule. If you want to own something end-to-end and see it fly, this role is for you.

Responsibilities:

• Own the full mechanical design of the PMAD avionics enclosure from concept through qualification and production release, including enclosure structure, card retention, thermal management, connector access, mounting interfaces, and serviceability
• Define mechanical requirements, interface control documents (ICDs), and design specifications in coordination with systems engineering, electrical engineering, thermal, structures, and manufacturing teams
• Develop and maintain 3D CAD models, assemblies, part and assembly drawings, installation drawings, and other required technical documentation
• Perform structural analyses — static, modal, random vibration, shock, and fastener/joint — using both hand calculations and FEA; report margins and drive design to closure
• Design for thermal performance: conduction paths, heat spreaders, thermal interface materials, and enclosure-level heat rejection; build and correlate thermal models with test data
• Perform solder fatigue analysis (Steinberg or Engelmeier) for PCB-level components subject to thermal cycling and vibration
• Lead design trade studies for packaging architecture, material selection, and producibility optimization; document results and drive decisions
• Build and evaluate prototypes; design assembly aids, test fixtures, and tooling
• Support environmental testing — vibration, shock, thermal cycling, TVAC — including test setup, instrumentation, data review, and corrective action development
• Perform failure analysis and establish root cause and corrective action for hardware anomalies
• Collaborate with Production and Quality Engineering to disposition material defects and support DFM/DFA improvements
• Mentor and train junior engineers; review and approve designs and documentation created by other team members

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field
• 7 or more years of hands-on experience designing ruggedized electronic enclosures or high-reliability avionics packaging for harsh environment applications
• Demonstrated structural and thermal analysis skills, including static, modal, random vibration, and shock analysis using FEA (Ansys preferred) supported by hand calculations
• Proficiency with 3D CAD for detailed part and assembly modeling (Creo preferred), including GD&T implementation and tolerance analysis per ASME Y14.5
• Experience taking hardware from prototype through environmental qualification, including test plan development, execution, and anomaly resolution
• Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum — required for access to export-controlled technical data

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience packaging one or more of the following: avionics enclosures, power regulators, power distribution units, or batteries for space or aerospace applications
• Familiarity with spacecraft or launch vehicle avionics systems and associated environmental requirements
• Experience with solder fatigue analysis using Steinberg or Engelmeier methods
• Experience with additional environmental testing including EMI/RFI and TVAC
• Proficiency with thermal analysis tools such as Thermal Desktop/SINDA, Icepak, or FLOTHERM, including model-to-test correlation
• Familiarity with aerospace structural analysis references including Bruhn, Shigley, Roark's, and Marks'
• Experience with fatigue analysis and fracture mechanics in a spaceflight or high-reliability context
• Experience with Creo and Windchill PLM or equivalent configuration management systems
• Experience directing the activities of other engineers and leading cross-functional design reviews
• Hands-on, practical mechanical fabrication and assembly abilities — comfortable in a lab or build environment
• Strong written and verbal technical communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to author specifications, analysis reports, and test plans independently

Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $145,188.00 - $203,263.20

Other site ranges may differ

Culture Statement

Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blue’s Standard Background Check
• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation
• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing, vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.
• Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

Benefits

• Benefits include: 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.
• 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. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.