Senior Mechanical Engineer - Structural Analysis

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!

• Relocation provided
• Travel expected up to 25% of the time

• Perform structural analysis for deployable mechanisms across concept, design, test, and flight certification: static, modal, random/sine vibration, shock, acoustic; establish margins
• Build, validate, and maintain finite element models including contact, geometric nonlinearity, buckling, fatigue, fracture risk, transient deployment dynamics, etc.
• Develop loads and environments (acoustic, random vibe, shock, etc.); derive requirements and margins; author structural verification plans
• Develop load paths and stiffness requirements for panels, frames, harness routing, and mechanisms; drive mass optimization while meeting stiffness/frequency/life/reliability requirements.
• Analyze Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer/Plastic/metallic hybrid structures; material allowables, joints/adhesives, fastener design
• Execute dynamic analysis for deployment events; flexible-body multibody dynamics, hinge friction/stiction, latching shock, damping, and tip-off/energy management
• Perform tolerance stack and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing assessments impacting structural performance and deployment
• Support qualification test planning and execution; define test levels, fixtures, instrumentation, and correlation strategy
• Reduce and correlate test data to models; update allowables and model fidelity
• Provide inputs to thermal‑structural coupling and deployment dynamics teams
• Author analysis reports for program reviews; sign off drawings and change requests
• Collaborate with Manufacturing on DFM constraints, handling loads, and tooling stiffness
• Mentor junior engineers; perform peer reviews; provide best practice guidance
• Work effectively in a scrappy cross-disciplinary R&D environment with a geographically distributed team

• BS in ME/Aero (or equivalent)
• 8+ years structural analysis for aerospace hardware
• Experience in relevant FEA tools (i.e. NASTRAN/Abaqus/ANSYS/Hyper Mesh): static, modal, random/sine vibe, shock, acoustic
• Experience in CFRP/metal hybrid analysis: laminate theory, allowables, bonded/bolted joints, fastener design
• Proficiency understanding of FEM modeling techniques (boundary conditions, bolted connections, contact, verification methods, etc.)
• Experience generating loads/environments and deriving structural requirements/margins
• Test planning (levels, fixtures, instrumentation) and correlation

• MS in ME/Aero (or equivalent)
• Experience with composite failure criteria, bearing/bypass/net‑tension methods
• Acoustic/shock environments experience; thermal‑structural coupling and deployment dynamics inputs
• Drawing sign‑off authority and CR disposition experience
• Experience testing materials, joints, components and systems
• Experience with Creo and Windchill
• Experience with manufacturing methods, material selection, testing, characterization & allowable development

CA applicants is $ - $
CO applicants is $ - $
WA applicants is $ - $

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.

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.