Blue Origin · 1 day ago
Senior Opto-Mechanical Systems Architect
Bay Area, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
$145K/yr - $203K/yr
7+ years expBlue Origin is a company focused on developing reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems. They are seeking a Senior Opto-Mechanical Systems Architect to lead the mechanical design for the optical components of a communications terminal, ensuring precision and performance in the challenging environment of space.
AerospaceManufacturingNational SecurityRenewable Energy
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Lead the mechanical design of the telescope structure, incorporating precision alignment features, kinematic mounts, and athermal design principles
Develop and close comprehensive tolerance budgets for Wavefront Error (WFE) and alignment stability, informed by STOP analysis in collaboration with optical design team
Engineer robust solutions for straylight and ghost suppression, including baffle design, scatter control strategies, and optical coating specifications
Author and manage contamination control plans and cleanliness procedures
Ensure designs are optimized for manufacturability, assembly, and alignment (DFMA), defining all necessary tooling and Ground Support Equipment (GSE)
Provide technical mentorship to junior engineers on the team
Lead the development path and trade studies for mirror materials, evaluating CTE stability, specific stiffness, polishability, surface finish, and thermal performance
Draft detailed Statements of Work (SOWs) for vendors, defining technical requirements and acceptance test criteria for optical components
Manage vendor relationships, conduct design reviews, and analyze manufacturing and test data to ensure compliance
Develop and maintain relationships with key suppliers in the optical manufacturing industry
Collaborate closely with the STOP analyst to define stiffness targets that mitigate jitter and gravity release effects
Integrate thermal control hardware (thermal straps, heaters, radiators) and cable management solutions compatible with precision gimbal motion
Perform hand calculations and preliminary FEA to rapidly validate design concepts and inform detailed analysis cycles
Lead cross-functional technical reviews to ensure integrated system performance
Plan and oversee environmental qualification tests, including thermal cycling, dimensional stability, and vibration testing
Provide hands-on support for optical alignment, system integration, and metrology activities in the lab
Refine designs based on straylight test data and validate the effectiveness of contamination control procedures during assembly
Develop and document lessons learned to improve future designs
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field with 7+ years of relevant experience (M.S./Ph.D. preferred)
Demonstrated experience in designing telescopes or similar precision optical instruments for space or aerospace applications
Proven expertise in straylight analysis, contamination control, baffle design, and coating selection for sensitive optical systems
Hands-on experience with advanced mirror materials, including an understanding of their fabrication, polishing, and testing methods
Experience integrating mechanical designs with structural, thermal, and optical performance analyses
Proficiency in a major CAD package (e.g., PTC Creo, Siemens NX) for detailed mechanical design
Experience leading technical teams and mentoring junior engineers
Track record of successful delivery of complex opto-mechanical systems for demanding applications
Preferred
Direct experience using STOP analysis to drive mechanical design decisions
Proficiency in SigFit, ANSYS Thermal Desktop, and Zemax OpticStudio
Experience with space environmental testing (thermal cycling, vibration, TVAC) and test-model correlation
Design or integration experience with precision pointing mechanisms or gimbals for space
Knowledge of athermalization techniques for optical systems
Experience developing and executing optical alignment procedures using interferometry and other metrology tools
Previous experience with optical communications systems or laser-based instruments
Experience with systems engineering practices and requirements flow-down
Publication record or patents in relevant technical areas
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
Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours
Up to 14 company-paid holidays
Company
Blue Origin
Blue Origin is an aerospace company that focuses on lowering the cost of spaceflight and helping to explore the solar system.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$185.35MKey Investors
NASAUnited States Space Force
2024-02-20Secondary Market
2024-01-24Undisclosed· $18M
2021-12-03Grant· $130M
Leadership Team
David Limp
Chief Executive Officer
Tim Collins
Vice President, Global Supply Chain
Recent News
Washington Technology
2026-01-11
The Motley Fool
2026-01-11
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