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Sr. Structural Analyst - Lunar Permanence Verified today

Blue Origin · Seattle, WA · Space Systems · first seen 2026-09-03
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The Role

This position is part of the Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Origin's Blue Moon landers and related products. You will own full-vehicle structural analysis from concept through qualification, building the analytical foundation for sustainable lunar infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

  • Own full-vehicle structural analysis from concept through qualification, including assumptions, modeling approach, documentation, and margin closure
  • Develop, maintain, and execute finite element models (FEM) at component, subsystem, and vehicle level; ensure model configuration control and traceability
  • Operate Hyper-X for analysis workflows and deliverables; integrate tool outputs into substantiation and reporting
  • Perform structural assessments across relevant environments: quasi-static and inertial loads, coupled loads analysis (CLA) support, modal, random vibration, sine vibration, acoustic, and shock response, buckling, stiffness/deflection, and load path validation
  • Create and review stress reports, substantiation packages, and certification/qualification artifacts (methods, results, margins, sensitivities)
  • Conduct hand calculations to validate FEM results and support rapid trades
  • Evaluate and uprate existing structures to carry higher loads, identifying limiting load paths, local hot spots, and driving failure modes; recommend and substantiate reinforcement/redesign options
  • Partner with design, systems, loads and dynamics, thermal, manufacturing, and test teams to define analysis requirements, support hardware builds, and resolve nonconformances
  • Drive structural risk retirement via testing and correlation
  • Support design trades (mass, stiffness, frequency, packaging, manufacturability) and provide actionable recommendations early in the design cycle
  • Mentor junior analysts and contribute to improving team standards, templates, and analysis best practices

Required Qualifications

  • B.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, Civil/Structural Engineering, or related field (M.S. preferred)
  • 7 or more years of professional experience performing structural/stress analysis for spacecraft, launch vehicles, satellites, aircraft, or similarly rigorous flight hardware
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and own analysis for a complex system through design phases and into qualification
  • Strong proficiency with FEM development and structural analysis methods, including boundary condition definition, load application, result interpretation, and model validation
  • Ability to operate Hyper-X and apply it effectively to deliver program-quality analysis outputs
  • Experience producing clear, review-ready technical documentation (stress reports, analysis memos, margin summaries) and presenting results at design reviews
  • Working knowledge of spaceflight structural environments and verification approaches (analysis vs. test, correlation, uncertainty factors)

Desired Qualifications

  • Experience with space-rated structures (primary structure, load-bearing assemblies, appendages, mechanisms support structure)
  • Background in dynamics/pyroshock, vibro-acoustics, or CLA workflows
  • Composite structures (laminates, sandwich panels, ply-level allowables, failure criteria)
  • Fracture mechanics, damage tolerance, or fatigue analysis as applicable to program standards
  • Joint analysis (bolted joints, inserts, bonded joints) and interface load paths
  • Familiarity with typical aerospace FEA solvers and pre/post processing tools in addition to Hyper-X
  • Test correlation experience (modal test correlation, static proof/limit testing, vibe/acoustic correlation)
  • Comfortable working in an agile development setting with shifting priorities and rapid iterations

Compensation

Compensation range for Washington applicants: $145,188.00 to $203,263.20. Other site ranges may differ.

Employment Details

U.S. citizenship or national status, permanent resident status (Green Card), refugee status, or asylum grant is required per export control regulations. A standard background check is required for all positions.