Structural Engineer III - Thermal Hardware - Lunar Permanence Verified today

Structural Engineer III - Thermal Hardware - Lunar Permanence

Blue Origin's Lunar Permanence business unit develops Blue Moon landers and related products. This role sits within the Lunar Core Components Heat Transfer team, where you will perform structural analysis on lunar vehicle thermal components and provide design recommendations to drive optimal hardware performance.

You will work through the complete product lifecycle, seeing hardware mature from initial CAD concept to flight-qualified systems installed on lunar vehicles.

Key Responsibilities

• Interpret and derive structural loads and requirements for secondary structures and interfacing hardware, using vehicle-provided load factors
• Lead trade studies informing component structural integrity and design configuration
• Design, analyze, develop and test secondary structures including additively manufactured parts, composites, metallic piece parts and integrated assemblies
• Collaborate with thermal hardware engineers to develop structurally sound and thermally appropriate components
• Build 3D models, detail part drawings, assemblies, installation drawings and interface control documents
• Coordinate structural interface design with other subsystem teams
• Provide on-site manufacturing and production support, including travel as needed
• Participate in subsystem structural verification test planning, execution, data reduction and analysis
• Work with multi-functional teams on material selection, manufacturing processes and supplier qualification
• Develop tooling and equipment requirements for manufacturing and assembly facilities
• Maintain and report activity schedule, budget and technical status
• Coach, mentor and technically assist junior engineers
• Identify improvement and cost-saving opportunities

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering plus 6 or more years of related experience
• Experience in launch vehicles, spacecraft, aircraft or similar programs in one or more of: structural design of metallic components and assemblies; vehicle load path distribution and first-order strength assessment and sizing; material selection, compatibility and manufacturing techniques
• Strong understanding of structural design and analysis fundamentals
• Strong mechanical design skills using Creo
• Ability to conduct structural analysis using classical hand-calculation methods and finite element analysis
• Familiarity with classical aerospace sizing methods (Bruhn, Niu, Roark)
• Strong skills authoring and interpreting Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerance analysis (ASME Y14.5)
• Understanding of aerospace hardware verification and validation processes

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in engineering plus 9 or more years of related experience
• Deep knowledge of bonded and bolted joint design, mechanics and analysis techniques
• Strong communication skills and ability to build consensus among stakeholders
• Expertise with industry-standard analysis codes: Ansys, Nastran, Optistruct, LS-Dyna, Hypermesh, Hypersizer
• Experience with rapid development techniques for hardware
• Performing trades with vehicle level and subsystem design teams
• Composites integration, analysis and manufacturing knowledge
• Experience developing manufacturing processes for production
• Proven experience designing for manufacturability
• Knowledge of systems engineering practices, fabrication, integration processes and quality control
• Experience with hardware manufacturing practices including drilling, shimming, fastening, composites fabrication, fluids integration, avionics integration and instrumentation

Compensation

Base pay range varies by location: CA and WA $130,706.00 to $182,987.70; CO $119,814.00 to $167,738.55. Other site ranges may differ.

Employment Details

• Travel expected up to 15% of the time
• Interviews will include a technical assessment
• U.S. citizen, national, permanent resident, refugee or asylee status required
• Background check required

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision coverage
• Basic and supplemental life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Short and long-term disability
• 401(k) with company match up to 5%
• Education Support Program
• Stock options for regular employees (20+ hours per week)
• Paid time off: up to four weeks per year and up to 14 company-paid holidays
• Performance bonuses and benefits depending on role type and job level (eligibility not guaranteed)