Sr. Principal Spacecraft Design Engineer, Project Sunrise Orbital Data Centers

Application close date:

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!  

Join Blue Origin as we build infrastructure in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re developing a satellite constellation of orbital data centers designed to transform how compute infrastructure is deployed and leveraged.

As a Senior Principal Spacecraft Design Engineer, you will serve as the primary technical authority and owner for the end-to-end design of the spacecraft. You are a novel thinker, someone who does not rely solely on past experience, but finds new and innovative approaches to challenging engineering problems. You will be expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, leading a multidisciplinary effort and making critical design decisions. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role that demands expert-level systems thinking, a deep understanding of engineering principles across multiple domains, and the ability to solve our most challenging technical problems while guiding a team of engineers.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead and own the entire spacecraft design and development, including power, thermal, compute, and communications systems, and identify novel solutions.
• Directly perform hands-on, high-complexity design and modeling work in CREO to create detailed 3D models, component specifications, and production-level drawings.
• Conduct and document trade studies to drive design decisions, optimize system architecture, and ensure requirement compliance.
• Perform and guide structural, thermal, and tolerance analyses to validate design integrity and performance.
• Comfortable managing engineers while staying deeply hands-on.
• Develop and oversee the execution of verification and validation test campaigns for hardware, from component to system level.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including analysis, manufacturing, and electrical engineering, to deliver highly integrated and robust hardware solutions.
• Present design concepts, analysis results, and technical recommendations to program leadership and key stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in the detailed design and analysis of complex mechanical systems.
• Expert proficiency in 3D modeling and detailed design.
• Extensive, hands-on experience designing, analyzing, and testing space mechanisms.
• Strong fundamentals in mechanical engineering principles, including statics, dynamics, materials, and machine design.
• Proven ability to lead technical projects and work independently with minimal supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Proven track record of leading the design of multiple flight hardware components or systems through the full product lifecycle.
• Hands-on building, assembly, and manufacturing experience.
• Experience with Model Based Definition (MBD) and its application in a production environment.
• Familiarity or fluency with AI tools and their application for design optimization or analysis.
• Bonus if you have an understanding of data center designs.
• Expertise in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and its application to complex assemblies.
• Experience with CREO
• Experience with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools (e.g., ANSYS, NASTRAN) for structural analysis.

Base Pay Range for:

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 [email protected]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.