Principal Opto-Mechanical Engineer

BLUE ORIGIN

. Lead the mechanical design for the optical heart of a communications terminal .

Posted 4/30/2026full-timeLos Angeles • California, Washington • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $183,193 - $256,469 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Assembly

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead the mechanical design for the optical heart of a communications terminal
Design and build precision opto-mechanical systems at the core of a next-generation optical communications terminal
Develop and close comprehensive tolerance budgets for Wavefront Error (WFE) and alignment stability
Engineer robust solutions for straylight and ghost suppression
Author and manage contamination control plans and cleanliness procedures
Ensure designs are optimized for manufacturability, assembly, and alignment
Provide technical mentorship to junior engineers on the team
Collaborate closely with the STOP analyst to define stiffness targets
Integrate thermal control hardware compatible with precision gimbal motion
Support environmental qualification tests and provide hands-on support for optical alignment

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field with 10+ 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.

Benefits

Comp & perks

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
Up to four (4) weeks paid time off per year based on weekly scheduled hours
Up to 14 company-paid holidays

ATS Keywords

✓ Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

mechanical designopto-mechanical systemstolerance budgetsWavefront Error (WFE)straylight analysiscontamination controlbaffle designcoating selectionCAD softwaremechanical integration

Soft Skills

technical mentorshipcollaborationleadership

Certifications

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical EngineeringBachelor's degree in Aerospace EngineeringM.S. in Mechanical EngineeringM.S. in Aerospace EngineeringPh.D. in Mechanical EngineeringPh.D. in Aerospace Engineering