Mechanical Engineer III – Solar GSE

BLUE ORIGIN

Mechanical Engineer III at Blue Origin designing and fabricating ground support equipment for solar array systems. Fostering innovation and ensuring equipment safety and integration throughout development processes.

Posted 6/11/2026full-timeTexas, Washington • 🇺🇸 United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $121,023 - $169,432 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Assembly

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Design, analyze, fabricate, and verify the full suite of mechanical ground support equipment for large-format solar array wings—from prototype assembly through engineering build and into qualification test
Own the complete GSE lifecycle for each item: concept trade, detailed design, procurement or in-house fabrication, assembly, acceptance test, and handoff to production with supporting documentation in Windchill
Design and develop breakover and repositioning fixtures that allow solar wings to be rotated and handled during ground integration, ensuring load paths do not damage fragile photovoltaic assemblies or their substrates
Translate mechanical ICD constraints from array and spacecraft bus interfaces into tooling geometry that can be operated safely in cleanroom and high-bay environments
Design and release a broad family of wing assembly fixtures: integration stands for frame build-up during panel installation, alignment fixtures enforcing critical hole-to-hole pitch across structural members, harness routing guides, connector support brackets, and panel-level handling aids that allow technicians to maneuver individual solar panels without point-loading delicate optical surfaces or flexing laminated structures beyond tolerance
Apply strong DFM intuition; write clear manufacturing specifications and work with in-house machinists and outside vendors to close on fabrication
Lead design and analysis of gravity off-load systems, including dynamic load analysis, cable or counterbalance system design, and deployment simulation to accurately compensate for the distributed weight of solar array assemblies throughout the full kinematic range of motion
Validate offload accuracy through a combination of rigid-body kinematic analysis and instrumented checkout, selecting from constant-force springs, air bearings, overhead cable systems, or hybrid approaches as the design requires
Support miscellaneous MGSE needs as programs mature: TVAC test fixture design, transportation and shipping containers for fragile panel assemblies, vibration test interface plates, and deployment restraint fixtures for pre-launch handling
Generate component drawings, assembly drawings, and interface control documents with application of GD&T per ASME Y14.5; perform tolerance stackup analysis to verify interface compatibility with flight hardware
Perform structural analysis sufficient to size load-bearing members, select appropriate fastener schemes, and verify interface compatibility with flight hardware
Collaborate in a scrappy cross-disciplinary R&D environment with manufacturing engineers, mechanisms designers, test engineers, and technicians to ensure GSE is integrated, safe, and ready when the program needs it
Coach, mentor, and technically assist junior engineers on the GSE team

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related engineering discipline
5+ years of relevant experience in mechanical design, with demonstrated focus on tooling, fixtures, GSE, or ground handling equipment
Experience designing and building mechanical hardware, including hands-on prototyping and acceptance testing
Proficiency in 3D CAD using Creo (or equivalent parametric modeling tool); experience managing designs in Windchill or equivalent PDM system
Proficiency in GD&T per ASME Y14.5 and demonstrated experience performing tolerance stackup analysis across multi-part assemblies
Working knowledge of structural analysis sufficient to size load-bearing members, select fastener schemes, and verify load paths
Experience with standard manufacturing processes including machining, sheet metal fabrication, extrusion-based construction, and additive manufacturing
Experience writing manufacturing specifications and working with machine shops or outside vendors to close on fabrication
Desire/drive to learn new skills and technical tools as the program develops.

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
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.

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

mechanical designtoolingfixturesground support equipment (GSE)3D CADCreoGD&Ttolerance stackup analysisstructural analysismanufacturing specifications

Soft Skills

collaborationcoachingmentoringtechnical assistancecommunication

Certifications

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical EngineeringBachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering