Sr. Structural Analyst- Lunar Permanence

Application close date:

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

This role is part of the Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Origin's Blue Moon landers and related products. To further Blue Origin's mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth, we are building sustainable infrastructure for our transport of crew and cargo from Earth to the lunar surface.

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, as applicable:
  • Quasi-static and inertial loads
  • Coupled loads analysis (CLA) support
  • Modal, random vibration, sine vibration, acoustic, and shock response
  • Buckling, stiffness/deflection, 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, including:
  • Identifying limiting load paths, local hot spots, and driving failure modes
  • Reanalyzing updated load cases and environments, updating margins, and documenting impacts
  • Recommending and substantiating reinforcement/redesign options (doublers, stiffeners, thicker gages, joint redesign, material changes, interface updates)
  • Supporting retrofit/repair dispositions and verification plans (analysis and/or test)
• Partner with design, systems, loads & dynamics, thermal, manufacturing, and test to:
  • Define analysis requirements and acceptance criteria
  • Support hardware builds and resolve nonconformances (MRB analysis support as needed)
  • 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.

Qualifications:

• B.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, Civil/Structural Engineering, or related field (M.S. preferred).
• 7+ years of professional experience performing structural/stress analysis for spacecraft, launch vehicles, satellites, aircraft, or similarly rigorous flight hardware.
• Demonstrated ability to lead/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:

• Experience with space-rated structures (primary structure, load-bearing assemblies, appendages, mechanisms support structure).
• Background in one or more of the following:
  • Dynamics/pyroshock, vibro-acoustics, or CLA workflows
  • Composite structures (laminates, sandwich panels, ply-level allowables, failure criteria)
  • Fracture mechanics / damage tolerance / fatigue (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 Range for:

WA applicants is $145,188.00 - $203,263.20

Other site ranges may differ

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.