Principal Structural Analyst - New Shepard

Application close date:

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

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!  

This role is part of the New Shepard program. New Shepard is a reusable suborbital rocket system designed to take astronauts and research payloads past the Kármán line – the internationally recognized boundary of space. Through operational reusability, New Shepard supports our mission of lowering the cost of access to space.

As part of a hardworking team, you will oversee and perform structural analysis for various structures and systems on the Crew Capsule, part of the New Shepard reusable launch vehicle. You will take ownership of the structural analysis and verification activities for vehicle design to improve vehicle safety, reliability, performance, and reduce operational cost. You will also support the disposition and repair development for manufacturing non-conformance and service damage. As a Principal Analyst, you will also coach, mentor, and technically guide other team members.

This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your dedicated commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable spaceflight. Our best team members are flexible in constantly evolving environments, thorough, detail oriented and passionate. We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and dedication to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

The New Shepard team is headquartered in Kent, WA and hiring preference will be given to candidates who are willing to relocate to Kent, but applicants for Blue Origin’s other on-site locations will be considered.

Special Mentions:

• Relocation provided
• Travel expected up to 5% of the time
• Interviews will include a technical assessment
• Multiple positions available

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Detailed hand calculations and FEM analysis of primary and secondary aerospace structures
• Documentation of stress analysis to support release of engineering drawings / documents
• Deep understanding of repair methods and analytical practices for both composite and metallic structure
• Generating test and verification plans and reports
• Providing technical guidance on design concepts (risk vs. cost vs. performance)
• Supporting cross organizational teams with input for production activities and configuration development
• Analysis oversight and mentorship of designers and structural analysts in stress/stability/fracture analysis and best practices
• Improving enterprise analysis capabilities such as creating process automation tools for model creation, strength checks, and analysis report generation

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of a B.S. degree or higher in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, or related field
• 10+ years of experience within the fields of aircraft, spacecraft, or launch vehicle structures
• Ability to generate innovative solutions and understand the balance between engineering judgment and analysis rigor and when each is appropriate
• Understanding of FEM modeling techniques (boundary conditions, bolted connections, contact, verification methods, etc.)
• Mesh generation (ex: mid-surfacing) and understanding of element types
• Demonstrated expertise with one or more of the following analysis codes: Hyperworks, OptiStruct, Ansys, Nastran, Abaqus, LS-Dyna
• Knowledge of engineering materials and their applications to achieve optimal structures
• Strong experience with classical and aerospace analysis methods (Bruhn, Niu, Roark, Blodgett, Mark’s Shigley, etc.)
• Analysis of composite and/or metallic structures (sandwich panels, skin-stringer, fittings, etc.)
• Analysis of stability critical structures (local buckling phenomenon, global buckling, crippling)
• Experience with development and/or qualification testing (test requirements, setup/configuration, test predictions, test conduct/monitoring, etc.)
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate across a varied team

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with composite failure modes and standard test methods (in-plane, interlaminar, shear, fracture, etc.)
• Experience with Human spaceflight
• Experie