Senior Spacecraft Solar Array Engineer- TeraWave

Application close date:

At Blue Origin we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. Were 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 sits within the TeraWave Spacecraft Bus team. We are seeking a Senior Spacecraft Solar Array Engineer to serve as the Responsible Engineer (RE) for the solar array the primary power generation system for the vehicle. You will own the full product lifecycle from early concept through prototyping qualification and production release at constellation scale. The solar array spans electrical mechanical thermal optical and manufacturing domains and integrates directly with the spacecraft structure harness and Electrical Power Subsystem making this one of the most cross-functional and technically demanding RE roles on the program.

This is a senior technical leadership role. You will drive requirements lead design reviews coordinate across disciplines and serve as the subject matter expert from the design floor through vehicle integration. TeraWaves production rate of thousands of units means your decisions directly impact cost schedule and yield. If you want to own a critical flight system end-to-end and see it fly at scale this role is for you.

Responsibilities:

• Own the full design and development of space-grade photovoltaic assemblies from concept through flight-qualified production-ready hardware
• Derive and maintain solar array requirements interface control documents (ICDs) and design specifications in coordination with systems engineering and adjacent subsystems including EPS thermal structures harness and manufacturing
• Lead design trade studies for solar array architecture cell selection panel construction and high-voltage bus compatibility; document results and drive decisions
• Characterize solar array electrical and optical performance across illumination angles temperature ranges and space environment conditions including radiation UV and thermal cycling
• Lead internal design reviews and participate in supplier and customer reviews; champion design for test manufacture and cost (DFx) principles throughout development
• Define and support component-level and system-level test programs including characterization risk reduction qualification and integrated vehicle-level testing
• Serve as the subject matter expert for solar array integration into the vehicle; lead troubleshooting and anomaly resolution during integration and acceptance testing
• Communicate development status risks and challenges clearly and regularly to program leadership and stakeholders
• Collaborate with manufacturing operations and supply chain to ensure smooth transition to production and support ongoing rate manufacturing
• Own and maintain the complete solar array design package drawings BOMs specifications and analysis reports within the configuration management system

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors degreein Mechanical Electrical Aerospace or Materials Science Engineering Physics or a closely related field
• 5 or more yearsof direct hands-on experience in solar panel or photovoltaic assembly development with at least3 years in space applications
• Demonstrated experience designing specifying procuring and testing space-grade solar panels including photovoltaic cell selection panel construction and adhesive systems
• Familiarity with solar panel design standards and test methodssuch as AIAA S-112 including knowledge of space environment effects on solar panels vacuum radiation UV exposure and thermal cycling
• Experience with high-voltage spacecraft design above 50V including solar array interface definition and integration with spacecraft power bus architectures
• Must be a U.S. citizen U.S. national U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder) or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum required for access to export-controlled technical data

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced graduate degree in Mechanical Electrical Aerospace or Materials Science Engineering Physics or a related field
• 8 or more years of solar panel development experience with 5 or more years in space applications
• Subject matter expertise in solar array architecture trade studies performance characterization and component selection
• Experience leading or substantially contributing to a formal qualification campaign per AIAA S-112 or a directly comparable standard
• Proficiency with engineering design and simulation tools such as Creo Ansys MATLAB/Simulink Simscape or STK
• Experience with high-voltage or dual-voltage power bus architectures and the associated solar array interface requirements
• Familiarity with I-V curve characterization equipment and solar array simulators for qualification and production acceptance testing
• Experience collaborating with suppliers and contract manufacturers on DFM/DFA optimization quality and production transition
• Strong written and verbal technical communication skills with a demonstrated ability to author specifications test plans and analysis reports independently

Base Pay Range for:

Other site ranges may differ

Culture Statement

Dont 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 youre excited about this role but your past experience doesnt 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 a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blues 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 10001 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 companys intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the companys results or other factors at the companys 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.

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