Solar Panel Responsible Engineer

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 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.

As part of a hardworking team of multi-disciplinary engineers, you will drive the development of Solar Panels for Blue Origin’s spacecraft. You will participate in the full product life cycle from early concepts to prototypes to qualified and deployed flight hardware. This is a technical leadership role, responsible for planning and coordinating the efforts of cross-discipline engineers supporting the development, procurement, fabrication, integration, test, qualification, and mission operation of Solar Panels. You will work closely with the Power Generation & Energy Storage team and adjacent core component and vehicle teams to seamlessly integrate Solar Panels with multiple vehicle subsystems. This role requires coordination among a group of internal stakeholders and external suppliers. Your leadership and technical contributions will enable flight of state-of-the-art aerospace vehicles and missions.  
 

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Drive the short- and long-term new product development (from requirements definition through production readiness) of solar panels for current and next-generation spacecraft
• Exemplify technical excellence and be accountable for your own work
• Perform due diligence analysis including hand calculations and computational models in a rapidly changing environment to ensure design compliance
• Analyze, track and report key performance metrics contextualized against vehicle requirements
• Lead internal design reviews and participate in reviews with suppliers and customers
• Be responsible for the delivery timeline through development, production, launch, and in-flight operations
• Effectively communicate development status, risks, and challenges to management
• Apply subject matter expertise (SME) to drive solar array architecture trade studies, analyses, performance characterization and specifications, and component selection
• Research and communicate the current and trending advancements of solar technology; contribute to solar energy collection roadmap direction
• Support risk analyses, failure modes effects and criticality analyses (FMECA), design for test/manufacture/cost (DFx), and root-cause analysis of test discrepancies
• Write cogent and succinct technical memos and devise innovative, intuitive, and creative ways to visualize quantitative information
• Support the development and execution of component-level test programs, including characterization, risk reduction, qualification, and integrated on-vehicle testing
• Routinely collaborate with manufacturing operations, supply chain, and other teams within the company to ensure smooth execution

Minimum Qualifications:

• B.S. in Electrical, Mechanical, Physics, or Aerospace Engineering or related areas of study
• 5+ years of experience in solar energy collection development (level commensurate on experience)
• Demonstrated experience with the design, specifying, procurement, and testing of space grade solar panels
• Background developing solar panels for aerospace applications, including familiarity with photovoltaic cells, design/construction of solar panels, and associated test methods
• Knowledge of space environment effects on solar panels (vacuum, radiation, UV, temperature cycling)
• Desire to work hands-on, both independently and as part of a team, throughout the development and production phases
• Self-starting who thrives in a fast-paced new product development environment
• Ability to earn trust and maintain positive and professional relationships
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced graduate degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Physics, or Aerospace Engineering or related areas of study with 8+ years of relevant experience
• Familiarity with solar panel standards such as AIAA S-112
• Background with spacecraft avionics systems hardware development, integration, and test
• Experience across the full product development lifecycle, including concept definition, architecture, requirements capture and development, implementation, verification, system integration, qualification, and release
• Proficiency with common electrical engineering design and simulation software (e.g. MATLAB, Simscape, STK)

 

Compensation Range for:

WA applicants is $152,235.00-$213,127.95

Other site ranges may differ

Culture Statement

Don’t 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 you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t 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 U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blue’s 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 10,001 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 (CDL drivers only), 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.

• 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.

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.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.

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