Position Title: Stress Analyst – Ground Systems & Umbilical Hardware

Location: Remote

Position Summary: The Stress Analyst will perform structural, functional, and dynamic analyses to validate the performance and integrity of umbilical systems, ground testing equipment, launch pad structures, and transportation/handling tooling. This role ensures that all hardware meets operational, environmental, and safety requirements across launch, abort, and ground handling scenarios, in compliance with Blue Origin and NASA MSFC engineering standards. 

Key Responsibilities:

Umbilical Systems

• Perform analysis to validate umbilical performance, including disconnect timing, clearance, and load conditions during launch and abort scenarios.
• Evaluate retraction/release mechanism behavior under dynamic conditions.

Ground Testing Equipment

• Perform structural and functional analysis to validate test fixtures, stands, and instrumentation hardware under specified loads and operating conditions.
• Verify capability of test equipment supporting leak checks under defined mechanical, fluid, and electrical interface conditions.

Umbilical Mate Simulator

• Perform engineering analysis to validate launch pad structures, mechanical systems, and integrated infrastructure against operational, thermal, and launch environment loads.

Transportation & Handling Tooling

• Perform structural analysis to validate lifting fixtures, transport frames, handling rings, and associated tooling against rated loads, lift conditions, and applicable safety factors.
• Evaluate load paths, rigging points, and handling procedures for safe operation.

General Responsibilities:

• Develop hand calculations and finite element analysis (FEA) models to support design validation.
• Document analysis results in formal reports supporting CN release activities and design reviews.
• Coordinate with design and drafting teams to inform structural design decisions.
• Ensure compliance with applicable Blue Origin and NASA MSFC engineering standards.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Structural Engineering (or related field).
• Demonstrated experience performing structural analysis (hand calcs and FEA) on aerospace, ground support, or mechanical systems.
• Proficiency with FEA tools (e.g., ANSYS, Nastran, Abaqus, or equivalent).
• Knowledge of structural analysis methods including static, dynamic, thermal, and load path analysis.
• Familiarity with factors of safety, rated loads, and lifting/handling standards (e.g., NASA-STD-8719, ASME BTH-1).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with launch vehicle ground systems, umbilicals, or test equipment.
• Familiarity with NASA MSFC engineering processes and standards.
• Experience supporting abort/launch scenario load case development.

Prescreen Questions 

1. Describe your experience performing structural analysis on aerospace, ground support equipment, or mechanical hardware. What types of analysis (static, dynamic, thermal, fatigue) have you performed, and using what methods (hand calculations vs. FEA)?
2. Which FEA tools are you proficient in (e.g., ANSYS, Nastran, Abaqus, Femap)? Please describe a specific project where you used one of these tools to validate a design against load conditions.
3. Have you performed analysis involving rated loads, factors of safety, and lifting/handling hardware? Are you familiar with standards such as NASA-STD-8719 or ASME BTH-1? Please provide an example.
4. Describe your experience analyzing dynamic or time-sensitive events such as disconnect timing, clearance, or abort/launch load scenarios. How did you approach validating performance under these conditions?
5. Have you supported formal design reviews and configuration-controlled (CN) release activities? How do you document and communicate your analysis results to design teams and stakeholders?

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Required

• STRESS ANALYSIS