Motor Designer III

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! 

As a member of the Blue Origin family of companies, Honeybee Robotics has been at the forefront of robotics for over 40 years. Our Colorado location specializes in creating advanced motion control solutions for NASA, defense, and commercial programs. Our work has played a critical role in thousands of projects, spanning from conceptual design studies to flight missions, including NASA's Artemis I Mission and the Roman Space Telescope. We are seeking technically brilliant individuals who are passionate about their work, thrive in collaborative environments, and have a laser focus on the details that drive excellence.

About the Role
Honeybee is looking for a talented and motivated Motor Design Engineer to own the electromagnetic design, analysis, and production design-for-manufacturing of high-performance, cost-efficient electric motors and integrated actuator systems our legacy framed motors and clean sheet designs, supporting the development and on time delivery of our spacecraft motion and actuation systems.

The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in electric motor design—including brushless DC (BLDC), hybrid stepper motors, solenoids and vast experience with motor-manufacturing techniques, and a proven ability to manage external motor equipment vendors and contract design partners. This candidate must combine strong analytical skills with hands-on experience bringing precision motor and actuator systems from concept through volume manufacturing, and thrive in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment.

Special Mentions

• Team is open to hire in different levels depends on candidate's qualification
• Relocation provided
• Travel expected less than 10% of the time
• Interviews will include a technical assessment

Responsibilities:

• Design and develop permanent magnet AC and DC motors, BLDCs, frameless BLDCs, solenoids, as well as electromagnetic devices such as resolvers, LVDTs, RVDTs, and other electromagnetic sensors
• Perform electromagnetic simulations, trade studies, and material selection to predict and optimize performance, losses, cogging torque and thermal behavior.
• Own development of novel manufacturing-focused motor concepts based on well-established motor principles
• Develop design-for-manufacturing specifications (winding process, steel stamping, magnet sintering & magnetization, etc.) to enable cost-efficient volume production while maintaining tight performance tolerances
• Collaborate closely with gear, mechanical, controls, and firmware engineers to deliver fully integrated actuator modules
• Own vendor relationships for motor lamination stacks, winding houses, magnet suppliers, and contract motor design partners
• Define and validate motor test protocols (back-EMF, torque-speed curves, thermal characterization, efficiency maps, torque-ripple artefacts, core losses, etc.)
• Drive continuous improvement in motor cost, efficiency, torque density, and reliability across product generations
• Generate and maintain detailed motor specifications, drawings, and design documentation
• Mechanical design of prototype, production, and test hardware relating to electromagnetics components and their surrounding architecture
• Collaborate on integration with drives, control electronics, and sensor systems
• Create and maintain engineering documentation, including drawings, models, BOMs, calculations, and specifications
• Support prototyping, validation, qualification, and environmental testing
• Analyze test data, troubleshoot issues, and perform root-cause investigations
• Partner with cross-functional teams across mechanical, manufacturing, quality, and program management
• Interface directly with customers to resolve technical requirements and performance challenges
• Contribute to reliability analysis (FMEA, MTBF) and continuous product improvement initiatives
• Research and implement new materials, technologies and processes to enhance product performance

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or above in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, or Master's degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering Experience interpreting and modifying mechanical and electrical drawings
• Experience designing electric motors, specifically BLDC Motors
• Experience managing external vendors and co-design partnerships for motor components (laminations, windings, magnets)
• Experience supporting full product lifecycle development, from concept through release and sustaining
• Hands-on experience with prototyping, testing, and troubleshooting
• Strong technical documentation and engineering release experience
• Proven ability to collaborate cross-functionally and communicate with customers
• Skilled in GD&T, tolerance stack analysis, and precision manufacturing for demanding environments
• Experience with 2D and 3D electromagnetics FEA (ANSYS Maxwell and MotorCAD preferred)
• Understanding of motor design optimization: torque, power, efficiency, and thermal management
• Strong knowledge of motor design principles, topologies, and performance tradeoffs

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with tools such as Ansys Electronics Desktop, Motorsolve
• Familiarity with SolidWorks, Microsoft Office, and document control systems
• Experience with motor drives, power electronics integration, and electrical interface development
• Experience with high volume motor applications and associated processes
• Background in high-reliability aerospace, defense, industrial, or motion-control applications
• Experience supporting qualification testing, customer reviews, and production transition

Base Pay Range for:

CO applicants is $110,938.00 - $155,312.85

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, 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 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.