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 Blue National Security (BNS), where our focus is the design, development, and delivery of launch and spacecraft systems for national security missions. Through Blue Ring, our all-in-one, high-powered hybrid solar-electric and chemical-propelled spacecraft, we provide unmatched mission maneuverability, versatility, and capacity at dramatically lower-profile costs.
This role is part of Blue National Security (BNS), where our focus is the design, development, and delivery of launch and spacecraft systems for national security missions. Through Blue Ring, our all-in-one, high-powered hybrid solar-electric and chemical-propelled spacecraft, we provide unmatched mission maneuverability, versatility, and capacity at dramatically lower-profile costs.
You'll join the Astrodynamics and Trajectory Execution (ATX) team, which is responsible for end-to-end trajectory design and ground navigation within In-Space Systems. We are growing ATX to design, navigate, and operate missions to the Moon and Mars while building the software capabilities required for operational deep-space flight dynamics. In this hands-on role, you will mature ATX-developed algorithms into reliable operational capabilities within the Flight Dynamics System (FDS). You will primarily support an assigned mission from development through live flight operations, while building reusable capabilities that scale across the Blue Ring fleet.
Your Impact:
- Integrate Flight Dynamics Capabilities: Integrate ATX algorithms for orbit determination, orbit prediction, maneuver planning, attitude design, and associated automation into the FDS. Ensure rigor, integrity, configuration control, and compatibility with the FDS and its Monte-propagated truth environment.
- Productionize Astrodynamics Algorithms: Work with ATX engineers to mature algorithms from analysis and development into maintainable operational Python and C++ software. Define interfaces, configurations, and data products, and write documentation to support software maintenance and end-user use.
- Verify and Validate Software: Implement unit, integration, regression, and scenario-based testing to verify performance across mission use cases. Support requirement verification and validation (V&V) efforts and ensure software performs to required specifications using independent tools.
- Partner Across ATX and Ground Systems: Work closely with ATX engineers and the Flight Dynamics System software architect to mature integration patterns and ensure ATX capabilities fit within the broader ground-system architecture. Coordinate with mission planning and flight operations teams on operational interfaces and workflows.
- Support Live Flight Operations: Validate integrated capabilities through simulation, test, and mission rehearsals. Maintain operational readiness during mission-critical activities by triaging issues, isolating root causes, and delivering software patches and releases.
- Contribute to Astrodynamics Operations: Perform operational orbit determination and/or mission design processes for an assigned lifecycle mission. Develop analysis software and contribute to flight dynamics products, reviews, rehearsals, and live operations.
- Drive Automation for Fleet Operations: Automate algorithm integration, testing, and flight dynamics workflows as ATX scales from individual missions toward fleet-level operations, including through generative AI where it improves speed and reliability.
- Establish ATX Software Practices: Help establish and sustain team standards for algorithmic software development, testing, code review, configuration control, and lifecycle maintenance.
- Deliver with Agile Discipline: Scope, estimate, and plan work in deliverable increments, using tools such as Jira and git.
Minimum Qualifications:
- B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with 4+ years of relevant experience; M.S. in a related field with 2+ years of relevant experience; or Ph.D. in a related field.
- Strong working knowledge of astrodynamics and orbital mechanics, with applied project, research, or professional experience in either spacecraft mission design, including trajectory analysis and maneuver planning, or orbit determination, including estimation, covariance analysis, or tracking-data processing.
- Demonstrated experience developing, integrating, testing, and maintaining scientific, simulation, autonomy, mission-planning, or operational software in a collaborative codebase, including diagnosing and resolving complex software, algorithm, or data-processing issues.
- Strong proficiency in Python or C++ and working proficiency in the other, including software design, debugging, automated testing, and performance-aware development. Julia experience is a plus.
- Experience with software engineering practices including version control, code review, automated testing, configuration management, and CI/CD or equivalent build-and-test workflows.
- Working knowledge of spacecraft flight dynamics workflows, including orbit determination, orbit prediction, maneuver planning, and the use of configuration-controlled data and models to produce operational products.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, scope ambiguous technical problems, and deliver results with minimal oversight.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including collaborating across technical disciplines and authoring technical documentation.
- Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience using the Monte toolkit for trajectory analysis, orbit determination, maneuver planning, or operational flight dynamics, and independent tools such as STK, FreeFlyer, or GMAT for algorithm V&V.
- Experience developing or integrating operational flight dynamics, ground, mission-planning, autonomy, or other mission-critical software systems.
- Experience supporting a production environment, including issue triage, root cause analysis, problem detection and isolation, software patches, and software releases, with a clear understanding of operational risks and impacts.
- Experience supporting mission rehearsals, live spacecraft operations, or other time-critical operational environments, ideally on cislunar or interplanetary missions.
- Experience with radiometric or GPS orbit determination, or with trajectory optimization and maneuver planning and execution, for high-thrust or electric-propulsion missions.
- Experience with DevOps practices and tooling, including configuration control, CI/CD, code review, Jira, git, Docker, Terraform, and Ansible, and with AWS services such as EC2, EKS, S3, MSK, and Aurora.
- Experience communicating effectively across a distributed team.
- Experience using generative AI tools to expedite and automate your workflow.
- Current TS/SCI clearance with polygraph, or willingness to obtain and maintain one. This role is tailored for deep-space flight dynamics software primarily supporting civil missions in Mars and cislunar space, but candidates with clearance may have opportunities to contribute across the full range of ATX mission work long-term.
Base Pay Range for:
CO applicants is $123,714.00 - $173,199.60
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.