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!
The role is part of the In-Space Systems business unit, which is focused on addressing two of the most compelling challenges in spaceflight today: space infrastructure and increasing mobility on-orbit.As part of a small, hardworking, and accomplished team of Mission Systems Engineers, you will work closely with spacecraft, mission operations, and ground system teams to define and mature the mission system. You will lead the requirements, verification and validation, and interface definition efforts that ensure the ground and operations architecture meets mission objectives across significant light-time delays and long-duration operations. You will share in the team's impact on all aspects of mission systems engineering and the tools used to operate advanced deep space communications infrastructure.
We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, collaborative spirit, and dedication to quality to positively impact one of the most ambitious civil space missions of our time. Passion for our mission and vision is required!
Responsibilities:
- Identify, derive, develop, and maintain mission systems requirements, including traceability and verification and validation approach, necessary to implement a design that meets mission objectives.
- Define and maintain ground element and external interface requirements and interface control documents (ICDs), including user- and payload-facing interfaces.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including engineers representing flight vehicle systems, ground software, mission operations, and payload/user customers.
- Define the ground system and mission operations architectures that enable highly effective and labor-efficient real-time and store-and-forward spacecraft and ground system operation.
- Plan and perform mission system product update cycles, integration and test activities, and validation exercises leading to operations training events and mission readiness.
- Conduct testing of ground system functionality and measure performance against requirements.
- Perform flight software to ground system integration and test.
- Perform analysis to ensure operability across the space-ground system, and support efforts to improve operability where justified.
- Ensure mission system requirements and interfaces align with applicable NASA and interoperability standards (e.g., CCSDS) for civil deep space missions.
Minimum Qualifications:
- B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related technical field.
- 5+ years of experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Ground systems architecture in the context of spaceflight operations
- Spacecraft operations: command & control, mission planning, flight dynamics
- Requirements definition, verification, and validation of complex systems
- Implementing CCSDS communications protocols and standards
- Experience across a complex system lifecycle: requirement definition, design solution definition, implementation, integration, verification, validation, qualification, and operations.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment.
- Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with requirements management and traceability, preferably using DOORS Next Generation (DNG).
- Experience developing and maintaining interface control documents (ICDs) for complex systems.
- Experience with NASA civil space programs and/or integrating U.S. Government agency (e.g., NASA, JPL) missions.
- Experience conducting end-to-end testing of large, complex systems.
- Familiarity with DTN, delay/disruption-tolerant architectures, or deep space operations concepts.
- Experience designing or operating spacecraft instruments and payloads.
- Experience developing, deploying, and maintaining software in a cloud computing environment such as AWS or Azure.
- Proficiency in programming languages such as Python.
- Experience with collaboration tools such as Confluence and JIRA.
- Familiarity with version control, preferably Git.
- Experience with configuration and product data management tools.
Base Pay Range for:
CA applicants is $130,706.00 - $182,987.70 CO applicants is $119,814.00 - $167,738.55Other 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 [email protected]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.
Skills Required
- B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Science, Physics, or related technical field.
- 5+ years experience in ground systems architecture in spaceflight operations, spacecraft operations, requirements definition, CCSDS implementation, or full system lifecycle.
- Define and maintain ground element and external interface requirements and interface control documents (ICDs).
- Develop and maintain mission systems requirements, traceability, and verification and validation approaches.
- Plan and perform mission system product update cycles, integration, test activities, validation exercises, and operations training leading to mission readiness.
- Conduct testing of ground system functionality and measure performance against requirements; perform flight software to ground system integration and test.
- Ensure alignment with applicable NASA and interoperability standards (e.g., CCSDS) for civil deep space missions.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to earn trust, maintain professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion.
- Experience with requirements management and traceability tools, preferably DOORS Next Generation (DNG).
- Experience developing and maintaining interface control documents (ICDs) for complex systems.
- Experience with NASA civil space programs or integrating U.S. Government agency missions.
- Experience conducting end-to-end testing of large, complex systems and familiarity with DTN or delay/disruption-tolerant architectures.
- Experience designing or operating spacecraft instruments and payloads.
- Experience developing, deploying, and maintaining software in cloud environments such as AWS or Azure.
- Proficiency in programming languages such as Python.
- Experience with collaboration tools such as Confluence and JIRA.
- Familiarity with version control, preferably Git, and configuration/product data management tools.
Blue Origin Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Blue Origin and has not been reviewed or approved by Blue Origin.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is offered through a major national carrier with PPO and HDHP options, broad networks, virtual care, and in‑network preventive care fully covered. Feedback suggests the medical, dental, and vision setup is straightforward and comprehensive.
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Retirement Support — A simple 401(k) structure matches a set portion of employee contributions each pay period, making savings predictable. Feedback suggests this match is a consistent pillar of the total rewards package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — PTO accrues to roughly four weeks annually and most federal holidays are observed, with some years including additional floating days. Feedback suggests time‑off breadth is a notable part of the package, even as details can vary by role and year.
Blue Origin Insights
What We Do
Blue Origin was founded by Jeff Bezos with the vision of enabling a future where millions of people are living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. In order to preserve Earth, Blue Origin believes that humanity will need to expand, explore, find new energy and material resources, and move industries that stress Earth into space. Blue is working on this today by developing partially and fully reusable launch vehicles that are safe, low cost and serve the needs of all civil, commercial and defense customers.






