Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer I - Early Career (2026 Starts)

Application close date:

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!  

We are collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers who are relentlessly committed to a culture of safety. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable space flight. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space and enabling Blue Origin’s vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth.  

Multiple positions available across our Business Units. You will be matched with an appropriate engineering team based on your skillset and experience and our current business needs.    

Timeline:  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Primary locations:  

We prioritize placing early career engineers in locations where they can be co-located with their team and the relevant hardware they support. The primary locations for this role are listed below. Please indicate in the application where you would be willing to be located.  

• Kent, WA

• Denver, CO

• Reston, VA

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

• Your projects may include guidance, navigation, controls, autonomy, avionics, simulation, mission design, trajectory optimization, system test, aero sciences, mission design, trajectory optimization, and systems engineering. 

• Design, analyze, develop and verify guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) software for spaceflight systems.  

• Build on our existing human-rated GN&C software to improve reliability, enable capabilities, and reduce operating cost. 

• Perform system analyses, including simulations and Monte-Carlo, to satisfy specifications and requirements and to drive system-level architectural decisions. 

• Specific duties are subject to our business unit objectives.    

Qualifications: 

• Minimum of a B.S. degree in physics, aerospace engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or other relevant engineering field. 

• Will have earned their degree within the last year and able to start by Fall 2026. 

• Demonstrated knowledge in designing and testing control systems for aerospace vehicles or mechanical and fluidic subsystems.  

• Fundamental understanding of dynamics, orbital mechanics, estimation, and control theory.  

• Practical experience in guidance, navigation, and controls algorithm development and analysis for aerospace or mobile robotic applications.  

• Strong software and model development skills, particularly in MATLAB/Simulink, and C/C++.  

• Relevant internship/co-op and/or hands-on experience that demonstrate development of both technical skills as well as leadership qualities. 

• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and strengthen our culture of inclusion. 

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team on rapid development programs.   

• Flexible and adaptable mindset. 

• Self-driven with the ability to seek out requirements with minimal direction. 

Desired: 

• M.S. degree or PhD in physics, aerospace engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or another relevant STEM field. 

• Knowledge of multi-body dynamics, flexible body dynamics, gas and fluid dynamics and thermodynamics.  

• Experience with modeling electro-mechanical, hydraulic and electrical subsystems.  

• Experience anchoring/fitting first principles models to test data or high-fidelity external simulations using system identification or other numerical methods. 

• Experience developing and verifying physical models for the purpose of control design, component sizing, and system performance evaluation. 

• Experience with Spacecraft Systems Engineering

• Experience with Monte Carlo simulation testing. 

• Experience supporting flight testing or launch operations 

• Experience supporting component level testing and/or flight testing.  

• Ability to continuously manage risk and become comfortable with lean software development techniques 

• Proven system engineering, configuration management skills. 

• Experience with Python and Linux environments.  

• Experience with Verification and Validation

How to prepare:  

We are solving challenging, new problems and we need people to represent a wide variety of perspectives. Experience in aerospace is not a requirement. We value broad academic and industry experiences such as Tech, Oil & Gas, Nuclear, Automotive, and more. 

When you apply, include your internship, co-curricular and research experience in your resume. Please also include the relevant programming languages you have used in these settings. If you haven’t yet used a tool in a professional setting, please include relevant coursework that demonstrates your preparation for these roles. 

Compensation Range for:

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.

• 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.