MK1 Lunar Lander Sr. GN&C Hardware Engineer

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 the Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Origin’s Blue Moon landers and related products. To further Blue Origin's mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth, we are building sustainable infrastructure for our transport of crew and cargo from Earth to the lunar surface.

As part of a hardworking team of spacecraft development engineers, you will contribute to the hardware engineering activities for the Guidance Navigation and Control (GN&C) subsystem and its components. Your responsibilities will include the development of navigation hardware requirements, executing trade studies on performance, reliability, and configuration while supporting the integration, test installation alignment and verification compliance throughout the entire program lifecycle. You will collaborate with the vehicle systems engineering, mechanical design, mission operations, AI&T, and dynamics teams to ensure design coordination to meet the vehicle performance deliverables. You will need to be able to communicate technical information clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Responsibilities:

- Contribute to the development of navigation hardware requirements from system level specifications with flow downs to subsystem and component levels, and companion verification methods
- Support the design of the navigation hardware configuration with design studies, and execute performance trades
- Contribute to the procurement, vendor coordination, delivery, acceptance, installation, verification, validation, qualification, and certification of the navigation hardware
- Guide and perform testing and analyses such as flight tests, thermal vacuum tests, vibration tests, etc. to validate top-level system specifications and requirements, and to establish performance specifications of the sensors
- Support the test and verification campaign of the navigation hardware
- Support the development and execution of component-level navigation test programs, including sensor characterization, sensor modeling, and integrated on-vehicle testing
- Support hardware-in-the-loop testing, on-vehicle functional testing, and flight testing

Qualifications:

- B.S. or M.S. and confirmed experience in engineering or related field, preference for Aerospace and Electrical engineering
- Validated experience with at least one or more of the following GN&C hardware: Inertial navigation units (gyros and accelerometers), Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, navigation cameras, star-trackers, lidars and/or, EO/IR sensors
- Experience leading integration and test support activities in cleanroom environments, including optical surface contamination control and inspection standards
- Operational knowledge of inertial and relative navigation sensors
- Demonstrated experience in verification and test of navigation systems
- Proficiency in creation of avionics requirements, procurement specifications and statements of work
- Experience with spacecraft avionics communications protocols (RS-422, Spacewire, etc.)
- Processes deep working knowledge of IPC Class 3 Space Addendum Standards

Desired (but not required):

- Ph.D. in Electrical, Mechanical, or Aerospace engineering or equivalent
- Shown experience in development of spacecraft GN&C systems or spacecraft avionics systems
- Experience in sensor procurement
- Experience in designing, building, testing, or flying space vehicles
- Knowledge in the development of planetary spacecraft navigation
- Experience in spaceflight avionics
- Experience in hardware-in-the-loop simulation
- Experience in flight test of spacecraft navigation or avionics
- Experience with radiation testing and analysis, both cumulative dose damage and single event effects
- Experience with Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) testing
- Experience with alignment metrology (position and orientation measurements)
- Experience with lab test equipment (power supplies, multimeters, oscilloscopes, data acquisition, etc.)
- Experience with generation of interface control drawings (ICDs) using CAD software
- Proven system engineering and configuration leadership skills
- Experience with Windchill, Jama, and DOORS Next Generation

Base Pay Range for:
WA applicants is $156,802.00 - $219,522.45

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.