Flight Dynamics Software Engineer III - Blue Ring

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.

As part of a hardworking team of engineers and mission operators, you will work closely with space vehicle and ground system teams to develop, test, and deploy the Flight Dynamics System (FDS) — the ground-based astrodynamics software responsible for orbit determination, maneuver planning, collision avoidance, engine commodity tracking, and flight dynamics product generation for Blue Ring spacecraft.

As a Flight Dynamics Software Engineer, you will build and operate the microservices and data pipelines that translate astrodynamics algorithms into production mission-critical systems. You will collaborate directly with the Astrodynamics and Trajectory eXecution (ATX) team and mission operations to ensure Blue Ring vehicles remain safely on orbit.

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!

Special Mentions

• Relocation provided
• Interviews will include a technical assessment

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Design, implement, test, verify and deploy FDS microservices supporting orbit maintenance, collision avoidance, engine commodity bookkeeping, and flight dynamics product generation.
• Work with multiple teams, including engineers from fields like flight vehicle systems, mission control infrastructure, operations subject areas, and customers to define software requirements, architectures, and designs.
• Translate astrodynamics algorithms developed by the ATX team into production services, working across the boundary between numerical methods and software engineering.
• Develop rapid prototypes to prove out concepts and quantify technical risks.
• Coordinate with systems infrastructure and system engineers to plan, develop, and verify, to ensure software products meet requirements and safety-critical standards.
• Produce user documentation for software architecture, design, verification plans, user manual and training material.
• Follow software development processes that meet Blue Origin and customer-required standards to ensure software safety and reliability.
• Support frequent update cycles in support of pre-flight testing, mission validation exercises and operations training events.
• Support mission control software operations responsibilities (maintenance, defect correction, improvements) during operator training; ground data system verification, validation, and certification; spacecraft integration; and flight.
• Integrate software components, develop, and run unit-level and system-level tests, validate using Software-in-the-Loop and Hardware-in-the-Loop simulators, and release certified code.
• Support in developing materials for software design, verification plans, user manuals, and training.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. or higher degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, aerospace engineering, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of software development experience.
• Experience in software engineering over the course of the full lifecycle of software development, including system design and analysis, requirement capture and development, software implementation and verification, system integration, qualification, and release.
• Experience in software build automation, continuous integration, configuration management, verification, and deployment.
• Demonstrated software development skills in multiple software languages, with ability to implement in the language most appropriate to the problem-domain.
• Familiarity with Linux environment and comfortable with basic Unix system administration activities.
• Ability to earn trust and maintain positive and professional relationships.
• 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 designing and developing ground software for space flight operations.
• Expertise developing complex applications in Python.
• Experience with REST, Kafka, GRPC, web development and/or database development and interfaces.
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code and Cloud Technologies.
• Familiarity with astrodynamics concepts such as orbit determination, maneuver planning, or collision avoidance.
• Familiarity developing software systems for one or more of the following applications and technologies:
  • Telemetry data processing, fault monitoring, flight dynamics
  • Mission activity planning and scheduling
  • Spacecraft ephemeris generation and dissemination
  • Conjunction data processing and space situational awareness
• Experience with spacecraft subsystems and associated subsystem software.

Base Pay Range for:

VA applicants is $164,652.00 - $230,512.80
CO applicants is $150,931.00 - $211,303.05

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.