Chief Engineer, Space Autonomy & SDA Architecture

Blue Origin LLC; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 210,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Stock options

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking a Chief Engineer, Space Vehicle Autonomy, to lead the architecture and maturation of autonomous decision-making for satellite platforms. You will bridge traditional autonomy with AI/ML, infuse Space Domain Awareness, and drive verification and risk management across the full program.

The role requires extensive experience in autonomy, perception, and mission assurance, with collaboration across GN&C, flight software, and systems engineering. Travel ~25% for engagements.

Qualifications

• BS in an engineering-related field required.
• Minimum 20 years of spacecraft design, development, or analysis experience.
• Experience as a technical authority or chief engineer on complex spacecraft/autonomy programs.
• Strong understanding of traditional autonomy mechanisms and AI/ML approaches.
• Experience leading Engineering/Failure Review Boards.
• Knowledge of national security space customer needs and requirements.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority for space vehicle autonomy and architecture.
• Define autonomy architecture spanning rule-based and AI/ML methods.
• Provide direction on Observe-Orient-Decide-Act loops for RPO missions.
• Integrate Space Domain Awareness into onboard autonomy.
• Lead perception stacks: sensor fusion, relative navigation, and pose estimation.
• Oversee MLOps pipelines for flight-qualified models.
• Define verification strategy across SIL/HIL campaigns.
• Chair Engineering and Failure Review Boards and resolve gaps.
• Act as final decision-maker on complex autonomy problems.
• Collaborate with GN&C, perception, systems engineering to ensure coherent interfaces.

Skills

Deterministic autonomy

AI/ML for autonomy

OODA loop

Perception stacks

Space Domain Awareness

System architecture

Leadership in technical reviews

Education

Bachelor of Science in engineering

Master's in Engineering (preferred)

PhD in Engineering (preferred)

Job description

Blue Origin is seeking a Chief Engineer, Space Vehicle Autonomy, to lead the architecture and maturation of autonomous decision-making for satellite platforms. You will bridge traditional autonomy with AI/ML, infuse Space Domain Awareness, and drive verification and risk management across the full program.

The role requires extensive experience in autonomy, perception, and mission assurance, with collaboration across GN&C, flight software, and systems engineering. Travel ~25% for engagements.