Flight Dynamics Software Engineer III - Blue Ring

Blue Origin; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation provided

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking a Flight Dynamics Software Engineer in the Denver area to design, build, and deploy the Flight Dynamics System (FDS) that supports orbit maintenance and collision avoidance for Blue Ring spacecraft.

You will collaborate with ATX and mission operations to translate astrodynamics algorithms into production services, develop testable prototypes, and ensure software safety and reliability through rigorous verification and documentation.

Qualifications

• B.S./B.E. or higher in computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, aerospace engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of software development experience.
• Experience across the full software development lifecycle including design, analysis, implementation, verification, integration, and release.
• Experience with build automation, CI, configuration management, verification and deployment.
• Proven ability to work in multiple programming languages and environments.
• Familiarity with Linux and basic Unix administration.
• Ability to earn trust and maintain professional relationships.
• U.S. citizen or eligible to work in the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, test, verify and deploy FDS microservices for orbit maintenance, collision avoidance, and flight dynamics data products.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define software requirements and architectures.
• Translate astrodynamics algorithms into production services across software boundaries.
• Develop rapid prototypes to validate concepts and assess risks.
• Ensure safety-critical software meets Blue Origin standards and supports frequent update cycles.
• Produce technical documentation including designs, verification plans and user manuals.

Skills

Software development

Linux

REST APIs

Python

C/C++

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Tools

Linux/Unix

CI/CD

Git

REST

Job description

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.

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