Ground Station Software Engineer III

Blue Origin LLC; Los Angeles, Northern (CA, KY); On-site; USD 165,000 - 231,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Stock options

Paid time off

Education Support Program

Parental leave

Job summary

Blue Origin seeks a Ground Software Engineer to design and implement scalable software for its Quartz global ground station network. You will collaborate with cross‑functional teams to deliver secure, high‑performance interfaces for TT&C and data transfer, building dashboards and automation to enhance mission reliability.

The role requires 5+ years in software development, proficiency in Python/C++/Rust, and Linux experience, plus the ability to work with customers and external partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical field.
• 5+ years of professional software development experience.
• 5+ years of experience with Python, C++ or Rust.
• 5+ years of experience working in Linux environments.
• Experience developing, testing, and maintaining production‑quality software.
• Experience automating tests and operations to reduce time.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Ability to earn trust and maintain professional relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for customer testing and internal programs.
• U.S. citizen or eligible to work in the U.S. (permanent resident or equivalent).

Responsibilities

• Design and develop distributed software for ground station network operations and core infrastructure services.
• Test and integrate software on both commercial and in‑house hardware.
• Perform post‑mission analytics to evaluate network performance and recommend improvements.
• Collaborate with external customers to architect secure, high‑performance TT&C interfaces and data transfer workflows.
• Create APIs and interface documentation for ground station control.
• Develop interactive web dashboards with real‑time visualization.
• Build integration frameworks for third‑party ground stations and external systems.
• Create automated workflow engines for routine operations and anomaly response.
• Establish monitoring with configurable alerts for visibility and stability.
• Work with software, networking, and RF/DSP engineers to deliver scalable solutions.

Skills

Python

C++

Rust

Linux

Distributed systems

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

AWS

RESTful APIs

JavaScript

Salesforce

Ansible

Git

Job description

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! The role is part of the In-Space Systems business unit, which is focused on addressing two of the most compelling challenges in spaceflight today: space infrastructure and increasing mobility on-orbit. This role is part of the Blue National Security unit and supports Blue Origin’s Quartz program. Quartz is building out a global network of Blue Origin owned and operated ground infrastructure. Quartz will be used by Blue Origin businesses and external customers providing reliable, flexible, and cost-effective communications services between Earth and space. Our Quartz program is looking for experienced personnel to join their team. We’re a group of problem-solvers with diverse skillsets, building and operating the ground stations that serve as the critical link connecting space to Earth.

Working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, you’ll contribute innovative solutions while demonstrating personal leadership, technical competence, and attention to detail. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and demands your dedicated commitment to safe, reliable spaceflight. We are seeking an experienced Ground Software Engineer to support the development of our mission‑critical operational platforms managing our global ground station network. In this role, you will architect and implement solutions that form the vital communications backbone between Earth and space operations. Working closely with cross‑functional engineering teams and external customers, you will deliver scalable, secure, and highly reliable solutions that ensure continuous ground station availability for mission‑critical spacecraft communications while providing sophisticated planning capabilities that maximize operational efficiency across the entire ground network.

Join us in enabling Blue Origin’s vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth - passion for our mission is required!

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Design and develop distributed software systems for ground station network operations and core infrastructure services.
• Test and integrate software systems that run on both commercial and in-house developed hardware.
• Conduct comprehensive post‑mission analytics to evaluate ground network performance metrics, identify optimization opportunities, and generate technical recommendations for system improvements.
• Collaborate with external customers to architect secure, high‑performance software interfaces for Telemetry, Tracking & Command (TT&C) systems and payload data transfer workflow.
• Create APIs and interface documentation for ground station command and control.
• Develop interactive web dashboards with real‑time visualization capabilities.
• Design and implement integration frameworks for third‑party ground stations and external customer systems.
• Create automated workflow engines for routine operations, anomaly response, and autonomous sequences.
• Establish comprehensive monitoring systems with configurable alerts to ensure operational stability and visibility across the network.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams including software, networking, and RF/DSP engineers to deliver scalable, secure solutions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field
• 5+ years of professional software development experience
• 5+ years of experience with Python, C++ or Rust
• 5+ years of experience working in Linux environments
• Experience developing, testing, and maintaining production‑quality software.
• Experience implementing software automation to reduce test time and automate operational features
• Strong problem‑solving skills and ability to collaborate effectively in cross‑functional teams
• Demonstrated track record of resourcefulness from their previous assignments.
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships.
• Strong written and communication skills to support end‑to‑end customer testing for both internal programs and external clients.
• 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

• Proficiency in JavaScript and experience building backend or full‑stack applications
• 5+ years of experience working on ground station or communication system operations
• Experience with AWS cloud infrastructure
• Experience designing and consuming APIs including RESTful services
• Experience using generative AI tools to deliver software products in reduced timeframes vs traditional development methods
• Working knowledge of network protocols including TCP and UDP
• Ability to work independently and communicate effectively
• Familiarity with Ansible (for deployment and configuration management)
• Understanding of RF and modulation/demodulation concepts
• Understanding of networking concepts such as routing, latency, bandwidth, and reliability
• Familiarity with monitoring, logging, and observability tools in production environments
• AI experience for State of Health diagnosis in NOC and network orchestration environments
• Proven experience implementing and integrating OSS and BSS systems within telecommunications or similar industries.
• Hands‑on experience working with CRM platforms, preferably Salesforce, including configuration, integration, and process automation.
• Strong understanding of customer lifecycle management, front end interfacing, and sales enablement features within CRM tools.
• Demonstrated experience integrating systems and workflows across the full mission chain, including mission planning and operations, Monitoring & Control (M&C) systems, ground station scheduling and resource allocation, with a comprehensive understanding of end‑to‑end data flows between these systems

Base Pay Range for:

• CA applicants is $164,652.00 - $230,512.80
• CO applicants is $150,931.00 - $211,303.05
• WA applicants is $164,652.00 - $230,512.80
• VA applicants is $164,652.00 - $230,512.80
• Other site ranges may differ

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.

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.

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.

Company Culture

We’re committed to building the road to space so our children can build the future. We are a mission‑driven company focused on ideas and innovation, and encourage fresh perspectives from bold voices. At Blue, our team is building the future as their unique selves. Blue Origin was founded with a vision to enable a future where millions of people are living and working in space to benefit Earth. In order to preserve Earth, Blue Origin believes in the need to enable humanity to expand, explore, find new energy and material resources, and move industries that stress Earth into space. Blue Origin believes it has an important role in building a road to space and lowering the cost of getting there. At Blue Origin, we’re working on this today by developing fully reusable launch vehicles and systems that are safe, reliable and affordable. Every launch vehicle is designed for human spaceflight from the beginning and able to ferry payloads to space.