Guidance and Control Engineer Sr

Blue Origin; Merritt Island (FL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Origin in Merritt Island, Florida, is seeking an experienced aerospace engineer to own guidance, control, and sequencing algorithms for the New Glenn program. You will design and implement flight software in C/C++, develop models in MATLAB/Simulink, and perform robustness analyses.

This role emphasizes end-to-end lifecycle ownership from requirements through hardware-in-the-loop, with emphasis on verification, unit testing, and cross-team collaboration to ensure safe, reliable spaceflight.

Qualifications

• B.S. in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in aerospace guidance and control or simulation.
• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink for algorithm design and analysis.
• Experience designing, testing, and flying aerospace guidance and control systems.
• Strong technical writing and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop guidance and control algorithms for New Glenn flight control.
• Sequence mission activities and vehicle system commands.
• Develop GN&C requirements with flow downs to subsystem and software levels, including companion verification methods.
• Build guidance and control algorithms in Simulink to support auto-code generation to target.
• Implement hand-coded flight software in C/C++ where appropriate.
• Conduct stability and performance assessments including development of linear and nonlinear models.
• Perform Monte Carlo simulation campaigns to characterize algorithm performance and robustness across dispersed environments.
• Author and execute unit tests, ensure code coverage standards, and support formal verification activities.
• Support hardware-in-the-loop integration and test campaigns.
• Validate plant models and algorithm performance using test and flight data.
• Coordinate cross-team vehicle-level analyses and trade studies.
• Lead root cause investigations and peer reviews of GNC products.

Skills

MATLAB/Simulink

GNC design

C/C++ programming

Technical writing

Communication skills

Education

B.S. in aerospace/mechanical engineering

M.S. or Ph.D. in aerospace engineering (preferred)

Tools

C/C++

Modeling and simulation tools

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!

This role supports the development and operations of New Glenn, a single-configuration, heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle capable of routinely carrying people and payloads to low-Earth orbit, geostationary transfer orbit, cislunar, and beyond. Its first stage is fully reusable, and the vehicle was designed from the beginning to be human-capable.

New Glenn is a reusable heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle flying government and commercial customers to orbit. The Flight Autonomy team owns the guidance, control, and sequencing algorithms across all flight phases - a responsibility that evolves as the vehicle’s performance and flight cadence increase.

As part of a small, accomplished team of engineers, this role carries full-lifecycle ownership of guidance, control, and sequencing algorithms from requirements definition through flight. The position spans algorithm design, flight software implementation, performance and robustness analysis, verification, and hardware-in-the-loop integration.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop guidance and control algorithms for New Glenn flight control
• Sequence mission activities and vehicle system commands
• Develop GN&C requirements with flow downs to subsystem and software levels, including companion verification methods
• Build guidance and control algorithms in Simulink to support auto-code generation to target
• Implement hand-coded flight software in C/C++ where appropriate
• Conduct stability and performance assessments including development of linear and nonlinear models
• Perform Monte Carlo simulation campaigns to characterize algorithm performance and robustness across dispersed environments
• Author and execute unit tests, ensure code coverage standards, and support formal verification activities
• Support hardware-in-the-loop integration and test campaigns
• Validate plant models and algorithm performance using test and flight data
• Coordinate cross-team vehicle-level analyses and trade studies
• Lead root cause investigations and peer reviews of GN&C products

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• 7+ years of experience in aerospace guidance and control or simulation
• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink for algorithm design and analysis
• Experience designing, testing, and flying aerospace guidance and control systems
• Strong technical writing and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related discipline
• Demonstrated knowledge in both classical and modern control design techniques
• Experience with C/C