Lunar Human Factors Engineer

Blue Origin LLC; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 121,000 - 169,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life insurance

Parental leave

Disability insurance

401(k) with company match

Education Support Program

Stock options

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC is seeking a Human Factors Engineer for the Lunar program to lead HF activities from requirements through verification, focusing on crew safety and operability. You will drive HF analyses, HITL testing, and collaborate with NASA and internal teams to shape lunar system architecture.

The role requires strong systems engineering know-how, experience in safety-critical environments, and the ability to translate HF findings into actionable design decisions.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Engineering or related technical discipline is required.
• 5+ years of industry experience in human factors engineering or human-centered system design.
• Expertise in task analysis and human error analysis methodologies and execution.
• Expertise in anthropometric analysis.
• Demonstrated experience leading human-in-the-loop test programs in safety-critical environments.
• Strong systems engineering background with requirements development and verification planning.
• Proven ability to influence system architecture through human factors analysis.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate HF findings into engineering direction.

Responsibilities

• Own HF activities from requirements development through verification for the Lunar program.
• Write, evaluate, and challenge human factors requirements to reflect crew safety and operability needs.
• Develop and own HF verification strategy and associated content.
• Conduct task analyses and human error analyses for crew interfaces in collaboration with NASA.
• Lead HITL test campaigns across environments from planning to results translation.
• Perform anthropometric analyses and ergonomic evaluations for design decisions.
• Partner with systems engineering and design teams to influence architecture based on HF findings.
• Interface with NASA's Astronaut Office and other formal collaboration forums.

Skills

Task analysis

Human error analysis

Anthropometric analysis

HF requirements development

HF verification planning

HITL testing

Systems engineering

Crew safety & operability

Communication

Education

B.S. in Engineering or related technical discipline

Master’s or Ph.D. in Human Factors, Aerospace Engineering, Cognitive Systems Engineering, or related discipline

Job description

About the Role

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 the Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Origin’s Blue Moon landers and related products. To further Blue Origin's mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth, we are building sustainable infrastructure for our transport of crew and cargo from Earth to the lunar surface. As a human factors engineer on Blue Origin's Lunar program, you will serve as a technical lead for human factors engineering activities supporting the development of crewed lunar vehicles. You will drive the human integration of complex systems, from crew interfaces to surface access architectures, ensuring that safety, operability, and the crew experience are at the center of every design decision. Working with our Lead Human Factors Engineer and partnering closely with NASA's Astronaut Office and Blue's systems engineering, design, and operations teams, you will shape requirements, lead human-in-the-loop evaluations, and coordinate the verification strategies that will carry our Lunar systems through certification. This position carries substantial technical authority and direct influence over subsystem architecture: your work will shape the safety and success of human Lunar exploration. Passion for our mission and an unwavering commitment to crew safety and mission success are essential.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a Human Factors Engineer for the Lunar program, owning HF activities from requirements development through verification
• Write, evaluate, and challenge human factors requirements; drive simplification and ensure requirements reflect true crew safety and operability needs
• Develop and own HF verification strategy, including mapping requirements to verification expectations and verification events, and authoring verification event content
• Conduct and mature task analyses (TA) and human error analyses (HEA) for crew interfaces and operations, in collaboration with NASA counterparts
• Lead human-in-the-loop (HITL) test campaigns across various environments (e.g., NBL, ARGOS, JSC facilities), from planning and execution through translation of results into actionable design direction
• Perform anthropometric analyses and ergonomic evaluations to support design decisions and requirements compliance
• Partner with systems engineering and design teams to influence system architecture decisions based on crew operability findings and HF analyses
• Interface with NASA's Astronaut Office, including joint test panels and other formal collaboration forums
• Support engineers across the team and model a standard of technical excellence, clear communication, and inclusive collaboration

Minimum Qualifications

• Passion for our mission: working towards millions of people living and working in space!
• Minimum of a B.S. in Engineering or a related technical discipline
• 5+ years of industry experience in human factors engineering or human-centered system design
• Expertise in task analysis and human error analysis methodologies and execution
• Expertise in anthropometric analysis
• Demonstrated experience leading human-in-the-loop test programs in safety-critical environments
• Strong systems engineering background, including hands-on experience with requirements development and verification planning
• Proven ability to influence system architecture and design decisions through human factors analysis and technical advocacy
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex HF findings into concise, actionable engineering direction
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion
• 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

• 10+ years of industry experience in HF or human-centered system design
• Experience in human spaceflight vehicle design and/or certification
• Experience working directly with NASA or other human spaceflight customers or operational stakeholders
• Familiarity with NASA human systems integration standards (e.g., NASA-STD-3001) and certification processes
• Operational experience in a technology-intensive, safety-critical environment (e.g., aviation, spaceflight, defense)
• Experience developing program-adopted standards, methodologies, or knowledge resources
• Master's or Ph.D. in Human Factors, Aerospace Engineering, Cognitive Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline

Base Pay Range

Base Pay Range for: CO applicants is $110,938.00 - $155,312.85 WA applicants is $121,023.00 - $169,432.20 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

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

• 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%
• 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’sAffirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at [e-mail]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request. 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.