Mission Simulation Engineer III

Blue Origin; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation provided

Travel up to 15% of the time

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking a Mission Simulation Engineer III to take a lead role in implementing and enhancing an integrated simulation framework for the TeraWave satellite constellation. You will collaborate with fleet management, mission operations, payload, power, network, and GNC engineering teams to ensure accurate modeling of orbital mechanics, power systems, and link performance.

The role emphasizes developing analysis and optimization capabilities to maximize constellation value while

Qualifications

• Deep technical expertise in astrodynamics and spacecraft systems engineering.
• Strong software development skills to build scalable simulation environments.
• Experience integrating physics-based and performance-based models into simulation frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and maintenance of the TeraWave integrated mission simulation model within the integrated systems modelling team.
• Develop high-fidelity orbital mechanics models including orbit propagation and coverage analysis.
• Create and apply orbit optimization methods to maximize coverage and payload utilization while reducing cost.
• Build beam assignment and payload scheduling models reflecting realistic antenna patterns and link performance.
• Develop simulation capabilities for RF and optical link domains, including ISL and ground-to-space links.
• Collaborate with multiple engineering teams to ensure inputs and fidelity align with subsystem designs and interfaces.

Skills

Astrodynamics

Spacecraft systems engineering

Software development

Beam assignments

Optimization

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!

Blue Origin is pioneering the future of space-based communications with TeraWave, a revolutionary satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. This multi-orbit constellation will consist of optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO), providing enterprise-grade connectivity for critical operations worldwide.

As a member of the TeraWave integrated system modelling team, you will play a foundational role in the development of an integrated mission simulation model that captures the full-system behavior of the TeraWave satellite constellation. TeraWave is a satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. This network will service tens of thousands of enterprise, data center, and government users who require reliable connectivity for critical operations. The integrated mission simulation model you help build will serve as a critical program-wide tool used to analyze, optimize, and validate constellation performance from early design through deployment and operations.

As a Mission Simulation Engineer III, you will take a lead role in implementing and continuously improving an integrated simulation framework spanning orbital mechanics, spacecraft power modeling, payload beam assignments, traffic routing, and payload utilization. You will collaborate closely with fleet management, mission operations, payload, power, network, and GNC engineering teams to ensure each simulation domain accurately reflects flight system behavior. A key focus of this role will be developing analysis and optimization capabilities to extract maximum performance and coverage value from the constellation while minimizing system cost, as well as modeling constellation deployment phases and build-up timelines that inform program planning and architecture decisions. The simulation scope spans both RF and optical link domains, including inter-satellite links and ground-to-space links, requiring candidates to be comfortable reasoning across both link types. Successful candidates will bring deep technical expertise in astrodynamics and spacecraft systems engineering, paired with strong software development skills to build scalable, high-fidelity simulation environments. A preferred candidate will have experience working across satellite bus and payload disciplines with a demonstrated ability to integrate physics-based and performance-based models into a coherent, maintainable simulation framework that directly informs constellation design decisions.

Special Mentions:

• Relocation provided
• Travel expected up to 15% of the time

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Take a lead role in implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving the TeraWave integrated mission simulation model within the integrated systems modelling team.
• Develop and maintain high-fidelity orbital mechanics models including orbit propagation, constellation geometry, station-keeping maneuvers, and coverage analysis.
• Develop and apply orbit optimization methodologies to maximize coverage, capacity, and payload utilization while minimizing constellation system cost and operational complexity.
• Build and integrate beam assignment and payload scheduling models that reflect realistic antenna patterns, coverage footprints, and link performance constraints across both RF and optical link domains.
• Develop simulation capabilities for both inter-satellite links (ISL) and ground-to-space links, spanning RF and optical link types, including link budget and availability modeling.
• Develop traffic routing and load utilization models that simulate end-to-end data flow across the constellation under realistic and stressing demand scenarios.
• Develop and maintain spacecraft power models capturing solar array generation, battery cycling, and power consumption across all operational modes.
• Model constellation deployment phases and build-up timelines to support program planning, architecture trades, and early operations analysis.
• Collaborate with fleet management, mission operations, payload, power, network, and GNC engineering teams to ensure simulation inputs and fidelity levels are consistent with subsystem designs and interface definitions.
• Engage with the GNC team to ensure orbital mechanics modeling assumptions, attitude control constraints, and maneuver planning are accurately reflected within the integrated simulation framework.
• Partner with systems engineering teams to defi