MK1 Lunar Lander Sr. GN&C Hardware Engineer

Blue Origin LLC; Washington; On-site; USD 157,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC is seeking a spacecraft navigation engineering professional to develop navigation hardware requirements and manage design studies for GN&C subsystems. You will work across disciplines to ensure integration, testing, and verification align with mission goals.

The role emphasizes leadership in test campaigns, sensor modeling, and on-vehicle testing, with a strong focus on reliability and safety in the lunar transport context.

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in engineering; aerospace/electrical preferred.
• Experience with GN&C hardware: inertial units, GPS, cameras, star-trackers, lidars/EO-IR.
• Experience leading integration and test in cleanroom environments.
• Knowledge of spacecraft avionics and IPC 3 Space Addendum standards.
• Ph.D. in EE/ME/Aerospace (desirable).

Responsibilities

• Develop navigation hardware requirements from system specs to subsystems.
• Design navigation hardware configuration via design studies and trade analyses.
• Oversee procurement, vendor coordination, installation, verification, and certification of navigation hardware.
• Perform testing and analyses: flight tests, vacuum, vibration to meet specs.
• Support navigation hardware test campaigns and sensor characterization/models.
• Support hardware-in-the-loop and on-vehicle testing, flight testing.

Skills

System engineering

Navigation systems

Hardware integration

Test & verification

Communication of technical info

Education

B.S. or M.S. in engineering

Tools

RS-422

Spacewire

Jama

DOORS

Windchill

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 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 part of a hardworking team of spacecraft development engineers, you will contribute to the hardware engineering activities for the Guidance Navigation and Control (GN&C) subsystem and its components. Your responsibilities will include the development of navigation hardware requirements, executing trade studies on performance, reliability, and configuration while supporting the integration, test installation alignment and verification compliance throughout the entire program lifecycle. You will collaborate with the vehicle systems engineering, mechanical design, mission operations, AI&T, and dynamics teams to ensure design coordination to meet the vehicle performance deliverables. You will need to be able to communicate technical information clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing. 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!

Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the development of navigation hardware requirements from system level specifications with flow downs to subsystem and component levels, and companion verification methods
• Support the design of the navigation hardware configuration with design studies, and execute performance trades
• Contribute to the procurement, vendor coordination, delivery, acceptance, installation, verification, validation, qualification, and certification of the navigation hardware
• Guide and perform testing and analyses such as flight tests, thermal vacuum tests, vibration tests, etc. to validate top-level system specifications and requirements, and to establish performance specifications of the sensors
• Support the test and verification campaign of the navigation hardware
• Support the development and execution of component-level navigation test programs, including sensor characterization, sensor modeling, and integrated on-vehicle testing
• Support hardware-in-the-loop testing, on-vehicle functional testing, and flight testing

Qualifications:

• B.S. or M.S. and confirmed experience in engineering or related field, preference for Aerospace and Electrical engineering
• Validated experience with at least one or more of the following GN&C hardware: Inertial navigation units (gyros and accelerometers), Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, navigation cameras, star-trackers, lidars and/or, EO/IR sensors
• Experience leading integration and test support activities in cleanroom environments, including optical surface contamination control and inspection standards
• Operational knowledge of inertial and relative navigation sensors
• Demonstrated experience in verification and test of navigation systems
• Proficiency in creation of avionics requirements, procurement specifications and statements of work
• Experience with spacecraft avionics communications protocols (RS-422, Spacewire, etc.)
• Processes deep working knowledge of IPC Class 3 Space Addendum Standards
• Desired (but not required): Ph.D. in Electrical, Mechanical, or Aerospace engineering or equivalent
• Shown experience in development of spacecraft GN&C systems or spacecraft avionics systems
• Experience in sensor procurement
• Experience in designing, building, testing, or flying space vehicles
• Knowledge in the development of planetary spacecraft navigation
• Experience in spaceflight avionics
• Experience in hardware-in-the-loop simulation
• Experience in flight test of spacecraft navigation or avionics
• Experience with radiation testing and analysis, both cumulative dose damage and single event effects
• Experience with Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) testing
• Experience with alignment metrology (position and orientation measurements)
• Experience with lab test equipment (power supplies, multimeters, oscilloscopes, data acquisition, etc.)
• Experience with generation of interface control drawings (ICDs) using CAD software
• Proven system engineering and configuration leadership skills
• Experience with Windchill, Jama, and DOORS

Next Generation Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $156,802.00 - $219,522.45 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 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

• 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.
• 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’s Affordative 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.

Other Statements

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.

Thank you for your interest in working at Blue Origin! 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.

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