Mk1 Mission CONOPS Lead

Blue Origin LLC; Washington; On-site; USD 145,000 - 203,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Education Support Program

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC is seeking a Mission Lead to own end-to-end CONOPS for the MK1-102 mission, spanning launch, transit, lunar operations, descent and surface delivery.

You will leverage MBSE tools to assess performance margins, lead risk management, and guide test plans while collaborating with Mission Operations and Lead Engineers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level or higher in a relevant technical field.
• Experience defining and validating space mission CONOPS across multiple phases.
• Leadership and strong interpersonal/communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end MK1-102 mission CONOPS across all phases (launch, cruise, lunar ops, descent/landing, surface operations).
• Lead CONOPS validation via analysis, simulation, and test; ensure feasibility and traceability to requirements.
• Define and manage mission timelines, constraints, and resource margins across all phases.
• Own Mission L2 requirements and mission-level success tree.
• Lead development of the Mission Model with modeling lead.
• Identify and mitigate mission-level risks including phase transitions and critical events.
• Lead trade studies with Lead Systems Engineer; frame alternatives and criteria.
• Partner with Mission Operations and engineers to align as-designed and as-operated missions.
• Support reviews with technical input.

Skills

Leadership

CONOPS definition

MBSE experience

Communication skills

Education

B.S. in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical/Systems Engineering/Physics

M.S. or higher in a relevant field

Tools

MBSE 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 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. At Blue Origin, we are building a road to space so our children can build the future. The Lunar Permanence team is delivering the Blue Moon Mark 1 (MK1) lander — a single‑launch, cryogenically‑fueled vehicle capable of delivering large payloads to the lunar surface. MK1‑102 is the mission that will deliver NASA's VIPER rover to the lunar South Pole region. We are looking for a Mission Lead to own the end‑to‑end definition and validation of the MK1‑102 mission Concept of Operations (CONOPS) across all mission phases — from launch and cruise through lunar transit, descent and landing, and surface delivery operations.

The Mission Lead works closely with Lead Systems Engineers, Mission Operations, and Functional/Performance Responsible Engineers to define mission activities, develop detailed timelines, run trade studies, define mission constraints, mitigate risks, and facilitating test plans and analysis scenarios. You will use in-house Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and performance analysis tools to assess the CONOPS and performance margins on a technical level.

Responsibilities

• Own the end‑to‑end definition of the MK1‑102 mission CONOPS across all phases (launch, cruise/transit, lunar orbit operations, powered descent & landing, and surface operations)
• Lead validation of the CONOPS through analysis, simulation, and test, ensuring operational scenarios are feasible, verifiable, and traceable to mission requirements.
• Define and manage mission timelines, operational constraints, and technical resource margins (e.g., propellant/cryogenic boil‑off, power, thermal, comms windows, timeline slack) across all phases.
• Owner of Mission L2 requirement and mission level success tree.
• Take ownership of the MK1 Mission Model; working closely with modeling lead to guide further development of the modelling capability across the program.
• Identify, characterize, and drive closure of mission‑level risks, including phase transitions and critical events (e.g., RPOD, landing).
• Define, inform, and selectively lead trade studies in support of the Lead Systems Engineer, framing alternatives, criteria, and recommendations, as they apply to the CONOPS.
• Partner closely with Mission Operations and Functional/Performance/Autonomy Responsible Engineers to ensure the as‑designed mission and the as‑operated mission stay aligned.
• Support gated and operational‑readiness reviews (e.g., Mission Operations Review, Operations Readiness Review, Flight Readiness Review) with authoritative mission‑level technical input.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field.
• 6+ years of relevant experience for the Senior level; equivalent depth at L3, L4 or Principal will be evaluated accordingly.
• Demonstrated experience defining and/or validating space mission CONOPS across multiple mission phases.
• Working knowledge of staging behavior and lunar mission dynamics (transit, orbit, descent/landing, surface operations).
• Demonstrated leadership and interpersonal/communication skills — able to align Mission Ops, REs, and the Lead SE around a common mission definition.
• Ability to define technical resource margins and lead/own technical risk.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or higher in a relevant engineering or physics discipline.
• Direct experience on a lunar or cryogenic flight program (lander, upper stage, or in‑space cryogenic system).
• Hands‑on experience with model‑based systems engineering (MBSE) tools and methods.
• Experience building and championing adoption of an MBSE/mission‑model toolset within an organization.Experience leading trade studies and supporting a Lead Systems Engineer or Chief Engineer.
• Familiarity with NASA mission integration and payload‑delivery interfaces (e.g., CLPS‑class / VIPER‑class payloads).

Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $145,188.00 - $203,263.20 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 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%, 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
Affirmative 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. 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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