MK2 Crew Lander GN&C Flight Software Engineer - Sr

Blue Origin; Littleton (CO); On-site; USD 182,000 - 254,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Stock options

Education support program

Job summary

Blue Origin in Colorado is seeking a senior software engineer to design, integrate, and test GN&C flight software for the MK2 Crew Lander. You will work with avionics, embedded software, and hardware teams to deliver robust, safety‑critical capabilities.

The role requires 8+ years in embedded, real‑time software and experience with C/C++ and Rust in aerospace contexts. You will mentor junior engineers and help establish CI pipelines, unit testing, and verification plans, while supporting mission

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or a related technical field.
• 8+ years of professional software engineering experience in embedded, real-time, robotics, aerospace, autonomous systems, or high‑reliability software.
• Proficient in C/C++ and Rust; able to work in mixed-language environments.
• Experience integrating software with physical hardware, sensors, embedded compute systems, drivers, and communications interfaces.
• Experience designing software architectures, APIs, modular interfaces, and testable systems for complex technical products.
• Strong understanding of software verification practices, including unit testing, integration testing, automated build and test pipelines, code review, debugging, and root-cause analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to communicate technical decisions, risks, and tradeoffs to diverse engineering stakeholders.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, etc.

Responsibilities

• Partner with GN&C algorithm developers to transition algorithms from prototype environments into performant, testable, and flight-appropriate software implementations.
• Design, implement, integrate, and maintain GN&C flight software for the MK2 Crew Lander, with emphasis on navigation and computer vision capabilities, including image pre-processing, plugin or modular algorithm architectures, camera interfaces, telemetry, command interfaces, and integration with core flight software.
• Work closely with avionics, embedded software, payload, and flight hardware teams to define camera, sensor, driver, API, communications, timing, synchronization, and data handling.
• Develop hardware-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop, and laboratory test capabilities that support repeatable validation of GN&C and VBN performance across representative sensors, compute hardware, and mission scenarios.
• Establish robust flight software engineering practices, including automated builds, static analysis, unit and integration testing, code coverage, regression testing, fuzz testing, continuous integration pipelines, configuration control, and acceptance-test planning.
• Contribute to the maturation of software toward safety-critical and human-spaceflight standards, including requirements traceability, verification planning, fault handling, deterministic behavior, and clear interface definitions.
• Mentor and technically guide less experienced engineers in software design, debugging, code review, testing strategy, and disciplined development practices.

Skills

Strong communication

Mentorship

Cross-functional collaboration

Safety-critical software practices

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related technical field

Tools

C/C++

Rust

Embedded systems

Flight software frameworks

Hardware-in-the-loop testing

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.

Responsibilities

• Partner with GN&C algorithm developers to transition algorithms from prototype environments into performant, testable, and flight-appropriate software implementations.
• Design, implement, integrate, and maintain GN&C flight software for the MK2 Crew Lander, with emphasis on navigation and computer vision capabilities, including image pre-processing, plugin or modular algorithm architectures, camera interfaces, telemetry, command interfaces, and integration with core flight software.
• Work closely with avionics, embedded software, payload, and flight hardware teams to define camera, sensor, driver, API, communications, timing, synchronization, and data handling.
• Develop hardware-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop, and laboratory test capabilities that support repeatable validation of GN&C and VBN performance across representative sensors, compute hardware, and mission scenarios.
• Establish robust flight software engineering practices, including automated builds, static analysis, unit and integration testing, code coverage, regression testing, fuzz testing, continuous integration pipelines, configuration control, and acceptance-test planning.
• Contribute to the maturation of software toward safety-critical and human-spaceflight standards, including requirements traceability, verification planning, fault handling, deterministic behavior, and clear interface definitions.
• Mentor and technically guide less experienced engineers in software design, debugging, code review, testing strategy, and disciplined development practices.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or a related technical field.
• 8+ years of professional software engineering experience, including substantial experience with embedded, real-time, robotics, aerospace, autonomous-system, or other high-reliability software.
• Experience developing production-quality software in C/C++ and Rust; ability to work effectively in mixed-language software environments.
• Experience integrating software with physical hardware, sensors, embedded compute systems, drivers, and communications interfaces.
• Demonstrated experience designing software architectures, APIs, modular interfaces, and testable systems for complex technical products.
• Strong understanding of software verification practices, including unit testing, integration testing, automated build and test pipelines, code review, debugging, and root-cause analysis.
• Ability to work effectively across algorithm, hardware, systems engineering, test, and software groups.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical decisions, risks, and tradeoffs to diverse engineering stakeholders.
• Ability to earn trust through hands‑on technical contribution, constructive mentorship, and disciplined engineering execution.
• 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

• Experience with GN&C, navigation, state estimation, sensor fusion, visual odometry, terrain relative navigation, robotics, or autonomous vehicles.
• Experience deploying computer vision or machine perception capabilities on embedded or flight‑like computing hardware.
• Experience with cFS/cFE, flight software frameworks, real‑time operating systems, or spacecraft avionics software.
• Experience developing camera drivers, image acquisition pipelines, camera calibration workflows, or time‑synchronised multi‑sensor systems.
• Familiarity with spacecraft flight software lifecycle practices, including requirements‑based verification, qualification testing, safety‑critical development, and mission assurance expectations.
• Experience with hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing, simulation, test automation, or lab infrastructure development.
• Demonstrated use of C++ and Rust in embedded, systems, aerospace, or high‑reliability applications.
• Familiarity with software security and robustness practices such as fuzz testing, memory‑safety analysis, static analysis, dependency management, and secure build pipelines.
• Experience with lunar, planetary, spacecraft, or human‑spaceflight programs.
• Experience serving as a senior technical mentor, technical lead, or engineering coach while remaining primarily hands‑on.

Base Pay Range for: CO applicants is $181,626.00 - $254,275.35 WA applicants is $197,529.00 - $276,539.55 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

• 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. 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.