MK2 GN&C Flight Controls Engineer III – Lunar Permanence

Blue Origin LLC; Washington; On-site; USD 131,000 - 183,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

401(k) match

Stock options

Paid time off

Parental leave

Education support

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC is seeking an aerospace GN&C engineer focused on flight controls for spacecraft from Earth to the Moon. You will develop control laws, prototype algorithms, and run stability analyses, while collaborating with subsystems to define interfaces and performance measures.

The role requires leadership, rigorous software development, and a strong passion for safe human spaceflight. Join a mission-driven team within the Lunar Permanence unit.

Qualifications

• BS in Aerospace, Mechatronic, or Electrical Eng or related.
• MS/PhD in related field preferred.
• GN&C algorithm development experience for flight and attitude control.
• Frequency domain analysis techniques.
• Understanding of spacecraft dynamics and control.
• Experience with Matlab/Simulink and C/C++.
• Experience with Gitlab, Confluence, and JIRA.

Responsibilities

• Develop control laws and flight software for spacecraft from Earth to the Moon.
• Prototype algorithms and perform trade studies for control architectures.
• Collaborate with subsystems engineers on interfaces and performance measures.
• Demonstrate best practices and strong technical judgment.
• Apply leadership and quality focus to safe human spaceflight.
• Demonstrate passion for the mission.

Skills

Aerospace Eng

Control theory

GN&C algorithms

Matlab/Simulink

C/C++

Software configuration mgmt

Communication skills

Education

BS in Aerospace, Mechatronic, or Electrical Eng

MS/PhD preferred

Tools

Gitlab

Confluence

JIRA

Simulink

Embedded Coder

Job description

Job Overview

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 engineers, you will join our Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) team with an emphasis in Flight Controls. You will share in the team’s impact on all aspects of the development of control laws and flight software for spacecraft from Earth to the Moon! You will also prototype algorithms, conduct trade studies for control architectures, and perform linear stability analyses using classical and modern approaches. Expect to collaborate closely with other subsystems and spacecraft systems engineers to support the development of subsystem boundaries, interfaces, and technical performance measures. In this capacity, you will be responsible for exemplifying best practices, balanced technical judgment, and superior work ethic. 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 is required!

Responsibilities

• Share in the team’s impact on all aspects of the development of control laws and flight software for spacecraft from Earth to the Moon.
• Prototype algorithms, conduct trade studies for control architectures, and perform linear stability analyses using classical and modern approaches.
• Collaborate closely with other subsystems and spacecraft systems engineers to support the development of subsystem boundaries, interfaces, and technical performance measures.
• Be responsible for exemplifying best practices, balanced technical judgment, and superior work ethic.
• Apply technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight.
• Passion for our mission is required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of a B.S. degree in Aerospace, Mechatronic, or Electrical engineering or closely related subject areas.
• Applied industry experience and/or M.S. or Ph.D. focused on development of spacecraft controls.
• Proven experience in GN&C algorithm development specifically for flight and attitude control using classical and modern control methods.
• Knowledgeable in frequency domain analysis techniques.
• Robust understanding of controller stability derivatives and stability margins with respect to flexible body dynamics, slosh dynamics, and spacecraft dynamics.
• Demonstrated experience with control law design for aerospace vehicles.
• Familiarity with development of requirements, interfaces, trades and analyses for aerospace GN&C applications.
• Understand the relationship between attitude control, vehicle configuration, spacecraft dynamics, actuators, sensors, and automation.
• Experience in Matlab/Simulink and Model Based Development.
• Experience coding in C/C++.
• Robust understanding of software and data configuration management techniques and tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to earn trust and maintain positive and professional relationships.
• 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

• M.S. or PhD in Aerospace, Mechatronic, Electrical Engineering or closely related technical subject area.
• Proven experience in development, implementation and testing of GN&C systems for aerospace vehicles.
• Demonstrated technical experience through the full lifecycle of system development.
• Proficiency in different control law schemes such as PID, Phase-Plane, H-Infinity, Lead and Lag Compensators, Dynamic Inversion, etc.
• Experience designing flight control systems with reaction control systems (RCS), cold or hot gas thrusters, thrust vector control (TVC), or electric propulsion.
• Deep knowledge of astrodynamics, orbital mechanics, attitude kinematics and dynamics.
• Experience with spacecraft control system design considerations vital for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations and Docking (RPOD).
• On-orbit experience providing GN&C support during mission operations.
• Experience synthesizing and evaluating Monte Carlo simulations, hardware-in-the-loop, and software-in-the-loop testing.
• Experience with real-time flight software and Simulink/Embedded Coder.
• Hands‑on experience with GN&C flight hardware.
• Experience with performing system safety analyses including Functional Hazard Assessments; Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analyses; and Fault Tree Analysis.
• Experience with Matlab/Simulink linear analysis tools.
• Experience with collaboration tools such as Gitlab, Confluence, and JIRA.

Base Pay Range for:

• CO applicants is $119,814.00 - $167,738.55
• WA applicants is $130,706.00 - $182,987.70
• 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%
• 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

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Community and Mission

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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