Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking (RPOD) Design Engineer – Lunar Permanence

Blue Origin LLC; Washington; On-site; USD 165,000 - 231,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Life insurance

Parental leave

Disability insurance

401(k) with company match

Education support

Stock options

Paid time off

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC is seeking a senior RPOD engineer to define Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking concepts for lunar missions. You will lead analyses, decompose requirements across GN&C, mechanical, and software, and help ensure safe, reliable RPOD operations from design through flight.

The role emphasizes strong astrodynamics knowledge, real-time embedded software in C++/Rust, and collaboration across teams within the Lunar Permanence unit to deliver high-quality navigation solutions

Qualifications

• BS degree in a technical field (aerospace, mechanical, electrical, CS, or physics).
• 7+ years of RPOD system design and implementation experience.
• Strong knowledge of astrodynamics and relative motion.
• Experience with Kalman filtering and navigation algorithms.
• Real-time embedded software development in C++ or Rust.

Responsibilities

• Perform trajectory analyses, safety gates, and RPOD requirements.
• Coordinate RPOD concepts of operations for multiple missions.
• Decompose RPOD requirements across GN&C, mechanical, and software.
• Develop navigation estimation methods and filtering techniques.
• Lead RPOD V&V activities, including flight demos.
• Develop tooling to improve team productivity.
• Analyze ground and flight test data to identify root causes.

Skills

Guidance & navigation

Control systems

Flight software

Astrodynamics

Kalman filtering

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or physics

MS or PhD in related fields

Tools

C++

Rust

Trick/JEOD/cFS

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. As a member of a dedicated spacecraft development engineering group, you will define the Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking (RPOD) operations concepts, identify functional and performance requirements on each of the flight elements, support integrated Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) analysis, and plan the verification and validation campaign that will ensure safe and reliable RPOD operations on multiple Lunar spacecraft. You will influence these systems by delivering high-quality engineering support through developing hardware and software solutions to complex RPOD navigation and guidance challenges. Your work will cover these systems throughout their entire lifecycle, including flight operations. You must be skilled at interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure accurate solutions align with manufacturing requirements and environmental constraints. Expertise in flight dynamics, RPOD guidance and navigation principles, and software engineering is essential. Experience in simulation, mathematical modeling, data analysis, and technical communication is preferred. Your contributions will advance the development of Blue Origin’s versatile spacecraft serving a variety of customers. On this program, you will engage in the full lifecycle from initial architecture to flight in a short time, while reaching historic breakthroughs! We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and dedication to quality to positively impact the safe human exploration of the solar system. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Perform analyses and studies to determine trajectories, safety gates and corridors, and requirements for performing RPOD operations
• Coordinate and support development of complex RPOD concepts of operations for multiple Lunar missions and vehicles
• Decompose RPOD functional and performance requirements between GN&C, mechanical systems, communication systems, docking targets, and mission systems
• Support development of performance requirements for relative navigation sensor hardware and software designs
• Support mathematical formulation of navigation estimation methods and filtering techniques
• Support mathematical formulation of maneuver guidance techniques
• Define and maintain data interfaces, optical interfaces, and/or mechanical interfaces between the elements during the RPOD process
• Define and maintain element level states and modes in nominal and off-nominal conditions during the RPOD phase
• Determine and lead required RPOD V&V activities, including flight demonstrations
• Create essential fault detection hardware and software capabilities to satisfy mission requirements
• Develop analysis tools, models, and methods to verify implemented hardware and software builds meet requirements
• Support integration and testing of navigation and computer vision software components within vehicle production baselines
• Analyze of ground and flight test data and investigate root-causes
• Develop automation and tooling to improve the productivity of the team resources and drive efficiency into the team operations

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of a B.S. degree or equivalent experience in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, physics or related technical subject area
• Proven technical depth in one of the following areas: guidance, navigation, control, simulation, or flight software
• Strong fundamental knowledge in astrodynamics and relative motion of space objects
• 7+ years of demonstrated experience designing and implementing RPOD systems
• Experience planning and executing RPOD integrated tests in high-fidelity test environments
• Experience in developing RPOD concept of operations, and requirements definition and analysis
• Experience in analysis and design of RPOD trajectories and maneuver sequences
• Experience with methods and applications in Kalman Filtering and Computer Vision
• Experience with linear covariance methodology and statistical analysis
• Experience with mathematical modeling, simulation, and control algorithms.
• Demonstrated experience with real-time embedded software development on spacecraft or launch vehicle flight systems in C++ or Rust
• Highly organized team player with excellent technical written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of safety.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or PhD in subject fields
• 10+ years relevant experience with spacecraft RPOD full lifecycle activities from requirements development through spacecraft operations
• Industry technical experience with relative navigation systems in aerospace vehicles
• Experience with Rendezvous Proximity Operation and Docking, Terrain Relative Optical Navigation, or Vision Based Navigation algorithms and software
• Experience with optical sensors in space applications
• Experience in the integration of avionics hardware and software
• Experience in software development following NASA NPR 7150.2D or FAA DO-178C standards
• Experience with NASA software, simulation tools, and environments (Trick/JEOD/cFS)
• Experience with validation and verification approaches such as software unit testing, system simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing or coordinated subsystem testing
• Experience with full-lifecycle software development from requirements definition through deployment
• Experience in flow down of system requirements to the software component level
• Base Pay Range for: CO applicants is $150,931.00 - $211,303.05 WA applicants is $164,652.00 - $230,512.80 Other site ranges may differ

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.

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

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.

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.