Senior Autonomy Architect for Spacecraft & SDA

Blue Origin; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 214,000 - 299,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Travel 25%

National Security clearance eligible

Job summary

Blue Origin's In-Space Systems unit seeks a Chief Engineer for Space Vehicle Autonomy to guide architecture, design, and maturation of autonomous decision-making for satellite platforms. The role blends rule-based autonomy with AI/ML and requires cross-disciplinary leadership to deliver robust onboard autonomy.

You will drive SDA integration, oversee MLOps and SIL/HIL verification, and collaborate with GN&C, perception, and systems engineering to ensure flight-ready autonomy across programs.

Qualifications

• BS in engineering or related field.
• 20+ years in advanced spacecraft design, development, or analysis.
• Experience as technical authority or chief engineer on complex space/autonomy programs.
• Deep understanding of traditional autonomy and AI/ML/CNN approaches.
• Experience leading Engineering/Failure Review Boards.
• Knowledge of national security space customer needs and CONOPS.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority for space vehicle autonomy and strategy.
• Evolve autonomy architecture spanning deterministic and AI-based methods.
• Provide direction on OODA loop for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations.
• Integrate Space Domain Awareness into autonomy architecture.
• Lead strategy for perception stacks, sensor fusion, and relative navigation.
• Oversee MLOps pipelines for flight-qualified ML/AI models.
• Define verification strategy across SIL/HIL campaigns.
• Chair engineering reviews and adjudicate complex autonomy trade-offs.
• Collaborate with GN&C, perception, flight software, and systems engineering.

Skills

Autonomy architecture

AI/ML

OODA loop

SDA

Sensor fusion

GN&C liaison

MLOps

SIL/HIL testing

RPO

Perception stacks

Education

BS in engineering

Job description

Blue Origin's In-Space Systems unit seeks a Chief Engineer for Space Vehicle Autonomy to guide architecture, design, and maturation of autonomous decision-making for satellite platforms. The role blends rule-based autonomy with AI/ML and requires cross-disciplinary leadership to deliver robust onboard autonomy.

You will drive SDA integration, oversee MLOps and SIL/HIL verification, and collaborate with GN&C, perception, and systems engineering to ensure flight-ready autonomy across programs.