Senior Deep-Space Mission Design Engineer

Blue Origin LLC; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 168,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Stock options

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking a mission designer to own end-to-end trajectory design for deep-space missions, spanning analysis, software development, and live flight operations. You will shape mission designs for Moon, Mars, and beyond, working with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, safety‑driven culture.

The role requires strong astrodynamics expertise, experience with optimization methods, and proficiency in Python/C++/Julia.

Qualifications

• M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with 5+ years of relevant experience, or a Ph.D. with 3+ years of relevant experience.
• Strong working knowledge of astrodynamics and orbital mechanics, with demonstrated experience designing spacecraft trajectories and high-thrust maneuvers, including impulsive maneuver design and targeting.
• Demonstrated experience applying low-thrust trajectory optimization through research, mission studies, or flight projects, using methods such as optimal control theory, direct and indirect methods, multiple shooting, or nonlinear programming.
• Proficiency in at least one of Python, Julia, or C++, with experience developing and testing analysis or operational software.
• Applied experience with trajectory design tools such as Monte, Copernicus, EMTG, FreeFlyer, GMAT, or STK/Astrogator.
• Experience supporting spacecraft mission operations, mission rehearsals, or comparable time-critical operational environments.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, scope ambiguous technical problems, and deliver results with minimal oversight.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including presenting technical results in design reviews and authoring technical documentation.
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Own Lifecycle Mission Design: Drive mission design through mission‑level requirements, gated reviews, mission rehearsals, and flight operations. Author trajectory design reports, maneuver plans, and operations procedures.
• Design and Optimize Trajectories: Design and optimize high‑thrust and low‑thrust trajectories, including lunar transfers, libration point and multi‑body orbits, lunar frozen and low lunar orbits, interplanetary cruise, planetary capture, interplanetary low‑thrust transfers, and many‑revolution spirals, accounting for tracking geometry and navigation performance.
• Fly Deep Space Missions: Design deterministic, trajectory correction, statistical, orbit insertion, and station‑keeping maneuvers from launch through end of mission. Perform live maneuver operations, making maneuver‑readiness recommendations under real‑time constraints, and partner with navigators to incorporate orbit determination solutions into targeting and assess burn performance.
• Define Launch Periods and Mission Timelines: Determine launch periods and deliver daily launch targets through the launch vehicle interface control document. Own the trajectory‑driven timelines that anchor mission CONOPS.
• Own Delta‑V Budgets and Mission Performance: Maintain deterministic, statistical, and margin delta‑v allocations across high‑thrust and low‑thrust phases that result in feasible mission architectures. Lead trajectory contributions to performance analysis cycles that verify and validate mission requirements, using ATX's AWS‑powered Monte Carlo capability.
• Develop Maneuver Algorithms and Tools: Develop and test trajectory and maneuver algorithms in Python, Julia, and Monte. Partner with the flight dynamics software architect to infuse them into ATX's Monte‑based flight dynamics system.
• Drive Automation: Automate trajectory design, maneuver planning, and analysis workflows as ATX scales toward fleet‑level operations, including through generative AI.
• Collaborate and Grow the Team: Work with ATX, propulsion, systems engineering, flight operations, and launch provider teams. Represent mission design in reviews, and mentor junior mission designers.
• Deliver with Agile Discipline: Scope, estimate, and plan work in deliverable increments, using tools such as Jira and git.

Skills

Astrodynamics

Python

C++

Julia

Orbit mechanics

Education

M.S. in Aerospace Engineering

Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering (preferred)

Tools

Monte

Copernicus

EMTG

FreeFlyer

GMAT

STK/Astrogator

Job description

Blue Origin is seeking a mission designer to own end-to-end trajectory design for deep-space missions, spanning analysis, software development, and live flight operations. You will shape mission designs for Moon, Mars, and beyond, working with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, safety‑driven culture.

The role requires strong astrodynamics expertise, experience with optimization methods, and proficiency in Python/C++/Julia.