Senior Flight Controls Engineer – Lunar Lander GN&C

Blue Origin Personnel, LLC; Washington; On-site; USD 198,000 - 277,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation provided

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Blue Origin in Washington state seeks a senior GN&C engineer to design and test flight control laws for the MK1 Lunar Lander. You will prototype algorithms, run trade studies, and validate control architectures across 6-DOF simulations using Simulink, C/C++, and Python.

Ideal candidates have a strong background in astrodynamics, attitude dynamics, and validation of guidance algorithms for spacecraft. The role emphasizes collaboration across subsystems and robust software development practices in

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering or Physics with 12+ years of experience or M.S. with 10+ years of experience.
• Deep knowledge of astrodynamics, orbital mechanics, attitude kinematics and dynamics.
• Established background 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 spacecraft dynamics, flexible body dynamics, and slosh dynamics.
• Demonstrated experience with control law design for aerospace vehicles.
• Prior hands-on experience in guidance algorithm design, review, and testing for aerospace vehicles, in addition to a primary background in flight controls.
• Working knowledge of guidance algorithm fundamentals—trajectory generation, reference tracking, and powered-descent or ascent guidance—and their interaction with the control subsystem.
• Demonstrated ability to review and verify guidance algorithm implementations against requirements and mission performance objectives.
• 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.
• Hands‑on development with Simulink and C/C++.
• Experience with collaboration tools such as Gitlab, Confluence, and JIRA.
• Strong grasp of software and data configuration management techniques and tools.
• Highly organized teammate with excellent technical written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and give to a culture of safety.

Responsibilities

• Develop and sustain flight control algorithms for spacecraft operating complex missions.
• Implement controls algorithms and subsystem component models in an integrated 6-DOF simulation environment using Simulink, C/C++, and Python.
• Perform trade studies driving maturity of detailed spacecraft and mission design.
• Collaborate with communication, propulsion, structures, fluids, and mechanisms subsystems to ensure system level design closure.
• Develop and maintain software for flight systems and simulations.
• Integrate and test software in SIL and HIL environments.
• Develop toolsets for automated requirements, configuration, and performance analyses.
• Support internal and external reviews with data products and reports.

Skills

Flight Controls

C/C++

Python

Simulink

GN&C algorithms

Astrodynamics

Space systems

Gitlab/JIRA/Confluence

Education

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering or Physics

M.S. in Aerospace Engineering or Physics

Tools

Gitlab

Confluence

JIRA

Simulink

Job description

Blue Origin in Washington state seeks a senior GN&C engineer to design and test flight control laws for the MK1 Lunar Lander. You will prototype algorithms, run trade studies, and validate control architectures across 6-DOF simulations using Simulink, C/C++, and Python.

Ideal candidates have a strong background in astrodynamics, attitude dynamics, and validation of guidance algorithms for spacecraft. The role emphasizes collaboration across subsystems and robust software development practices in