Senior Mission Operations Engineer – Blue Ring

Blue Origin; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 156,802 - 219,522; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Stock options

Paid time off

Parental leave

Education support

Job summary

Blue Origin seeks an experienced mission operations engineer to lead and grow the In-Space Systems team's real-time spacecraft operations capabilities. You will guide the development of procedures, telemetry displays, and automation to improve efficiency and reliability across space and ground systems.

You will mentor early career engineers, coordinate staffing for mission events, and provide leadership during launch and early orbit phases from multiple mission control sites.

Qualifications

• BS in Aerospace, Computer Science, Systems or related field.
• 3+ years of experience managing technical teams.
• 10+ years of proven experience in spacecraft operations development and execution, including real-time support for on-orbit operations in a flight director or comparable leadership role.
• Experience with development of spacecraft operations products, including procedures, telemetry displays, scripts, and other technical documents.
• Experience with configuration and product data management.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including ability to make persuasive presentations to external customers at gated milestone reviews.
• Ability to earn trust, build positive professional relationships, and collaborate with individuals of various backgrounds to achieve mission success.

Responsibilities

• Develop mission plans, operations concepts, tools, and processes for real-time spacecraft and ground system operation.
• Lead small teams in developing and implementing operations procedures, executables, telemetry displays, and technical documents.
• Ensure deliverables meet quality standards, with emphasis on reuse and backward compatibility.
• Test and validate ops products in hardware and software simulation environments spanning space and ground domains.
• Drive efficiency and reliability through automation and AI/ML applications.
• Support systems engineering to develop spacecraft concepts of operations for end users.
• Provide progress tracking and basis-of-estimates for new business pursuits.
• Create test procedures to validate end-to-end system capabilities.
• Analyze ground station selection for optimal communications availability.
• Coordinate staffing for mission operations events and training for console personnel.
• Support mission readiness activities including rehearsals, timelines, and post-launch tests.
• Provide real-time leadership during launch and early orbit phase from mission control facilities.

Skills

People management

Spacecraft operations

Telemetry displays

Scripting

Configuration management

Education

BS in Aerospace, Computer Science, Systems

Tools

Python

SPELL

STOL

JAS

Job description

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!

The role is part of the In‑Space Systems business unit, which is focused on addressing two of the most compelling challenges in spaceflight today: space infrastructure and increasing mobility on‑orbit.

Responsibilities

• Develop mission plans, operations concepts, tools, and processes that enable highly effective and labor‑efficient real‑time spacecraft and ground system operation.
• Lead small teams in the development and implementation of detailed operations procedures, executables, telemetry displays, technical documentation, and other products.
• Ensure deliverables meet applicable quality standards, while promoting maximum reuse and backward compatibility.
• Conduct testing and validation of ops products using a variety of hardware and software simulation environments that span the space and ground domains.
• Drive operations toward ever‑increasing levels of efficiency and reliability through automation and the application of AI/ML technologies.
• Support systems engineering and other disciplines in developing a spacecraft concept of operations, ensuring efficiency and operability for the end‑user.
• Implement meaningful progress tracking to provide realistic completion forecasts and inform basis‑of‑estimates provided for new business pursuits.
• Create detailed test procedures to validate end‑to‑end system capabilities.
• Analyze and assess ground station selection for optimal communications availability.
• Coordinate staffing for mission operations events and work with our training team to ensure certification of on‑console personnel.
• Support mission readiness activities including mission rehearsals, mission timeline development, and post‑launch test development.
• Provide real‑time leadership during spacecraft launch and early orbit phase, including shift work, from Blue Origin’s mission control facilities in Florida and elsewhere.
• Monitor spacecraft state‑of‑health across all subsystems, perform trending and analyses, and track spacecraft and ground system configurations.
• Support the troubleshooting and resolution of on‑orbit anomalies as part of an anomaly response team.
• Foster continuous improvement by contributing, tracking, and implementing lessons‑learned for the benefit of future missions.
• Provide instruction and mentorship to early career engineers, building depth of expertise and capability within the mission operations engineering team.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace, Computer Science, Systems, or related fields
• 3+ years of experience managing technical teams
• 10+ years of proven experience in spacecraft operations development and execution, including real‑time support for on‑orbit operations in a flight director or comparable leadership role
• Experience with development of spacecraft operations products, including procedures, telemetry displays, scripts, and other technical documents
• Experience with configuration and product data management
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including ability to make persuasive presentations to external customers at gated milestone reviews
• Ability to earn trust, build positive professional relationships, and collaborate with individuals of various backgrounds to achieve mission success

Desired

• Active TS/SCI Security Clearance
• M.S. in Space Systems, Computer Science, or Aerospace Engineering
• Direct support for a government spacecraft operations organization, as well as a deep understanding of their use cases and approach to operations
• Experience with multi‑manifest spacecraft missions and developing operations for hosted or separable payloads
• Proficiency with command‑and‑control scripting languages, such as Python, SPELL, STOL, or JAS
• Experience working with virtualized Ground Software (e.g., Command & Control, Mission Planning, Flight Dynamics, Electronic Procedures, Software Simulators)
• Experience with mission planning and contact planning tools
• Experience with scrum methodology and agile product development
• Experience in full development lifecycle of space systems’ ground segments
• Mission analysis, flight planning and timeline development (tool and analysis)
• Experience designing and evaluating operational readiness tests integrated with hardware‑in‑the‑loop and software‑in‑the‑loop simulators
• Experience with operational fault and anomaly management
• Experience with performing system safety analyses including Functional Hazard Assessments (FHA), Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analyses (FMECA), and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)

Base Pay Range For

WA applicants: $156,802.00 – $219,522.45

Other Site Ranges May Differ

Other site ranges may differ.

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 (CDL drivers only), 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%, 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. 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 workforce. 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 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.

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.