Senior Mission Systems Engineer – Deep Space Ground & MTN

Blue Origin LLC; Los Angeles, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 156,000 - 219,000; Full time

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!

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. Blue Origin is helping extend humanity’s reach across the solar system by developing NASA’s Mars Telecommunications Network (MTN) – a relay communications infrastructure designed to provide reliable, high‑availability data services between Mars‑based users and Earth in support of NASA’s civil exploration and science objectives. MTN delivers relay‑as‑a‑service to orbiters, landers, rovers, and future crewed assets, bridging the deep space link through an integrated end‑to‑end ground system. As part of a small, hardworking, and accomplished team of Mission Systems Engineers, you will work closely with spacecraft, mission operations, and ground system teams to define and mature the mission system — the integrated ground system and mission operations capability that enables MTN’s relay services. You will lead the requirements, verification and validation, and interface definition efforts that ensure the ground and operations architecture meets mission objectives across significant light‑time delays and long‑duration operations. You will share in the team’s impact on all aspects of mission systems engineering and the tools used to operate advanced deep space communications infrastructure. We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, collaborative spirit, and dedication to quality to positively impact one of the most ambitious civil space missions of our time. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Responsibilities

• Identify, derive, develop, and maintain mission systems requirements, including traceability and verification and validation approach, necessary to implement a design that meets mission objectives.
• Define and maintain ground element and external interface requirements and interface control documents (ICDs), including user‑ and payload‑facing interfaces.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including engineers representing flight vehicle systems, ground software, mission operations, and payload/user customers.
• Define the ground system and mission operations architectures that enable highly effective and labor‑efficient real‑time and store‑and‑forward spacecraft and ground system operation.
• Plan and perform mission system product update cycles, integration and test activities, and validation exercises leading to operations training events and mission readiness.
• Conduct testing of ground system functionality and measure performance against requirements.
• Perform flight software to ground system integration and test.
• Perform analysis to ensure operability across the space‑ground system, and support efforts to improve operability where justified.
• Ensure mission system requirements and interfaces align with applicable NASA and interoperability standards (e.g., CCSDS) for civil deep space missions.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related technical field.
• 8+ years of experience in one or more of the following areas: Ground systems architecture in the context of spaceflight operations; Spacecraft operations: command & control, mission planning, flight dynamics; Requirements definition, verification, and validation of complex systems; Implementing CCSDS communications protocols and standards; Experience across a complex system lifecycle: requirement definition, design solution definition, implementation, integration, verification, validation, qualification, and operations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast‑paced, dynamic work environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with requirements management and traceability, preferably using DOORS Next Generation (DNG).
• Experience developing and maintaining interface control documents (ICDs) for complex systems.
• Experience with NASA civil space programs and/or integrating U.S. Government agency (e.g., NASA, JPL) missions.
• Experience conducting end‑to‑end testing of large, complex systems.
• Familiarity with DTN, delay/disruption‑tolerant architectures, or deep space operations concepts.
• Experience designing or operating spacecraft instruments and payloads.
• Experience developing, deploying, and maintaining software in a cloud computing environment such as AWS or Azure.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python.
• Experience with collaboration tools such as Confluence and JIRA.
• Familiarity with version control, preferably Git.
• Experience with configuration and product data management tools.

Base Pay Range for

• CA applicants is $156,802.00 - $219,522.45
• CO applicants is $144,179.00 - $201,849.90
• WA applicants is $156,802.00 - $219,522.45
• VA applicants is $156,802.00 - $219,522.45
• Other site ranges may differ

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.

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.

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%
• 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.

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.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

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Thank you for your interest

Thank you for your interest in working at Blue Origin! Blue Origin was founded with a vision to enable a future where millions of people are living and working in space to benefit Earth. In order to preserve Earth, Blue Origin believes in the need to enable humanity to expand, explore, find new energy and material resources, and move industries that stress Earth into space. Blue Origin believes it has an important role in building a road to space and lowering the cost of getting there. At Blue Origin, we’re working on this today by developing fully reusable launch vehicles and systems that are safe, reliable and affordable. Every launch vehicle is designed for human spaceflight from the beginning and able to ferry payloads to space.