Senior Payload Systems Engineer

Blue Origin; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 156,802 - 219,522; 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 Senior Payload Integration or Systems Engineer to lead the integration of optical terminals on spacecraft. You will manage customer interfaces, requirements traceability, and the lifecycle from payload integration to launch, working with cross-functional teams to ensure operability and reliability.

The role emphasizes systems engineering, ICD development, risk management, and collaboration with business development to inform proposals and schedules for multiple payloads

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in systems engineering principles and execution.
• Experience in payload accommodation or spacecraft design, development, integration, and testing.
• Experience with project or program management.
• Able to work with minimal direction as well as collaboratively with cross-functional team members.
• Knowledge of current systems engineering and integration tools and methodologies.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace engineering.

Responsibilities

• Work with customers as a technical advocate for one or more payloads through the full payload lifecycle (execution of contract through payload integration and launch).
• Serve as the primary technical interface between Blue Origin and payload customers.
• Coordinate payload requirements, integration schedules, and technical documentation.
• Support the development of technical proposal content, including payload accommodation concepts, interface definitions, and mass/volume/power assessments in response to customer RFPs and RFIs.
• Collaborate with business development and capture teams to provide payload accommodation expertise and technical inputs that inform pricing, schedules, and programmatic commitments during the proposal lifecycle.
• Lead the development, allocation, and verification of requirements.
• Assist with the development of systems engineering processes and tools, ensure consistent implementation, and provide system integration support.
• Work with multi-discipline teams to arrive at technical system solutions.
• Develop and maintain interface control documents (ICDs) between payloads and spacecraft systems.
• Identify and manage technical risks throughout the payload integration process.
• Oversee payload integration activities, ensuring compliance with requirements and specifications.
• Support payload testing and verification activities.
• Coordinate with manufacturing and operations teams to ensure a smooth transition from integration to launch.

Skills

Project management

Systems engineering

Customer management

Cross-functional teamwork

Technical communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace engineering

MS degree in a relevant technical field

Tools

DOORS Next Generation

Job description

Overview

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We are developing reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems with 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 addresses space infrastructure and mobility on-orbit.

Role

The Senior Payload Integration or Systems Engineer will manage the integration of optical terminals on spacecraft. The role requires applying customer management skills and systems engineering practices across technical areas, supporting requirements analysis and traceability; functional, systems, and safety analyses; technical performance monitoring; and the development of specialty engineering approaches to operability, reliability, maintainability, and supportability; and system product lifecycle processes.

Responsibilities

• Work with customers as a technical advocate for one or more payloads through the full payload lifecycle (execution of contract through payload integration and launch).

• Serve as the primary technical interface between Blue Origin and payload customers.

• Coordinate payload requirements, integration schedules, and technical documentation.

• Support the development of technical proposal content, including payload accommodation concepts, interface definitions, and mass/volume/power assessments in response to customer RFPs and RFIs.

• Collaborate with business development and capture teams to provide payload accommodation expertise and technical inputs that inform pricing, schedules, and programmatic commitments during the proposal lifecycle.

Systems Engineering

• Lead the development, allocation, and verification of requirements.

• Assist with the development of systems engineering processes and tools, ensure consistent implementation, and provide system integration support.

• Work with multi-discipline teams to arrive at technical system solutions.

• Develop and maintain interface control documents (ICDs) between payloads and spacecraft systems.

• Identify and manage technical risks throughout the payload integration process.

Integration and Testing

• Oversee payload integration activities, ensuring compliance with requirements and specifications.

• Support payload testing and verification activities.

• Coordinate with manufacturing and operations teams to ensure a smooth transition from integration to launch.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in systems engineering principles and execution.

• Experience in payload accommodation or spacecraft design, development, integration, and testing.

• Experience with project or program management.

• Able to work with minimal direction as well as collaboratively with cross-functional team members.

• Knowledge of current systems engineering and integration tools and methodologies.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace engineering.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. degree in a relevant technical field.

• 12 years of related experience.

• Experience leading the establishment and adherence of systems requirements for an aerospace project with a varied group of engineers across multiple disciplines.

• Experience with verification of requirements using tools like DOORS Next Generation and other system lifecycle configuration management tools.

• Knowledgeable about system design and analysis and relations to element design at the flight and ground levels as well as component specification development.

• Experience with optical communications systems and terminals.

• Background in spacecraft bus systems and subsystem interfaces.

Compensation and Other Details

Compensation ranges vary by site. CO applicants: $144,179.00 - $201,849.90. WA applicants: $156,802.00 - $219,522.45. Other site ranges may differ.

Culture and Equal Opportunity

Blue Origin is committed to an authentic workplace and encourages qualified individuals to apply even if they do not meet every required qualification. We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and hire based on qualifications, performance, and abilities. See our Know Your Rights information and policies at the links provided in the original posting.

Regulatory and Background Information

• Export Control Regulations: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. under refugee or asylum status.

• Background checks: Standard background check required; additional checks may apply for certain profiles (e.g., DBIDS, CDL-related requirements, Merchant Mariner Credential).

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance; paid parental leave; short- and long-term disability; 401(k) with company match up to 5%; Education Support Program.

• Stock options for regular employees (at least 20 hours/week).

• Paid time off: up to four weeks per year plus holidays. Benefits and bonuses may vary by role and are not guaranteed.