Spacecraft Lead - Director, Project Sunrise

Blue Origin; Kent (WA); On-site; USD 218,000 - 306,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Stock options

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Blue Origin seeks a Spacecraft Lead - Director to serve as the primary technical authority for end-to-end Sunrise spacecraft design. You will lead a multidisciplinary team, make critical design decisions with high autonomy, and own the roadmap for successive spacecraft.

The role requires expert-level systems thinking, deep engineering knowledge across propulsion, power, thermal, software, and GNC, and a hands-on leadership style. Expect complex tradeoffs and fast-paced innovation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline or equivalent experience.
• Broad understanding of spacecraft development disciplines (propulsion, communications, power, mechanisms, GNC).
• Hands-on capability in spacecraft design/build (e.g., thermal, mechanical, software, GNC).
• Experience leading and mentoring junior engineers while staying hands-on.
• Experience managing integrated roadmaps, milestones, dependencies, risks, and critical paths.

Responsibilities

• Deliver flight hardware end to end from concept through manufacturing, integration, test, qualification, and launch.
• Oversee propulsion, power, thermal management, flight software, and communications development.
• Define and implement guidance, navigation, and control for spacecraft from launch to deployment and collision avoidance.
• Lead verification and validation campaigns from component to system level.
• Grow and manage a team of engineers and coordinate with Compute Lead for software integration.
• Present concepts, analyses, and recommendations to program leadership and stakeholders.
• Own the roadmap and product improvements for successive spacecraft as the program matures.

Skills

Systems engineering

GNC

Propulsion

Power systems

Thermal management

Flight software

Communications

Leadership

Roadmaps and planning

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline

Tools

Jira

Confluence

Job description

Application Close Date

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

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!

This role is part of Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin’s mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design.

Join Blue Origin as we build infrastructure in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re developing a satellite constellation of orbital data centers to transform how compute infrastructure is deployed.

As the Spacecraft Lead - Director, you will serve as the primary technical authority and owner for the end-to-end design of the Sunrise spacecraft. You are a novel thinker, someone who does not rely solely on past experience, but finds new and innovative approaches to challenging engineering problems. You will be expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, leading a multidisciplinary effort and making critical design decisions. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role that demands expert-level systems thinking, a deep understanding of engineering principles across multiple domains, and the ability to solve our most challenging technical problems while guiding a team of engineers. You will be responsible for leading an engineering team developing and deploying some of the largest and highest-power spacecraft ever built. The Spacecraft Lead manages the team developing the spacecraft design, its key subsystems, and software.

Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To

• Deliver flight hardware end to end: concept development through manufacturing, integration, test, qualification, and launch, improving across successive spacecraft. Own the end-to-end spacecraft from 0->1 and then taking it 1->n.
• Own the development and manufacturing of propulsion, power, thermal management, flight software, and communication (optical data links, RF communications, etc.)
• Define and implement guidance, navigation, and control authority for the spacecraft from launch vehicle separation, deployment, collision avoidance, and demise.
• Develop and oversee the execution of verification and validation test campaigns for hardware, from component to system level.
• Move with decisive action to resolve critical trades, design decisions, manufacturing hurdles, and step in to execute technical scope when needed
• Design, build, and deliver spacecraft hardware and flight software.
• Own and determine make/buy decisions for the spacecraft.
• Grow and have direct management of a team of engineers
• Closely collaborate with the Compute Lead to ensure seamless integration of the compute hardware and associated software onto the spacecraft.
• Present design concepts, analysis results, and technical recommendations to program leadership and key stakeholders.
• As the program matures, own the roadmap and product improvements for successive spacecraft.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Sufficient understanding of variety of spacecraft development disciplines, such as propulsion, communications, power, mechanisms, and GNC to coordinate development across multiple subsystem development teams
• Bring at least one hands on technical capability to the spacecraft design and build (e.g. thermal, mechanical, software, GNC, etc.)
• Comfortable leading and mentoring junior engineers while staying deeply hands-on
• Experience developing and managing integrated roadmaps, milestones, dependencies, risks, and critical paths.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with all phases of the spacecraft development life cycle from rapid concept development through design, qualification, production, test, launch, and flight operations.
• Experience developing high power spacecraft systems, large and flexible spacecraft structures, or large satellite constellations
• Software lifecycle and deployment experience.
• Experience formally leading an engineering team of 15+ members; preferred if also direct reports.
• Experience using tools such as Jira and Confluence to support planning, dependency management, and organizational reporting.
• Experience operating in a fast-paced development environment with evolving requirements and aggressive delivery timelines.
• Familiarity or fluency with AI tools and their application for design optimization or analysis.
• Familiarity with FCC filings and associated deliverables.

Additional Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or eligible for authorization under U.S. export regulations.

Base Pay Range For

CO applicants is $206,673.00 - $289,342.20 WA applicants is $218,262.00 - $305,566.80

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

• Benefits include: 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 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.

For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s affirmations and disability accommodation, 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.