Sr. Systems Engineer - Fault Management & System Autonomy (TS/SCI Required)

Blue Origin LLC; United States; On-site; USD 145,000 - 203,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Life insurance

Parental leave

Disability insurance

401(k) with company match

Education support

Stock options

Paid time off

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC in the Seattle area seeks an experienced Spacecraft Systems Engineer to design fault management architectures and autonomy solutions that meet mission requirements across all phases. You will lead analyses, verification, and cross‑functional collaboration to deliver safe, reliable spaceflight systems.

The role requires 10+ years in aerospace, strong fault‑tolerance and autonomous systems experience, and the ability to communicate complex concepts to technical and non‑technical

Qualifications

• BS in aerospace engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of design, development, and test experience in aerospace systems.
• Experience with fault‑tolerance architectures for safety‑critical systems.
• Experience with autonomous system design, analysis, and testing.
• Experience across the lifecycle of aerospace systems: requirements to operation.
• First principles knowledge of spacecraft subsystems.
• Ability to perform safety analyses including FMECA, FTA, FHAs, PRA.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and electrical diagrams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and collaboration skills.
• US citizen or eligible to work in the US.

Responsibilities

• Establish and design fault management architectures with requirements.
• Define redundancy architectures including cross‑strapping and fault containment regions.
• Lead architecture, design, and analysis of autonomous behaviors, modes, and states.
• Direct engineering activities including FMECA, FTA, FHAs, PRA and reliability analyses.
• Plan and execute integrated Fault Management and Autonomy Verification and Validation programs.
• Monitor and approve fault management and autonomy design, development, and test.
• Mentor engineers and provide technical guidance across the program.
• Serve as the primary FMSA engineer for spacecraft development programs.

Skills

Fault tolerance

Autonomous systems

Aerospace design

Systems engineering

FMECA/FTA/FHA

Lifecycle development

Read engineering drawings

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in aerospace engineering or related field

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.

As part of a hardworking team of engineers, you will ensure our spacecraft satisfies the needs of our customers and partners, and crafts the larger vehicle fault management architecture to enable us to successfully implement the required capabilities for our mission. As a member of the Spacecraft Systems Engineering team, you will be responsible for developing our fault management and system autonomy (FMSA) architecture with an emphasis on associated processes, products, and analyses over all mission phases. You will work with fault protection and system autonomy requirements development, testing, validation, and verification efforts. The position requires strong collaboration within the SSE team and across the entire program. In this fast‑paced and dynamic environment, you will contribute to innovative solutions while demonstrating personal leadership, technical competence and judgement, and a commitment to the highest technical standards. We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and dedication to quality to increase accessibility to space. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Special Mentions

Relocation assistance provided Travel is expected to be up to approximately 15% of the time. TS/SCI with CI poly is required Located in the Greater Seattle area.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Establish and design fault management architectures including design principles and requirements
• Asist in the definition of redundancy architecture, including cross‑strapping and fault containment regions for integrated systems
• Lead the architecture, design, and analysis of autonomous behaviors, modes, and states
• Direct engineering activities including Failure Modes Effects and Criticality Analyses (FMECA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), Functional Hazard Analyses (FHAs), Probabilistic Risk Assessments (PRA), reliability analyses, and developing mitigation plans
• Plan and execute integrated system Fault Management and Autonomy Verification and Validation programs
• Monitor and approve fault management and autonomy design, development, and test
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to other engineers across the program and company
• Perform as the primary FMSA engineer for spacecraft development programs.
• Collaborate across Blue Ring FMSA engineers to develop best practices and find opportunities for common architectures across certain platforms where practical

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of a B.S. degree in aerospace engineering or related field
• 10+ years of related experience in the design, development, and test of aerospace systems, preferably spacecraft.
• Demonstrated experience with fault‑tolerance strategies and architectures for safety and mission critical systems
• Experience with autonomous system design, analysis, and test
• Experience with most of the lifecycle development of aerospace systems, including requirement definition, design solution definition, implementation, integration, verification and validation, qualification, commissioning, and operation
• First principles knowledge of major spacecraft subsystems
• Experience with performing and leading safety analyses including Failure Modes Effects and Criticality Analyses (FMECA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), Functional Hazard Analyses (FHAs), and Human Error Assessments
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, fluid schematics, and electrical circuit diagrams
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills, and ability to communicate technical information to non‑technical partners
• Ability to form relationships with experts from varying engineering fields and provide constructive feedback about FMSA, safety, and reliability concerns
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to our inclusive culture.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast paced, dynamic work environment
• 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:

• M.S. or PhD in aerospace engineering or related field
• Experience performing system safety and/or reliability analyses on satellites or human‑rated in‑space systems
• Strong safety and mission assurance fundamentals
• Experience performing compliance assessment of system safety processes and products against external standards including Range Safety, NASA, FAA, MIL‑STD‑882, or ARP‑4761
• Process ownership and maintenance experience
• Knowledge of fault‑tolerance strategies and architectures for safety and mission critical systems
• Knowledge of autonomous system design, analysis, and test
• Experience defining and performing complex trade studies
• Experience with design, development, and certification of human spaceflight systems, avionics system architectures and designs, and radiation environments/effects
• Experience with logical and physical architecture definition and decomposition
• Experience with hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) and software‑in‑the‑loop (SIL) testing

Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $145,188.00 - $203,263.20

Other site ranges may differ

Benefits

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.

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

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Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin 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.

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.

Blue Origin Culture

We’re committed to building the road to space so our children can build the future. We are a mission‑driven company focused on ideas and innovation, and encourage fresh perspectives from bold voices. At Blue, our team is building the future as their unique selves. 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.

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