Systems Modeling Engineer – Space Safety & Sustainability - TeraWave

Blue Origin LLC; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 121,023 - 169,432; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Parental leave

401(k) with company match

Stock options

Paid time off

Education support program

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking an experienced space safety analyst to develop and maintain MMOD environments, collision probability tools, and debris mitigation assessments. You will work across spacecraft subsystems to ensure regulatory readiness and design-for-demise considerations.

You will build validated analysis pipelines in MATLAB/Python, contribute to safety demonstrations for regulatory submissions, and collaborate with cross‑functional teams across the constellation design and operations

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, astrodynamics, physics, mechanical engineering, or equivalent technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in orbital debris analysis, spacecraft survivability, collision avoidance, or closely related technical disciplines.
• Proficiency in MATLAB and/or Python for scientific computing.
• Knowledge of the MMOD environment, including debris population models (e.g., ORDEM).
• Familiarity with re-entry demise analysis methodology and tools (e.g., DAS or equivalent).
• Knowledge of conjunction assessment and collision probability methods, including covariance-based Pc estimation and miss distance statistics.

Responsibilities

• Develop, own, and maintain MMOD environment and impact risk models, including flux characterization, impact probability estimation, and shielding effectiveness assessment to inform vehicle design requirements.
• Develop and maintain demise and re-entry survivability models, including aerothermal breakup analysis, ground casualty risk estimation, and compliance assessment against demisability requirements.
• Develop collision probability models and conjunction assessment analysis tools at full constellation scale.
• Build and maintain validated, version-controlled, and documented analytical tools in MATLAB and/or Python, ensuring reproducibility of results and enabling rapid trade studies as the design evolves.
• Perform MMOD-driven failure mode analysis for critical spacecraft systems—particularly batteries, propellant tanks, and pressurized systems—to inform shielding, placement, and passivation design decisions.
• Support adherence to orbital debris mitigation plans by providing the underlying analytical results, model descriptions, and compliance assessments required for regulatory submission.
• Integrate space safety models within the broader Integrated System Model, ensuring consistency with system-level orbital mechanics, power, thermal, and mission timeline models.
• Perform trade studies quantifying the space safety implications of constellation design choices, including altitude and inclination, spacecraft geometry and materials, disposal strategies, and operational concepts.
• Develop and maintain space traffic density and long-term debris environment models, including assessment of the constellation's own contribution to the debris environment.
• Collaborate with spacecraft, propulsion, power, thermal, and GNC teams to translate model outputs into actionable design requirements.

Skills

Aerospace modeling

MATLAB/Python

MMOD knowledge

Conjunction assessment

Documentation

Git

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering/astrodynamics/physics/mechanical engineering

Tools

DAS

Git

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!Blue Origin is pioneering the future of space-based communications with TeraWave, a revolutionary satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. This multi-orbit constellation will consist of optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO), providing enterprise-grade connectivity for critical operations worldwide.As a member of the Integrated System Modeling team within Blue Origin's Chief Systems Architecture office, you will develop, own, and maintain the analytical models that underpin our space safety and sustainability posture. Your models will directly inform architecture decisions on debris mitigation, collision avoidance, post-mission disposal, and demise compliance—translating regulatory requirements and physical environments into quantitative predictions that drive design.This is a hands-on modeling and analysis role. You will build and maintain integrated models in MATLAB, Python, and purpose-built tools that produce the quantitative basis for our space safety commitments. Your work will feed directly into regulatory filings, architecture trade studies, and design requirements across spacecraft, propulsion, power, and operations teams. You will work alongside engineers modeling power, communications, and orbital performance, ensuring that space safety analysis is tightly coupled to the broader system picture and that sustainability trades are evaluated in the context of their impact on network capability.ResponsibilitiesDevelop, own, and maintain MMOD environment and impact risk models, including flux characterization, impact probability estimation, and shielding effectiveness assessment to inform vehicle design requirementsDevelop and maintain demise and re-entry survivability models, including aerothermal breakup analysis, ground casualty risk estimation, and compliance assessment against demisability requirementsDevelop collision probability models and conjunction assessment analysis tools at full constellation scaleBuild and maintain validated, version-controlled, and documented analytical tools in MATLAB and/or Python, ensuring reproducibility of results and enabling rapid trade studies as the design evolvesPerform MMOD-driven failure mode analysis for critical spacecraft systems—particularly batteries, propellant tanks, and pressurized systems—to inform shielding, placement, and passivation design decisionsSupport adherence to orbital debris mitigation plans by providing the underlying analytical results, model descriptions, and compliance assessments required for regulatory submissionIntegrate space safety models within the broader Integrated System Model, ensuring consistency with system-level orbital mechanics, power, thermal, and mission timeline modelsPerform trade studies quantifying the space safety implications of constellation design choices, including altitude and inclination, spacecraft geometry and materials, disposal strategies, and operational conceptsDevelop and maintain space traffic density and long-term debris environment models, including assessment of the constellation's own contribution to the debris environmentCollaborate with spacecraft, propulsion, power, thermal, and GNC teams to translate model outputs into actionable design requirementsQualificationsBachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, astrodynamics, physics, mechanical engineering, or equivalent technical field5+ years of experience in orbital debris analysis, spacecraft survivability, collision avoidance, or closely related technical disciplines, with demonstrated hands-on modeling and analysis experienceProficiency in MATLAB and/or Python for scientific computing, with demonstrated ability to develop, validate, and maintain engineering analysis toolsWorking knowledge of the MMOD environment, including debris population models (e.g., ORDEM), and experience applying them to spacecraft risk assessmentFamiliarity with re-entry demise analysis methodology and tools (e.g., DAS or equivalent), including aerothermal modeling of spacecraft breakup and ground casualty risk estimationWorking knowledge of conjunction assessment and collision probability methods, including covariance-based Pc estimation, miss distance statistics, and screening methodologiesAbility to clearly document modeling methodology, assumptions, and results in written reports suitable for regulatory submission and cross-team consumptionAbility to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environmentPreferred QualificationsMaster's or Ph.D. in aerospace engineering, astrodynamics, or a closely related field with thesis work relevant to orbital debris, spacecraft survivability, or space traffic management8+ years of experience spanning multiple areas of space safety analysis, including MMOD, demise, collision avoidance, and long-term debris environment modelingExperience with large-scale LEO constellation programs and unique analytical challenges such as fleet-level collision risk aggregation, intra-constellation conjunction management, and disposal reliability analysisExperience with Monte Carlo simulation techniques for uncertainty quantification in orbital mechanics and debris analysisFamiliarity with space surveillance data products and commercial space situational awareness (SSA) servicesExperience developing automated analysis pipelines and integrating models into larger simulation frameworksKnowledge of spacecraft design considerations for debris mitigation, including shielding, tank and battery protection, and design-for-demise principlesExperience with hypervelocity impact testing data, ballistic limit equations, or empirical MMOD damage modelsFamiliarity with version control (Git), collaborative development practices, and software engineering principles applied to engineering analysis toolsBase Pay Range for:CA applicants is $121,023.00 - $169,432.20WA applicants is $121,023.00 - $169,432.20Other site ranges may differCulture StatementDon’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 RegulationsApplicants 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 CheckRequired for all positions: Blue’s Standard Background CheckRequired for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installationRequired 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 physicalBenefitsBenefits 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 OpportunityBlue 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 AccommodationApplicants 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.