GN&C Navigation Engineer III

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 the Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Origin’s Blue Moon landers and related products. To further Blue Origin's mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth, we are building sustainable infrastructure for our transport of crew and cargo from Earth to the lunar surface.

As part of a hardworking team of spacecraft development engineers, you will directly contribute to the development and assembly of the Navigation system on multiple lunar missions. You will impact these systems by providing high quality engineering support by developing software and sensor integration solutions to complex navigation problems and developing these systems through the full lifecycle including flight operations. You will need to be proficient at cross-discipline interactions to ensure proper design solutions are compatible with design for manufacture and environmental conditions. Proficiency in flight dynamics, navigation principles and applications, algorithm development, and software development. Experience with simulation, mathematical modeling, data analysis, and technical writing and presentation preferred. Your efforts will further the design of Blue Origin versatile spacecraft that will serve a wide variety of customers. On this program, you will experience the full lifecycle from initial architecture to flight in a short time, while achieving historic milestones!

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact the safe human exploration of the solar system. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Design, develop, test, and deploy production navigation software for lunar spacecraft including sensor I/O and state estimation algorithms using C, C++, Rust, and Python

• Support the development of navigation and sensor fusion algorithms, and execute component-level test programs including sensor characterization, modeling, and integrated on-vehicle testing

• Develop and maintain navigation simulation environments and perform system analysis including error budgets, sensitivity studies, and performance predictions

• Interface with navigation hardware vendors to integrate sensors into spacecraft systems

• Support flight operations including pre-flight planning, real-time monitoring, and post-flight analysis

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including GNC, Flight Software, Systems Engineering, and Operations

• Embody the Blue Origin leadership principles

Minimum Qualifications:

• M.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or related STEM field with 5+ years of professional experience in navigation systems or related field

• Strong programming skills in Rust, C++, or C

• Shown experience in synthesis of state estimation algorithms and Kalman filters for spacecraft navigation, and experience with navigation sensors (IMUs, star trackers, optical sensors)

• Understanding of spacecraft dynamics, kinematics, and coordinate systems

• Ability to earn trust and maintain positive and professional relationships

• 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:

• Ph.D. with 3+ years of experience years of professional experience in navigation systems or related field

• Experience with Rust for embedded or flight software development

• Experience with Python for navigation analysis and algorithm development

• Experience in development of navigation systems that include measurements from optical sensors

• Experience with vision-aided navigation, computer vision, or sensor fusion algorithms

• Experience with flight software development for spacecraft or aircraft, and hardware-in-the-loop testing

• Knowledge of orbital mechanics, mission design, and flight operations support

• Familiarity with DO-178C or similar software development standards

Base Pay Range for: CA applicants is $164,652.00 - $230,512.80 CO applicants is $150,931.00 - $211,303.05 WA applicants is $164,652.00 - $230,512.80 VA applicants is $164,652.00 - $230,512.80

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

• 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 Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.