Blue Origin

Blue Ring Mission Systems Engineer

Blue Origin$119K — $182K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related technical field.
  • 5+ years in ground systems architecture, spacecraft operations, or system lifecycle management.
  • Expertise in requirements definition and validation for complex systems.
  • Knowledge of CCSDS communications protocols and standards.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills and collaborative attitude.

Responsibilities

  • Identify and manage mission systems requirements with traceability and validation frameworks.
  • Define external interface requirements and control documents to facilitate user interfaces.
  • Collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering teams for holistic mission support.
  • Architect ground systems and operational strategies for efficient spacecraft communications.
  • Conduct integration, validation, and testing to ensure mission readiness and performance assurance.
  • Analyze and enhance functionality of ground systems to improve operability in space-based scenarios.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
  • Paid parental leave and short/long-term disability coverage available.
  • Generous 401(k) plan with company matching up to 5%.
  • Stock options provided to all regular employees working over 20 hours/week.
  • Paid Time Off includes up to four weeks per year plus 14 company holidays.
Full Job Description
Application close date:
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

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.

Blue Origin is helping extend humanity's reach across the solar system by developing NASA's Mars Telecommunications Network (MTN) - a relay communications infrastructure designed to provide reliable, high-availability data services between Mars-based users and Earth in support of NASA's civil exploration and science objectives. MTN delivers relay-as-a-service to orbiters, landers, rovers, and future crewed assets, bridging the deep space link through an integrated end-to-end ground system.

As part of a small, hardworking, and accomplished team of Mission Systems Engineers, you will work closely with spacecraft, mission operations, and ground system teams to define and mature the mission system - the integrated ground system and mission operations capability that enables MTN's relay services. You will lead the requirements, verification and validation, and interface definition efforts that ensure the ground and operations architecture meets mission objectives across significant light-time delays and long-duration operations. You will share in the team's impact on all aspects of mission systems engineering and the tools used to operate advanced deep space communications infrastructure.

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, collaborative spirit, and dedication to quality to positively impact one of the most ambitious civil space missions of our time. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Responsibilities:
  • Identify, derive, develop, and maintain mission systems requirements, including traceability and verification and validation approach, necessary to implement a design that meets mission objectives.
  • Define and maintain ground element and external interface requirements and interface control documents (ICDs), including user- and payload-facing interfaces.
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including engineers representing flight vehicle systems, ground software, mission operations, and payload/user customers.
  • Define the ground system and mission operations architectures that enable highly effective and labor-efficient real-time and store-and-forward spacecraft and ground system operation.
  • Plan and perform mission system product update cycles, integration and test activities, and validation exercises leading to operations training events and mission readiness.
  • Conduct testing of ground system functionality and measure performance against requirements.
  • Perform flight software to ground system integration and test.
  • Perform analysis to ensure operability across the space-ground system, and support efforts to improve operability where justified.
  • Ensure mission system requirements and interfaces align with applicable NASA and interoperability standards (e.g., CCSDS) for civil deep space missions.

Minimum Qualifications:
  • B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related technical field.
  • 5+ years of experience in one or more of the following areas:
  • Ground systems architecture in the context of spaceflight operations
  • Spacecraft operations: command & control, mission planning, flight dynamics
  • Requirements definition, verification, and validation of complex systems
  • Implementing CCSDS communications protocols and standards
  • Experience across a complex system lifecycle: requirement definition, design solution definition, implementation, integration, verification, validation, qualification, and operations.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment.
  • Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience with requirements management and traceability, preferably using DOORS Next Generation (DNG).
  • Experience developing and maintaining interface control documents (ICDs) for complex systems.
  • Experience with NASA civil space programs and/or integrating U.S. Government agency (e.g., NASA, JPL) missions.
  • Experience conducting end-to-end testing of large, complex systems.
  • Familiarity with DTN, delay/disruption-tolerant architectures, or deep space operations concepts.
  • Experience designing or operating spacecraft instruments and payloads.
  • Experience developing, deploying, and maintaining software in a cloud computing environment such as AWS or Azure.
  • Proficiency in programming languages such as Python.
  • Experience with collaboration tools such as Confluence and JIRA.
  • Familiarity with version control, preferably Git.
  • Experience with configuration and product data management tools.


Base Pay Range for:
CA applicants is $130,706.00 - $182,987.70CO applicants is $119,814.00 - $167,738.55

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.

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.


About Blue Origin

Blue Origin is an aerospace company that develops rockets and spacecraft for commercial and government customers. The company's products include the New Shepard suborbital vehicle and the New Glenn orbital rocket. Blue Origin was founded in 2000 by Jeff Bezos and is headquartered in Kent, Washington.
Learn more about Blue Origin
Size
3,000 employees
Industry
Founded
2000

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