Blue Origin

Principal Human Factors Engineer - Lunar

Blue Origin$160K — $237K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Passion for space exploration and sustainable lunar infrastructure.
  • Minimum of a B.S. in Engineering or related technical discipline.
  • 10+ years of experience in human factors engineering or human-centered system design.
  • Expertise in task and human error analysis methodologies.
  • Proven experience leading human-in-the-loop test programs in safety-critical environments.
  • Strong systems engineering skills, with experience in requirements development and verification planning.
  • Experience interfacing with NASA or other human spaceflight stakeholders.

Responsibilities

  • Lead human factors engineering for the Lunar program, from requirements to verification.
  • Evaluate and improve human factors requirements for crew safety and operability.
  • Develop and own HF verification strategy, mapping requirements to verification expectations.
  • Conduct task and human error analyses in partnership with NASA.
  • Lead human-in-the-loop testing across various environments, translating results into actionable design directions.
  • Perform ergonomic evaluations to support design compliance.
  • Collaborate with systems engineering to influence architectural decisions based on human factors findings.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, vision insurance, and life insurance options.
  • Paid parental leave and both short and long-term disability support.
  • 401(k) plan with a company match of up to 5%.
  • Education Support Program to encourage continuous learning.
  • Stock options offered to all regular employees working 20+ hours per week.
  • Up to four weeks of paid time off per year, plus 14 company-paid holidays.
Full Job Description
Application close date:
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

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 the principal human factors authority on Blue Origin's Lunar program, you will serve as the primary technical lead for all human factors engineering activities supporting the development of crewed lunar vehicles. You will drive the human integration of complex systems, from crew interfaces to surface access architectures, ensuring that safety, operability, and the crew experience are at the center of every design decision. Partnering closely with NASA's Astronaut Office and Blue's systems engineering, design, and operations teams, you will shape requirements, lead human-in-the-loop evaluations, and own the verification strategies that will carry our Lunar systems through certification. This position carries broad technical authority and direct influence over program architecture: your work will shape the safety and success of human Lunar exploration. Passion for our mission and an unwavering commitment to crew safety and mission success are essential.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
  • Serve as the Human Factors Engineering lead for the Lunar program, owning the full scope of HF activities from requirements development through verification
  • Write, evaluate, and challenge human factors requirements; drive simplification and ensure requirements reflect true crew safety and operability needs
  • Develop and own HF verification strategy, including mapping requirements to verification expectations and verification events, and authoring verification event content
  • Conduct and mature task analyses (TA) and human error analyses (HEA) for crew interfaces and operations, in collaboration with NASA counterparts
  • Lead human-in-the-loop (HITL) test campaigns across different environments (e.g., NBL, ARGOS, JSC facilities), from planning and execution through translation of results into actionable design direction
  • Perform anthropometric analyses and ergonomic evaluations to support design decisions and requirements compliance
  • Partner with systems engineering and design teams to influence system architecture decisions based on crew operability findings and HF analyses
  • Interface with NASA's Astronaut Office, including leading or co-chairing joint test panels and other formal collaboration forums
  • Mentor engineers across the team and model a standard of technical excellence, clear communication, and inclusive collaboration
  • Contribute to enterprise-level HF frameworks, standards, and knowledge resources applicable across Blue Origin programs and business units

Minimum Qualifications
  • Passion for our mission: working towards millions of people living and working in space!
  • Minimum of a B.S. in Engineering or a related technical discipline
  • 10+ years of industry experience in human factors engineering or human-centered system design
  • Expertise in task analysis and human error analysis methodologies and execution
  • Expertise in anthropometric analysis
  • Demonstrated experience leading human-in-the-loop test programs in safety-critical environments
  • Strong systems engineering background, including hands-on experience with requirements development and verification planning
  • Proven ability to influence system architecture and design decisions through human factors analysis and technical advocacy
  • Experience working directly with NASA or other human spaceflight customers or operational stakeholders
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex HF findings into concise, actionable engineering direction
  • Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion
  • 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
  • 15+ years of industry experience in HF or human-centered system design
  • Experience in human spaceflight vehicle design and/or certification
  • Familiarity with NASA human systems integration standards (e.g., NASA-STD-3001) and certification processes
  • Operational experience in a technology-intensive, safety-critical environment (e.g., aviation, spaceflight, defense)
  • Experience developing program-adopted standards, methodologies, or knowledge resources
  • Master's or Ph.D. in Human Factors, Aerospace Engineering, Cognitive Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline


Base Pay Range for:
CA applicants is $169,624.00 - $237,473.25CO applicants is $160,618.00 - $224,864.85WA applicants is $169,624.00 - $237,473.25

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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