Blue Origin

Senior pLEO Systems Engineer

Blue Origin$145K — $203K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Systems, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering.
  • Proven systems engineering experience with diverse programs and clients.
  • Hands-on experience with subsystem/hardware design and embedded engineering teams.
  • Familiarity with pLEO architectures and constellation-scale initiatives.
  • Experience in drafting technical proposals and RFI/RFP strategies.
  • Knowledge of V&V and AI&T processes for proposal defense.
  • Ability to translate program realities into technical claims.

Responsibilities

  • Provide comprehensive systems engineering support across missions and bus architecture.
  • Craft technical architecture for proposals based on customer specifications.
  • Establish high-level interfaces and technical budgets for costing purposes.
  • Devise verification and compliance strategies for proposed missions.
  • Analyze orbital geometry and conduct trade studies to influence design choices.
  • Evaluate launch vehicle options and compliance with proposed solutions.
  • Create Design Reference Missions to convey customer requirements into technical narratives.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Basic and supplemental life insurance coverage.
  • Paid parental leave and short/long term disability options.
  • 401(k) plan with company matching up to 5% participation.
  • Stock options available for all regular employees.
  • Up to four weeks paid time off and 14 company-paid holidays.
  • Education support program to assist with professional growth.
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.

This role is part of the Blue National Security business unit, which is focused on delivering advanced space-based capabilities in support of national security, civil, and commercial missions. Within the Advanced System organization, the multi-disciplinary Future Concepts & Capabilities team operates at the forefront of systems engineering, formulation, and architecture, developing next-generation space systems that address the most demanding and consequential challenges in the space domain.

Role Overview

Blue Origin is seeking a Senior pLEO Systems Engineer to serve as a technical architect and driving force behind our proliferated Low Earth Orbit (pLEO) mission and constellation proposals. In this role, you will bridge the gap between customer mission requirements and executable system design-working hands-on with embedded engineering teams to ground proposal-level architecture in real subsystem and hardware constraints. You will own the technical narrative for Design Reference Missions (DRMs), lead trade studies spanning orbital geometry, launch vehicle selection, and verification strategy, and translate complex mission requirements into credible, compelling technical solutions. This is a high-visibility role at the intersection of systems engineering, mission architecture, and business development, directly shaping how Blue Origin wins and executes next-generation pLEO programs.

Special Mentions
  • Relocation assistance is provided for this position.
  • This role requires up to 25% travel.


Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
  • Provide end-to-end systems engineering support across the bus and mission architecture, partnering closely with embedded engineering teams to deeply understand subsystem design, hardware implementation, and design nuances at a detailed technical level
  • Develop technical architecture for RFI/RFP responses, translating customer requirements into system-level architecture, budgets, and technical approach across mission and bus scope, for review and approval by technical leadership
  • Define high-level interfaces and technical budgets at both the bus and mission level (mass, power, propellant, link) sufficient to support proposal-level costing, feasibility, and technical credibility
  • Propose the verification and compliance approach for proposed missions, presenting recommended V&V structure and strategy for leadership sign-off
  • Conduct orbital geometry analysis and associated trade studies, presenting design options and recommendations to inform mission and constellation design decisions
  • Conduct launch vehicle assessments and compliance trade studies, presenting findings to inform vehicle selection and integration approach within proposed solutions
  • Develop Design Reference Missions (DRMs) as the primary technical narrative translating customer mission requirements into proposed system architecture and performance claims
  • Support capture and business development teams by preparing technical content and recommendations
  • Prepare technical materials and talking points for technical interchange meetings and orals, in support of leadership-led customer engagements


Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical field
  • Demonstrated systems engineering execution experience across multiple programs and customers (government and commercial), providing the technical grounding to architect credible, executable proposals
  • Experience getting hands-on with subsystem/hardware-level design details, and working directly with embedded engineering teams to understand implementation-level constraints
  • Experience with pLEO architectures and constellation-scale programs, including trade studies across the full program lifecycle (design through deployment)
  • Direct experience authoring technical proposal volumes and/or supporting technical response strategy for RFIs/RFPs
  • Working understanding of V&V and AI&T / SEIT processes, sufficient to propose and defend a technical approach during bid processes
  • Experience translating program execution realities (cost, schedule, manufacturability) into proposal-level technical claims
  • 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
  • Experience in satellite flight operations
  • Experience in Ground Systems implications and needs for pLEO constellation designs and coverages
  • Strong understanding of reliability, redundancy, and fault-tolerant system design
  • Experience conducting re-entry and disposal risk analysis (e.g., ODMSP, casualty risk assessment)
  • TS/SCI clearance preferred but not required; must be eligible for clearance


Base Pay Range for:
CA applicants is $145,188.00 - $203,263.20CO applicants is $133,500.00 - $186,898.95WA applicants is $145,188.00 - $203,263.20VA applicants is $145,188.00 - $203,263.20

Other site ranges may differ

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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