Blue Origin

Senior Simulation and GNC

Blue Origin$156K — $219K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8+ years of experience in developing controls for high-reliability electromechanical actuators, particularly in aerospace or similar critical systems.
  • Strong grasp of control fundamentals including stability, robustness, and tuning under constraints.
  • Proven ability to leverage simulation throughout the product lifecycle from design to verification.
  • Experience in implementing real-time controls in C/C++ or embedded environments, ensuring compliance with requirements and verification processes.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and iterate on control architecture for space systems, focusing on various operational concepts.
  • Rapidly create and refine dynamic models to assess control strategies and performance traits.
  • Conduct mobility studies using Isaac Sim for rover scenarios to guide requirements and design.
  • Establish technical roadmaps for model maturation and validation processes.
  • Design and implement advanced control loops for actuator functions vital to mission success.
  • Support debugging efforts across testing phases to resolve anomalies effectively.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage along with life insurance options.
  • Generous parental leave policies and short/long-term disability coverage.
  • 401(k) plan with a company match of up to 5%.
  • Substantial paid time off including four weeks of vacation and 14 paid holidays per year.
  • An Education Support Program to foster continuous professional development.
Full Job Description
Application close date:
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

This role is part of Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin's mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design.

This role is part of Product Formulation team in Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin's vision of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The Product Formulation team is an innovative, fast-paced group of experts dedicated to developing and maturing next-generation products and technologies essential for Blue Origin's future missions. We thrive in a results-oriented, prototype-driven, and fail-fast environment.

Responsibilities:

Early studies / pre-project work (architecture & trades)
  • Lead control architecture and actuator concept trades for space systems and lunar surface concepts (control modes, redundancy, sensing, compute placement, interfaces, fault strategy)
  • Rapidly stand up and iterate Newton dynamic models (6-DoF / multi-body as appropriate) to evaluate control concepts, margins, sensitivity, and operational envelopes
  • Build scenario-based rover mobility studies in Isaac Sim (terrain/slope/obstacle cases, contact/traction behaviors, repeatable test harnesses) to inform requirements and design decisions
  • Develop terramechanics approaches appropriate to fidelity needs (e.g., simplified parametric models for trades vs. higher-fidelity models for risk retirement) and quantify key sensitivities/uncertainties
  • Produce technical roadmaps: model maturation plan, test-to-model correlation plan, and phased verification strategy (MIL12SIL12HIL)
  • Synthetic data generation to support machine learning training activities

Project execution (design, implementation, verification)
  • Design and implement closed-loop actuator control (torque/velocity/position loops, supervisory mode logic, limit handling, saturation/anti-windup, fault detection/response) for mission-critical functions
  • Mature Isaac Sim + Newton models into verification-grade assets: configuration management, parameter governance, logging/metrics, automated regression scenarios
  • Correlate models to component/vehicle/rover test data; drive system identification, parameter updates, and model credibility arguments
  • Define control requirements, interfaces, and verification artifacts (test cases, analyses, acceptance criteria) for both space vehicle and rover actuation/mobility control
  • Support debugging and anomaly resolution from lab to integrated testing (and operations as applicable)
  • Mentor junior engineers and establish best practices for controls/modeling software quality and reviews


Qualifications:
  • 8+ years developing controls for high-reliability electromechanical actuation (aerospace/space, mobility platforms, or similarly mission-critical systems)
  • Strong control fundamentals: stability/robustness, estimation/filtering, practical tuning under constraints and nonlinearities
  • Demonstrated ability to use simulation to drive decisions across the lifecycle: trade studies 12 design 12 verification
  • Real-time controls implementation experience (C/C++ and/or embedded-real-time environments) plus disciplined requirements/verification practices


Desired:
  • B.S. (M.S./Ph.D. preferred) in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Controls, or related field
  • Hands-on experience with NVIDIA Isaac Sim for mobility/vehicle scenario simulation (repeatable environments, terrain/contact interaction workflows, logging/analysis)
  • Experience developing/using Newton dynamics models for rapid iteration and verification support (multi-body/6-DoF, actuator/sensor abstractions, Monte Carlo/sensitivity)
  • Lunar surface (such as rovers) controls and terramechanics experience (slip/traction modeling, sinkage/rolling resistance, slope handling)
  • Space systems actuator/mechanism control experience (health monitoring, safeing, redundancy management, fault containment)
  • MIL/SIL/HIL verification experience and automated regression testing of simulation scenarios
  • Experience applying modern software practices to modeling/controls (CI, automated tests, configuration/parameter management)


Compensation Range for:
WA applicants is $156,802.00 - $219,522.45

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 (CDL drivers only), 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.
  • 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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