Blue Ring Senior Mission Design Engineer

Blue Origin • Denver, WA

17h

About The Position

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! 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. Shape the Future of Space Mobility Through Advanced Trajectory Design Blue Origin , and in particular the In-Space Business Unit, is pushing the boundaries of space mobility with missions spanning geostationary, cislunar, and heliocentric regimes. Our spacecraft must execute complex maneuvers using broad propulsion systems—from high-thrust chemical to efficient electric propulsion—while navigating by GPS, radiometric tracking, and beyond. As a Senior Mission Design Engineer, you'll lead groundbreaking trajectory design and optimization work that directly enables these ambitious missions. You'll develop novel algorithms, execute critical maneuvers during live flight operations, and create the software tools that make it all possible. This role combines cutting-edge research with real-world application—your trajectory designs will guide actual spacecraft to destinations across the solar system. We're looking for someone passionate about pushing the technical envelope while maintaining the highest standards of safety and precision.

Requirements

• M . S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related fields
• 5 + years of proven experience focused i n satellite mission design
• Experience performing spacecraft maneuvering in flight operations.
• Strong fundamentals in astrodynamics , high-thrust trajectory optimization, and low-thrust trajectory optimization.
• E xperience in developing flight dynamics software.
• Applied experience in n avigation tools such as M onte , STK/ODTK, FreeFlyer , Copernicus, or GMAT
• Experience in at least one of the following languages: Python, Julia, or C++
• Demonstrated knowledge of the mission design lifecycle from conceptualization through operational flight.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Nice To Haves

• Ph . D . in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related fields
• Leadership experience in satellite maneuver operations
• Experience using the M on t e software package
• Experience with electric propulsion satellite missions.
• Understanding of how to formulate the solution to indirect and direct optimal control algorithms.
• Experience with the development of trajectory design and optimization software
• Experience defining, planning, and documenting ConOps for spacecraft missions.
• Experience in development of spacecraft through the full engineering lifecycle
• Experience working on and effectively communicating with a distributed team
• Experience with DevOps processes including configuration control, continuous development and deployment workflows, Agile methodologies, software code review
• Previous experience with software development tooling such as Jira, git, Jenkins, Docker and at least one IDE
• R ecognized expert in the community through conference and/or peer reviewed articles
• Active or ability to acquire Active Top Secret (TS) / Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearance with Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) with polygraph preferred.

Responsibilities

• Pioneer Advanced Algorithms: Develop breakthrough trajectory optimization methods for geostationary, cislunar, and heliocentric missions
• Lead Live Mission Operations: Design and execute critical maneuvers during actual flight operations with real-time decision making
• Build Next-Generation Tools: Create sophisticated maneuver design software in Python, Julia, and Monte toolkit
• Enable Mission Success: Perform Monte Carlo analysis ensuring robust mission performance across broad operational scenarios
• Drive Innovation: Develop and validate cutting-edge maneuvering algorithms for our flight dynamics systems
• Shape Mission Architecture: Support conceptual studies and proposals that define the future of space exploration
• Collaborate Across Disciplines: Work closely with navigation teams on operational readiness and system integration
• Deliver Excellence: Present results and support critical design reviews using Agile development methodologies

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees