Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking (RPOD) Design Engineer – Lunar Permanence

Blue Origin • Denver, WA

16d

About The Position

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 a member of a dedicated spacecraft development engineering group, you will define the Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking (RPOD) operations concepts, identify functional and performance requirements on each of the flight elements, support integrated Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) analysis, and plan the verification and validation campaign that will ensure safe and reliable RPOD operations on multiple Lunar spacecraft. You will influence these systems by delivering high-quality engineering support through developing hardware and software solutions to complex RPOD navigation and guidance challenges. Your work will cover these systems throughout their entire lifecycle, including flight operations. You must be skilled at interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure accurate solutions align with manufacturing requirements and environmental constraints. Expertise in flight dynamics, RPOD guidance and navigation principles, and software engineering is essential. Experience in simulation, mathematical modeling, data analysis, and technical communication is preferred. Your contributions will advance the development of Blue Origin’s versatile spacecraft serving a variety of customers. On this program, you will engage in the full lifecycle from initial architecture to flight in a short time, while reaching historic breakthroughs! We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and dedication to quality to positively impact the safe human exploration of the solar system. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Requirements

• Minimum of a B.S. degree or equivalent experience in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, physics or related technical subject area
• Proven technical depth in one of the following areas: guidance, navigation, control, simulation, or flight software
• Strong fundamental knowledge in astrodynamics and relative motion of space objects
• 7+ years of demonstrated experience designing and implementing RPOD systems
• Experience planning and executing RPOD integrated tests in high-fidelity test environments
• Experience in developing RPOD concept of operations, and requirements definition and analysis
• Experience in analysis and design of RPOD trajectories and maneuver sequences
• Experience with methods and applications in Kalman Filtering and Computer Vision
• Experience with linear covariance methodology and statistical analysis
• Experience with mathematical modeling, simulation, and control algorithms.
• Demonstrated experience with real-time embedded software development on spacecraft or launch vehicle flight systems in C++ or Rust
• Highly organized team player with excellent technical written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of safety.

Nice To Haves

• M.S. or PhD in subject fields
• 10+ years relevant experience with spacecraft RPOD full lifecycle activities from requirements development through spacecraft operations
• Industry technical experience with relative navigation systems in aerospace vehicles
• Experience with Rendezvous Proximity Operation and Docking, Terrain Relative Optical Navigation, or Vision Based Navigation algorithms and software
• Experience with optical sensors in space applications
• Experience in the integration of avionics hardware and software
• Experience in software development following NASA NPR 7150.2D or FAA DO-178C standards
• Experience with NASA software, simulation tools, and environments (Trick/JEOD/cFS)
• Experience with validation and verification approaches such as software unit testing, system simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing or coordinated subsystem testing
• Experience with full-lifecycle software development from requirements definition through deployment
• Experience in flow down of system requirements to the software component level

Responsibilities

• Perform analyses and studies to determine trajectories, safety gates and corridors, and requirements for performing RPOD operations
• Coordinate and support development of complex RPOD concepts of operations for multiple Lunar missions and vehicles
• Decompose RPOD functional and performance requirements between GN&C, mechanical systems, communication systems, docking targets, and mission systems
• Support development of performance requirements for relative navigation sensor hardware and software designs
• Support mathematical formulation of navigation estimation methods and filtering techniques
• Support mathematical formulation of maneuver guidance techniques
• Define and maintain data interfaces, optical interfaces, and/or mechanical interfaces between the elements during the RPOD process
• Define and maintain element level states and modes in nominal and off-nominal conditions during the RPOD phase
• Determine and lead required RPOD V&V activities, including flight demonstrations
• Create essential fault detection hardware and software capabilities to satisfy mission requirements
• Develop analysis tools, models, and methods to verify implemented hardware and software builds meet requirements
• Support integration and testing of navigation and computer vision software components within vehicle production baselines
• Analyze of ground and flight test data and investigate root-causes
• Develop automation and tooling to improve the productivity of the team resources and drive efficiency into the team operations

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.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree