Senior Flight Software Engineer — GNC & Propulsion, Project Sunrise – Orbital Data Centers
About The Position
Blue Origin is hiring a Senior Flight Software Engineer specializing in Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) for Project Sunrise, a planned constellation of orbital data centers. The role is part of Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), which supports the company’s spaceflight mission and promotes innovation, shared engineering solutions and standards, simplicity, lower costs, and manufacturable design. The engineer will implement and verify GNC algorithms that support the autonomy and maneuvering of large, complex satellites. A key focus is flight software that commands and manages the propulsion system, including thruster firing sequences and integration with a multi-kilowatt Power Processing Unit (PPU). This work supports station-keeping, collision avoidance, and orbital adjustments across the constellation. The position contributes to the full software lifecycle, from requirements analysis and design through integration, testing, and on-orbit support. Travel may be required up to 10% of the time. Relocation assistance is available. Base pay ranges vary by location: Virginia applicants, $197,529–$276,539.55; Colorado applicants, $181,626–$254,275.35; Washington applicants, $197,529–$276,539.55. Other site ranges may differ.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
- At least 5 years of experience developing spacecraft GNC flight software.
- Strong C/C++ and/or Rust programming skills in a real-time embedded environment.
- Demonstrated experience with control system design, GNC algorithm implementation, and simulation.
- Experience with the full software development lifecycle for mission-critical systems.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or national, a U.S. permanent resident with a current Green Card, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant field.
- Experience with electric propulsion systems, particularly Hall thrusters or high-power PPUs.
- Deep understanding of spacecraft flight dynamics, orbital mechanics, and attitude determination and control.
- Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink, STK, or similar simulation tools.
- Familiarity with software assurance standards such as NASA-STD-8739.8, NPR 7150.2, ECSS-Q-ST-80C, or equivalent standards such as DO-178C.
- Familiarity with embedded coding standards such as the JPL Institutional Coding Standard, MISRA C/C++, or CERT C/C++.
- Experience working on large-scale satellite constellations or complex, multi-subsystem space vehicles.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and implement flight software for the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) subsystem.
- Implement and verify propulsion control algorithms, focusing on thruster firing logic and Power Processing Unit (PPU) integration.
- Develop robust software interfaces between the GNC system, flight computer, and propulsion hardware.
- Create and maintain high-fidelity hardware-in-the-loop simulations to validate GNC and propulsion software across operational scenarios.
- Analyze flight data to assess on-orbit GNC performance and recommend improvements.
- Collaborate with GNC analysts and propulsion hardware engineers to support seamless integration and performance.
- Contribute to the full software development lifecycle, from requirements analysis and design through integration, testing, and on-orbit support.
Benefits
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Basic and supplemental life insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Short- and long-term disability
- 401(k) with company match of up to 5%
- Education Support Program
- Stock options for regular employees working at least 20 hours per week
- Up to four weeks of paid time off per year, based on weekly scheduled hours
- Up to 14 company-paid holidays
- Relocation assistance
- Depending on role type and job level, potential eligibility for benefits and bonuses based on individual contributions and company results
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
