Senior Flight Software Engineer
About The Position
Blue Origin’s Blue National Security (BNS) organization designs, develops, and delivers launch and spacecraft systems for national security missions. This role supports the Mars Telecom Network, which is intended to provide reliable, long-lived communications for missions at Mars. The work involves complex, multi-system avionics and flight software designed to operate autonomously far from Earth for years, spanning the spacecraft lifecycle from concept and system definition through integration, verification, on-orbit checkout, and mission operations. The Senior Flight Software Engineer serves as a technical lead for major embedded avionics software subsystems. The engineer architects, develops, and delivers high-reliability, multi-threaded, real-time spacecraft software in C and C++, and leads technical work, verification planning, integration and testing, risk management, anomaly resolution, and communication with program and executive leadership. The role calls for experience taking complex embedded avionics software from concept to delivery, ideally in aerospace or other critical systems, along with effective communication and fluency in Agile software development. Relocation is provided. Travel is expected up to 15% of the time, and interviews include a technical assessment. Applicants must meet the stated U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, refugee, or asylum status requirements. A standard background check is required for all positions; additional checks or credentials may apply to certain job profiles.
Requirements
- B.S. degree or equivalent experience in computer, aerospace, or electrical engineering, or a related field.
- 10+ years of embedded software development and testing experience, including multi-threaded programming and real-time systems, particularly in C/C++.
- Experience working through all phases of spacecraft development and operations—including proposals, system definition, design, production, integration, verification, on-orbit checkout, mission operations, and anomaly resolution—or in a similar capacity.
- Experience working on multi-component, complex avionics for spacecraft, aircraft, or similar systems.
- Demonstrated effective communication skills with program and executive leadership.
- Proven experience in requirements derivation, implementation, and verification.
- Familiarity with Agile and DevOps processes and culture.
- Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and strengthen a culture of inclusion.
- 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.
Nice To Haves
- Experience working on multiple concurrent product baselines (product line engineering).
- Experience in autonomy, sequencers, state machines, and/or fault management using NPR 7150.2, DO-178, or other safety- or mission-critical software standards.
- Understanding of spacecraft operations, subsystem functions, interfaces, and common interactions.
- Experience with embedded Linux or equivalent real-time operating systems.
Responsibilities
- Serve as technical lead for major embedded avionics software subsystems, providing technical direction, task prioritization, and mentorship to engineers.
- Architect, design, develop, and deliver high-reliability, multi-threaded, real-time software in C and C++ for spacecraft avionics.
- Own software requirements derivation and verification planning for assigned subsystems, ensuring traceability from system requirements through verification.
- Contribute across the spacecraft lifecycle, including proposals, system definition, design, production, integration, verification, on-orbit checkout, mission operations, and anomaly resolution.
- Lead design and code reviews, ensuring technical quality and mission assurance across deliverables.
- Lead integration and test activities across multi-component avionics systems.
- Identify and mitigate technical risks, and lead root cause analysis and resolution of complex software anomalies.
- Communicate technical status and risks to program and executive leadership.
- Contribute to proposals and technical documentation as needed.
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
- Paid time off of up to four weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours
- Up to 14 company-paid holidays
- Depending on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on individual contributions and company results or other factors, subject to company discretion; amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
