Senior Flight Software Engineer — OISL PAT - Project Sunrise – Orbital Data Centers

BLUE ORIGIN•Hutto, TX

2d•$181,626 - $276,540

About The Position

This role is part of Blue Origin’s Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE) organization and supports Project Sunrise, a constellation of orbital data centers. The Senior Flight Software Engineer will develop the Pointing, Acquisition, and Tracking (PAT) software for Optical Intersatellite Links (OISL), enabling communications between satellites. The work begins in a high-fidelity simulation environment to design, prototype, and validate algorithms for establishing and maintaining optical links in a dynamic, multi-satellite environment. The engineer will develop and verify control algorithms, implement interfaces among the PAT system, flight computer, and optical hardware, and analyze simulation and test data to validate performance and identify anomalies. The role spans the OISL software lifecycle, from early simulation and prototyping through hardware-in-the-loop testing and on-orbit commissioning. It involves close collaboration with optical, GNC, and systems engineers. Travel may be required up to 10% of the time; relocation assistance is available.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Optical Engineering, or a related technical field.
At least 5 years of experience in software development for real-time control systems.
Strong programming skills in C++ and/or Rust, with experience in a real-time embedded environment.
Demonstrated experience developing control algorithms, particularly for pointing and tracking systems.
Proficiency with high-fidelity modeling and simulation, such as MATLAB/Simulink or C++/Python-based simulations.
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

Master's degree or PhD in a relevant field.
Direct experience with free-space optical communication, LiDAR, or other laser-based pointing and tracking systems.
Deep understanding of control theory, Kalman filtering, and state estimation.
Experience with the software development lifecycle for mission-critical aerospace systems.
Familiarity with spacecraft GNC systems and orbital mechanics.
Familiarity with software assurance standards such as NASA-STD-8739.8, NPR 7150.2, ECSS-Q-ST-80C, or equivalent (e.g., DO-178C), and embedded coding standards such as the JPL Institutional Coding Standard, MISRA C/C++, or CERT C/C++.
Familiarity with optical intersatellite link standards such as the SDA Optical Communications Terminal standard or CCSDS optical communications specifications.
Passion for solving novel problems in a simulation-first, rapid-development environment.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and implement flight software for Pointing, Acquisition, and Tracking (PAT) of Optical Intersatellite Links (OISL).
Create and maintain high-fidelity simulations of OISL PAT performance in a dynamic, multi-satellite environment.
Develop and verify control algorithms to accurately point and track optical terminals across vast distances.
Implement software interfaces between the OISL PAT system, flight computer, and optical hardware.
Analyze simulation and test data to validate system performance, identify anomalies, and drive design improvements.
Collaborate with optical engineers, GNC specialists, and systems engineers to ensure PAT software meets network performance requirements.
Contribute to the OISL software lifecycle, from early simulation and prototyping through hardware-in-the-loop testing and on-orbit commissioning.