GN&C Guidance and Flight Controls Engineer – Lunar Permanence

Application close date:

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!  

As part of a hardworking team of engineers, you will join our Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) team with an emphasis on Guidance and Flight Controls. You will share in the team’s impact on all aspects of developing guidance algorithms, control laws, and flight software for spacecraft traveling from the Earth to the Moon! You will also prototype algorithms, conduct trade studies for trajectory guidance designs, conduct trade studies for control architectures, and perform linear stability analyses using classical and modern approaches. Expect to collaborate closely with other subsystems and spacecraft systems engineers to support the definition of subsystem boundaries, interfaces, and technical performance measures. In this capacity, you will be responsible for exemplifying proven practices, balanced technical judgment, and for demonstrating outstanding work ethic.

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact the safe human exploration of the solar system. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Derive spacecraft guidance designs from mission level trajectory designs
• Coordinate performance requirements between GN&C and mission planning
• Develop and maintain both established and bespoke guidance algorithms for orbital maneuvers in various Earth and cis-lunar orbits, including rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking (RPOD) maneuvers
• Develop and sustain flight control algorithms for spacecraft operating complex missions
• Perform trade studies for efficient and robust maneuver targeting sequences, including nominal and contingency maneuvers during RPOD
• Perform trade studies driving maturity of detailed spacecraft and mission design
• Collaborate with communication, propulsion, structures, fluids, and mechanisms subsystems to ensure system level design closure
• Develop and maintain software for flight systems and simulations
• Integrate and test software in SIL and HIL environments
• Implement controls algorithms and subsystem component models in an integrated 6-DOF simulation environment using Rust, C/C++, and Python
• Develop toolsets for automated requirements, configuration, and performance analyses
• Support internal and external reviews with data products and reports

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering or Physics with 12+ years of experience or M.S. with 10+ years of experience
• Deep knowledge of astrodynamics, orbital mechanics, attitude kinematics and dynamics
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in spacecraft guidance, including maneuver planning, targeting, and optimization
• Established background in GN&C algorithm development specifically for flight and attitude control using classical and modern control methods
• Knowledgeable in frequency domain analysis techniques
• Robust understanding of controller stability derivatives and stability margins with respect to spacecraft dynamics, flexible body dynamics, and slosh dynamics
• Demonstrated experience with control law design for aerospace vehicles
• Familiarity with development of requirements, interfaces, trades and analyses for aerospace GN&C applications
• Understand the relationship between attitude control, vehicle configuration, spacecraft dynamics, actuators, sensors, and automation
• Hands-on development with C/C++
• Experience with collaboration tools such as Gitlab, Confluence, and JIRA
• Strong grasp of software and data configuration management techniques and tools
• Highly organized teammate with excellent technical written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and give to a culture of safety.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. focused on spacecraft guidance, trajectory optimization, or dynamics and controls
• Proven experience in development, implementation and testing of GN&C systems for aerospace vehicles
• Proven technical experience through the full lifecycle of system development
• Proficiency in various control  methods such as PID, Phase-Plane, H-Infinity, Lead and Lag Compensators, Dynamic Inversion, etc.
• Experience designing flight control systems with reaction control systems (RCS), thrust vector control (TVC), or electric propulsion
• Experience with spacecraft control system design considerations for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations and Docking (RPOD)
• Experience providing GN&C support during on-orbit mission operations
• Experience synthesizing and evaluating Monte Carlo simulations, hardware-in-the-loop, and software-in-the-loop testing
• Prior 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 coding in Rust

Base Pay Range for:

Other site ranges may differ

Culture Statement

Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blue’s Standard Background Check
• Required for Certain Job Profiles:  Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation
• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing, vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.
• Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

Benefits

• Benefits include:  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.
• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at [email protected]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.