Mission Operations Engineer II – Blue Ring

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

Blue Origin’s In‑Space Systems business unit focuses on space infrastructure and on‑orbit mobility. This role supports Blue National Security and the development of Blue Ring, a space‑mobility platform that enables access to any orbit.

Based at Reston, VA or Denver, CO office. Relocation provided. On‑console shift work at Reston expected up to 20 % of the time.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to mission planning, operations concepts, tools, and processes that enable highly effective and labor‑efficient real‑time spacecraft and ground system operation.
• Work in multidisciplinary teams to develop detailed operations procedures, executables, telemetry displays, technical documentation, and other products.
• Drive operations toward ever‑increasing levels of efficiency and reliability through ground system automation and the application of AI/ML technologies.
• Ensure deliverables meet applicable quality standards, while promoting maximum reuse and backward compatibility.
• Conduct testing and validation of ops products using a variety of hardware and software simulation environments that span the space and ground domains.
• Support systems engineering and other disciplines in developing a spacecraft concept of operations, ensuring efficiency and operability for the end‑user.
• Create detailed test procedures to validate end‑to‑end system capabilities.
• Analyze and assess ground station selection for optimal communications availability.
• Support communications spectrum licensing efforts through coordination with internal and external regulatory authorities.
• Support mission readiness activities including mission rehearsals, mission timeline development, and post‑launch test development.
• Provide on‑console support during spacecraft launch and early orbit phase, including shift work, from Blue Origin’s mission control facilities.
• Monitor spacecraft state‑of‑health across all subsystems, perform trending and analyses, and track spacecraft and ground system configurations.
• Support the troubleshooting and resolution of on‑orbit anomalies as part of an anomaly response team.
• Foster continuous improvement by contributing, tracking, and implementing lessons‑learned for the benefit of future missions.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace, Computer Science, Electrical, Systems, or related fields.
• 3+ years of proven experience in spacecraft operations development and execution, including real‑time support for on‑orbit operations.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast‑paced, dynamic work environment.
• Expertise in one or more of the following areas: spacecraft operations product development and execution; real‑time support for on‑orbit operations; hosted or separable payload operations; mission planning, timeline development, and analysis; spacecraft telemetry trending and analysis; ground system and software architecture; space‑to‑ground communications; operations automation and application of AI/ML to ops workflows.
• Ability to earn trust, build positive professional relationships, contribute to a culture of inclusion, and collaborate with individuals of various backgrounds to achieve mission success.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI Security Clearance.
• M.S. in Space Systems, Computer Science, or Aerospace Engineering.
• On‑console experience as a Spacecraft Controller.
• Direct support for a commercial or government spacecraft operations organization, with deep understanding of their use cases and approach to operations.
• Experience with multi‑manifest spacecraft missions and developing operations for hosted or separable payloads.
• Proficiency with Python and/or command‑and‑control scripting languages.
• Experience working with virtualized Ground Software (e.g., Command & Control, Mission Planning, Flight Dynamics, Electronic Procedures, Software Simulators).
• Experience with mission planning and contact planning tools.
• Experience with scrum methodology and agile product development.
• Experience in full development lifecycle of space systems’ ground segments.
• Mission analysis, flight planning and timeline development (tool and analysis).
• Experience designing and evaluating operational readiness tests integrated with hardware‑in‑the‑loop and software‑in‑the‑loop simulators.
• Experience with operational fault and anomaly management.
• Experience performing system safety analyses including Functional Hazard Assessments (FHA), Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analyses (FMECA), and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA).

Pay

Base Pay Range: For VA applicants $107,136.00 – $149,990.40; for CO applicants $98,208.00 – $137,491.20. Other site ranges may differ.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance.
• Paid parental leave.
• Short and long‑term disability.
• 401(k) with company match up to 5 %.
• Education Support Program.
• Stock options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week).
• Paid Time Off: up to four weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, plus up to 14 company‑paid holidays.
• Additional benefits and bonuses may be available depending on role type and job level, at the company’s discretion.