Senior Controls Engineer

About the role

This role is part of Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin’s mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design.

As a Control Lead, you will be at the forefront of developing and implementing advanced control systems for our next-generation vehicles. You will lead the design, analysis, and verification of control systems, with a special focus on actuation control for reentry and transonic flight regimes. Your expertise will be critical in ensuring the safety, performance, and reliability of our vehicles. This is a senior-level position that requires a deep understanding of flight dynamics, control theory, and a passion for pushing the boundaries of aerospace technology.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of flight control systems, including the design and analysis of control laws for aerodynamic surfaces.
• Oversee the development of models and simulations for flap actuation control systems.
• Conduct analysis and trade studies for vehicle performance in hypersonic reentry and transonic flight regimes.
• Lead the verification and validation of flight control systems through simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and flight testing.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to a team of GNC engineers.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure the successful integration of the flight control system with the overall vehicle.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, including design specifications, test plans, and analysis reports.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in the design, development, and analysis of flight control systems.
• Demonstrated experience with flap actuation control systems.
• In-depth knowledge of hypersonic and transonic flight dynamics.
• Proficiency in MATLAB, Simulink, and other control system design and analysis tools.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Applicants 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a related field.
• Experience with the full lifecycle of flight control system development, from concept to flight.
• Hands-on experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing and flight test support.
• Experience with modern control techniques and their application to aerospace vehicles.
• Proficiency in C++ or Python.

Pay

Base Pay Range:

• CA applicants: $156,802.00 - $219,522.45
• CO applicants: $144,179.00 - $201,849.90
• WA applicants: $156,802.00 - $219,522.45
• VA applicants: $156,802.00 - $219,522.45
• Other site ranges may differ.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Basic and supplemental life insurance.
• Paid parental leave.
• Short and long-term disability.
• 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%.
• 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 additional benefits and bonuses based on individual contributions and company results.