Sr. GNC Manager, Mk1 Lunar Lander

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

About the role

Blue Origin’s Lunar Permanence business unit develops the Blue Moon landers and related products. The role serves as the single‑threaded leader for the guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) team for the Mk1 vehicle, reporting to the vehicle program director. Responsibilities include people management, development and delivery of flight hardware and GNC flight software, and ensuring accuracy and efficiency of GNC analysis products.

Team Management

• Directly manage the GNC team, overseeing people, processes, and tools.
• Communicate, listen, and lead empathetically to grow a rights‑sized workforce.
• Supervise performance, merits, promotions, and mentor career development.
• Ensure team work products meet domain quality standards and benchmark against other units and industry trends.

Technical Contribution

• Provide broad and deep GNC domain expertise to meet program requirements.
• Lead and approve subsystem‑level technical design decisions and coordinate with other subsystems.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate GNC subsystem risks.
• Lead engineering, analysis, and testing throughout development, verification, delivery, and operation.

Responsibilities

• Hire staff that continually raises the bar of performance.
• Coach and mentor staff in technical growth, communication, quality, and timeliness.
• Make technical, programmatic, and personnel decisions quickly using quantitative metrics.
• Automate or streamline work scope where possible.
• Develop and manage subsystem‑level budgets and schedule, taking calculated risks to accelerate development.
• Integrate actively with all other subsystems to create efficient technical solutions.
• Establish subsystem priorities aligned with company, business unit, and vehicle objectives.
• Review and impact engineering changes, variances, non‑conformances, problem reports, and action items.
• Develop strategic plans that leverage common capabilities and hardware across Blue Origin vehicles.
• Author reports, define plans, and clearly describe technical problems and solutions to leadership.

Minimum Qualifications

• M.S. degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical engineering or related field with at least 10 years of design experience.
• Advanced knowledge in development of spacecraft GNC systems.
• Full development lifecycle experience of a GNC subsystem on at least one aerospace program.
• Extensive experience in development and analysis of GNC algorithms and flight software.
• Experience in development and testing of navigation sensors and control actuators.
• Knowledge and experience with rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking missions.
• Experience developing staffing plans, labor and hardware cost estimates, and end‑to‑end schedules from concept to flight certification.
• Personnel management experience, including performance management and career growth.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly organized and capable of guiding complex technical work.
• Ability to execute in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical engineering or related field.
• Experience leading full development lifecycle of a GNC subsystem on at least one aerospace program.
• Advanced knowledge in planetary spacecraft GNC systems.
• Experience with NASA certification of flight readiness for a new system.
• Experience on large, complex programs with multiple partners.
• Familiarity with Trick and Core Flight System.

Pay

Base Pay Range: $169,008.00 – $236,611.20 (Colorado applicants) or $183,807.00 – $257,328.75 (Washington applicants). 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 regular employees working ≥20 hours/week.
• Paid Time Off: up to four weeks per year plus up to 14 company‑paid holidays.
• Potential bonuses and additional benefits based on role type, level, and company discretion.

Culture Statement

Blue Origin encourages candidates who are excited about the mission even if they do not meet every listed qualification. The company is dedicated to building an authentic, inclusive workplace.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, permanent resident, or lawfully admitted refugee/asylee.