GN&C Navigation Engineer III Verified today
About the Role
This position is part of the Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Origin's Blue Moon landers. You will contribute directly to the development and assembly of the Navigation system on multiple lunar missions. Your work will span the full lifecycle from initial architecture to flight in a short timeframe, while achieving historic milestones.
You will provide high-quality engineering support by developing software and sensor integration solutions to complex navigation problems. You will work across disciplines to ensure design solutions are compatible with design for manufacture and environmental conditions.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, test, and deploy production navigation software for lunar spacecraft including sensor I/O and state estimation algorithms using C, C++, Rust, and Python
- Support the development of navigation and sensor fusion algorithms, and execute component-level test programs including sensor characterization, modeling, and integrated on-vehicle testing
- Develop and maintain navigation simulation environments and perform system analysis including error budgets, sensitivity studies, and performance predictions
- Interface with navigation hardware vendors to integrate sensors into spacecraft systems
- Support flight operations including pre-flight planning, real-time monitoring, and post-flight analysis
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including GNC, Flight Software, Systems Engineering, and Operations
- Embody the Blue Origin leadership principles
Minimum Qualifications
- M.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or related STEM field with 5+ years of professional experience in navigation systems or related field
- Strong programming skills in Rust, C++, or C
- Demonstrated experience in synthesis of state estimation algorithms and Kalman filters for spacecraft navigation, and experience with navigation sensors (IMUs, star trackers, optical sensors)
- Understanding of spacecraft dynamics, kinematics, and coordinate systems
- Ability to earn trust and maintain positive and professional relationships
- 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
- Ph.D. with 3+ years of professional experience in navigation systems or related field
- Experience with Rust for embedded or flight software development
- Experience with Python for navigation analysis and algorithm development
- Experience in development of navigation systems that include measurements from optical sensors
- Experience with vision-aided navigation, computer vision, or sensor fusion algorithms
- Experience with flight software development for spacecraft or aircraft, and hardware-in-the-loop testing
- Knowledge of orbital mechanics, mission design, and flight operations support
- Familiarity with DO-178C or similar software development standards
Compensation
Base pay range varies by location:
- CA applicants: $164,652 - $230,513
- CO applicants: $150,931 - $211,303
- WA applicants: $164,652 - $230,513
- VA applicants: $164,652 - $230,513
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 of up to 5%
- Education Support Program
- Stock options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours per week)
- Paid time off: up to 4 weeks per year based on scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays
- Eligibility for performance bonuses at company discretion