Principal Payload Systems Engineer (TS/SCI Required) Verified today

About the Role

You will join the In-Space Systems business unit, focused on space infrastructure and on-orbit mobility. As Principal Payload Systems Engineer, you will manage optical terminal payload integration on spacecraft, applying customer management and systems engineering practices across technical domains including requirements analysis, functional and safety analysis, technical performance monitoring, and system lifecycle processes.

Customer and Payload Management

• Work with customers as technical advocate for payloads through full lifecycle from contract execution through integration and launch
• Serve as primary technical interface between Blue Origin and payload customers
• Coordinate payload requirements, integration schedules, and technical documentation
• Support development of technical proposal content including payload accommodation concepts, interface definitions, and mass/volume/power assessments in response to customer RFPs and RFIs
• Collaborate with business development and capture teams to provide payload accommodation expertise and technical inputs that inform pricing, schedules, and programmatic commitments

Systems Engineering

• Lead development, allocation, and verification of requirements
• Assist with development of systems engineering processes and tools; ensure consistent implementation and system integration capacity
• Work with multi-discipline teams to arrive at technical system solutions
• Develop and maintain interface control documents (ICDs) between payloads and spacecraft systems
• Identify and manage technical risks throughout payload integration process

Integration and Testing

• Oversee payload integration activities, ensuring compliance with requirements and specifications
• Support payload testing and verification activities
• Coordinate with manufacturing and operations teams to ensure smooth transition from integration to launch

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum 10+ years of experience in systems engineering principles and execution
• Experience in payload accommodation or spacecraft design, development, integration, and testing
• Experience with project or program management
• Able to work with minimal direction and collaboratively with cross-functional team members
• Knowledge of current systems engineering and integration tools and methodologies
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace engineering

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. degree in relevant technical field
• 15 years of related experience
• Experience leading establishment and adherence of systems requirements for aerospace project with varied group of engineers across multiple disciplines
• Experience with verification of requirements using DOORS Next Generation, system lifecycle configuration management tools, and functional analysis toolsets
• Knowledge of system design and analysis and relations to element design at flight and ground levels and component specification development
• Experience with optical communications systems and terminals
• Background in spacecraft bus systems and subsystem interfaces

Requirements

• Active TS/SCI clearance required
• U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted as refugee or granted asylum
• Up to 20% travel may be required for customer meetings, integration activities, and launch support
• Relocation assistance may be available

Compensation and Benefits

Base pay range varies by location: Colorado applicants $173,466.00 - $242,851.35; Washington applicants $183,193.00 - $256,469.85. Other site ranges may differ.

Benefits include 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 (20+ hours/week), up to 4 weeks paid time off annually, and up to 14 company-paid holidays. Bonuses may be eligible based on role type and job level.