MKVehicle Engineering Principal Systems Engineer

Application Close Date

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

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!

This role is part of the Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Origin’s Blue Moon landers and related products. To further Blue Origin's mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth, we are building sustainable infrastructure for our transport of crew and cargo from Earth to the lunar surface.

We are seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to lead system definition, technical integration, and verification execution for the MK2 Crew Lunar Lander. This role drives disciplined end-to-end systems engineering for a crewed lunar landing vehicle, spanning architecture trades, requirements/ICDs, hazard and fault management, and verification closure through integrated vehicle testing and mission readiness.

You will serve as a senior technical integrator across propulsion, GN&C, avionics, comms, power, thermal, structures, software, and crew systems, ensuring the lander meets performance, safety, human-rating, and mission objectives in the lunar environment.

• Lead lander-level architecture trades and system budgets (mass, power, thermal, propellant, delta‑V, comms link, pointing, timeline/ops).
• Develop and maintain vehicle-level CONOPS for crewed lunar descent/ascent, surface operations, and rendezvous/docking phases (as applicable).
• Define and manage system-level margins, performance closure, and technical decision records.

• Own system requirements decomposition, allocation, and traceability (mission → vehicle → subsystem → component).
• Develop and manage ICDs and interface verification for:
  Launch vehicle and ground processing/transportation Crew and mission systems (e.g., docking/transfer interfaces where applicable) Ground segment and mission operations Test equipment and GSE.
• Drive technical baseline management, change control (CCB), and requirements quality (clear, verifiable, traceable).

• Lead system-level hazard identification/closure, fault tolerance strategy, redundancy, and safe‑mode/contingency design for a crewed vehicle.
• Guide FMEA/FMECA, FHA/SSHA support, and integrated fault management (FDIR) requirements across avionics, propulsion, and software.
• Ensure design and verification approach supports human‑rating expectations (including rigorous verification evidence and operational controls).

• Own or co‑own the lander verification plan, verification matrix, and compliance evidence strategy.
• Define integrated test strategy and success criteria across component, subsystem, and vehicle levels including:
  Propulsion testing (including cryogenic operations as applicable), pressurization, leak checks GN&C closed-loop testing / HILEMI/EMC, environmental tests (vibe/shock), thermal balance/TVAC End-to-end mission simulations and mission readiness activities.
• Lead anomaly triage and root‑cause/corrective action closure with cross‑functional teams.

• Chair/lead integration forums; resolve subsystem-to-system technical conflicts and drive closure.
• Mentor engineers and elevate systems engineering rigor (requirements, interface discipline, verification thinking, review readiness).
• Support major technical reviews and customer‑facing milestones (SRR/PDR/CDR/TRR/FRR) with clear, data-backed messaging.

• Education:
  
  B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or related engineering discipline (M.S. preferred).
• Experience:
  
  10+ years in systems engineering with significant responsibility on complex flight vehicles; experience leading integration and verification is required.
• Demonstrated ownership of…