Astrodynamics Operations - Lead Engineer Blue Ring

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!

The role is part of the In-Space Systems business unit, which is focused on addressing two of the most compelling challenges in spaceflight today: space infrastructure and increasing mobility on-orbit.

Shape the Future of Space Mobility and Astrodynamics Operations

Blue Origin, and particularly the In-Space Business Unit, is pushing the boundaries of space mobility with missions spanning geostationary, cislunar, and heliocentric regimes. Our spacecraft must execute complex maneuvers using different propulsion systems-from high-thrust chemical to efficient electric propulsion-while navigating via GPS, radiometric tracking, and other advanced methods.

As an Astrodynamics Operations Engineer in the Astrodynamics and Trajectory eXecution team (ATX), you lead flight-specific astrodynamics operations of a Blue Ring mission, which will consist of designing both high-thrust and low-thrust vehicle maneuvers, and processing measurements for ground-based orbit determination, and ensuring their accurate implementation within the greater ground system. You will work closely with our mission planning and spaceflight operations teams to convert astrodynamics-related vehicle activities into ground-based commands.

You will interface with vertically-integrated astrodynamics algorithms. While assisting with our first-ever flight, you will also roadmap and build out our processes toward fleet-level automation. You will ensure that the operations products and processes that the navigators need are in place for the mission.

The ATX team works cradle-to-grave for each mission, and members of our team are multifaceted. Beyond leading pre-launch operations activities for your assigned missions, you will contribute to core flight dynamics development in maneuver planning and orbit determination. As you grow in the role, there is a path to take on broader cross-mission responsibilities as the ATX Flight Ops Interface Lead, coordinating astrodynamics operations across the full Blue Ring fleet.

Your Impact:

* Lead Live Mission Operations:
Design and execute critical maneuvers during flight operations with real-time decision making.

* Lead the Pre-Launch Navigation Ops

Activities:

Develop navigation rehearsal processes, day-in-the-life ops simulations, console logs, and facilitate the integration of flight dynamics software.

* Drive Automation:
Automate astrodynamics operations processes to the limits that are possible as Blue Ring grows into fleet-wide operations.

* Collaborate Across Disciplines:
Work closely with mission planners, flight operations stakeholders, payload customers, systems engineers, and vehicle engineers.

* Understand, Implement, and Integrate Core Algorithms:
Perform flight dynamics algorithm development as needed, aid in its implementation into the Flight Dynamics software system, and understand its execution in the operational ground system.

* Deliver Excellence:
Present results and support critical design reviews using Agile development methodologies.

* Enable Mission Success:
Perform mission analysis ensuring robust mission performance across multiple operational scenarios.

* Be an Excellent Communicator:
Blue Ring works with a distributed team of flight operations engineers and thus requires good communications.

Minimum Qualifications:

* B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related fields.

* 3+ years of proven experience focused on satellite mission design.

* Experience performing ground-based spacecraft orbit determination or maneuvering in live operations.

* Strong fundamentals in astrodynamics, high-thrust trajectory optimization, and low-thrust trajectory optimization.

* Applied experience in navigation tools such as Monte, STK/ODTK, Free Flyer, Copernicus, or GMAT.

*…