Ground & Space Operations Payload Communications Principal - Blue Ring

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 diverse team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!

This role is a part of Test & Flight Operations team, providing centralized support to Business Units with the focus on design, build and maintenance of the ground systems, test and launch facilities across multiple locations.

Our Space Mobility program is looking for experienced personnel to join its Ground Capabilities team. This position reports to the Blue Origin Test & Flight Operations business unit and will support the Space Mobility Mission Element and Mission Capabilities teams.

As a Ground & Space Operations Payload Communications Lead, you will work with a small, hardworking, and accomplished team of Ground System, Software, Mission Systems and Flight Operations Engineers, leading and performing flight and operations development tasks supporting both space-to-ground and interspace communication links throughout their full system lifecycle. This includes networking between hosted payloads and connected terminals, reach-back to earth, multi-RF capability and extensions to optical comms. You will share in the team’s impact on all aspects of the mission operations concept, mission analysis and planning, flight planning, ground data systems, and tools used to operate advanced spaceflight vehicles. You will enjoy a fast-paced dynamic environment, contributing innovative solutions, while demonstrating personal leadership, technical competence, and attention to detail. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your dedicated commitment and detailed attention towards safe and reliable spaceflight.

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and dedication to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Lead payload data and communications subsystem architecture definition and implementation to interface with the baseline ground and mission planning systems

Ensure checkout of critical payload communication components in a mission operations environment

Identify, derive, develop, and maintain mission systems requirements including traceability and verification and validation approaches

Support the operations team by creating operations products (procedures, documentation etc.) for the commanding and monitoring for both nominal and contingency situations of the payload subsystem

Manage a complex variety of needs, constraints, and tasks from mission stakeholders, including engineers representing flight vehicle systems, ground software engineers, flight operations, customers, and program management

Collaborate with the training team to plan training simulations and other training activities

Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including engineers representing flight vehicle systems, ground software, flight control operators and customers

Participate in operations for the Space Mobility missions

Minimum Qualifications:

B.S. in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, physics or related technical field

Expertise in space-to-ground protocols and RF communications

Experience developing and fielding production software

Strong understanding of the principles and methods of engineering complex systems

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Ability to work collaboratively in a fast paced, dynamic work environment

Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion

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:

M.S in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, physics, or related technical field

Experience with Infrastructure-as-Code and Cloud Architectures (for ex. AWS)

Experience with C2 software tools (for ex. InControl)

Experience with Front End Processor software tools (for ex. Amergint or Kratos)

Experience with CCSDS and/or common space-ground protocols (for ex. Space Packet Protocol)

Experience with integration of modems, antennas, and Front-End Processors

Experience with AES-256 crypto key management as well as architecting of encryption / decryption solutions.

Experience in cloud infrastructure deployment and software orchestration

Experience in one or more of the following:

Space mission flight operations

Mission analysis, flight planning and timeline development

Operational fault management

Flight-Ground RF experience

Spacecraft telemetry, command and sequencing

Ground Data System architecture in the context of space mission flight operations

Experience working on large complex programs with multiple partners

First principles knowledge of all major spacecraft subsystems

Experience with the Atlassian tool suite (Jira, Confluence)

Experience with requirements definition and management, preferably using DOORS Next Generation

Familiarity with system safety analyses techniques including Functional Hazard Assessments (FHA), Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analyses (FMECA), and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)

Experience with collaboration tools such as Confluence and JIRA

Familiarity with version control, preferably Git

Experience with configuration and product data management tools, preferably Windchill

Experience working in a technical training environment for engineers

Experience working with and proposing to U.S. Government research agencies (e.g. NASA, AFRL, DARPA)

Inclusivity Statement

Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Benefits

Benefits include: Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%, and an Education Support Program.

Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.

Discretionary bonus: Bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results.

Eligibility for benefits varies by role type, please check with your recruiter for a comprehensive list of the benefits available for this role.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified, diverse, and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork, in which all employees recognize and appreciate the diversity of individual team members. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “EEO Is the Law,” please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at .

California Applicant Privacy Notice

If you are a California resident, please reference the CA Applicant Privacy Notice here.