Astronaut Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

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 Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin's mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design.As part of a hardworking team of talented specialists, technicians, and engineers, the Aerospace Medicine Specialist will provide expert guidance on astronaut health and medical engineering to support vehicle design and development. This role contributes to the design of astronaut interfaces, development of operational products (e.g., emergency response procedures), and the establishment of clinical standards of care for commercial astronauts and client flight crews before, during, and after missions in support of Blue Origin's vision of millions of people living and working in space.Areas of responsibility spanAerospace Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Flight Control Operations, Space Radiation analysis, research operations and integration,andBehavioral Health and Performance(e.g., sleep schedule modification for operators; astronaut psychological assessments, in-flight care, and emergency psychological support).

• Identify and respond to company needs and engage across programs to ensure medical expertise influences design, operations, and strategy, growing benefit for Blue Origin.
• Develop, implement, and represent Blue Origin health and medical standards and strategy in company, cross-company, as well as in public forums and with key partners to strengthen and form relationships.
• Own and develop technical data and deliverables/products (e.g., health- or medically-related requirements and ConOps).
• Identify human spaceflight risks for vehicle and operational concept development
• Develop mitigations and strategies to prevent or minimize human spaceflight risks

Special Mentions

• Relocation may be provided
• Travel encouraged up to 25% of the time
• For physician candidates: Medical Licensure and Board Certification verification required. Board-eligible status may be considered.

Responsibilities:

Include but are not limited to:

• Support Blue Origin's Chief Medical Officer and engineering teams in the development of health, medical, and human performance vehicle design, ConOps deliverables, and risk assessments; advance company strategies and goals; and collaborate to deliver on company-wide requirements.
• Identify and respond to company needs; engage across programs to ensure health and medical expertise meaningfully influences vehicle design, operations, and organizational strategy.
• Develop, implement, and represent Blue Origin health and medical standards and strategy in internal forums, cross-company engagements, public forums, and with key external partners to strengthen and build relationships.
• Own and develop technical data and deliverables/products (e.g., health- and medically-related requirements and ConOps documents).
• Identify human spaceflight risks associated with vehicle and operational concept development; develop mitigations and strategies to prevent or minimize those risks.
• Develop, test, and deliver countermeasures that may affect crew health, safety, and/or performance during or after spaceflight missions.
• Identify and evaluate medical risks and requirements associated with low Earth orbit, microgravity, hypogravity (e.g., lunar surface), and deep space exploration operations.
• Develop clinical standards of care defining direct care protocols for commercial astronauts and client flight crews before, during, and after missions.
• Advise Business Units and special programs on astronaut health and safety issues to ensure human-rating standards are achieved.
• Certify as a flight controller and serve as a subject matter expert in support of Mission and Flight Operations.
• Support crew launch and recovery operations.

Qualifications:

This position is open to candidates from one of the following two professional backgrounds:

Path 1 - Aerospace Medicine Physician (Preferred)

• Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) from an accredited institution
• Active and unrestricted state medical license(relevant medical board complaints subject to review)
• Aerospace Medicine Board Certification or board-eligible status
• Continuous clinical practice in a specialty field within the past 2 years

Path 2 - Senior Biomedical Engineer (Human Spaceflight Experience)

• Bachelor's degree or higher in engineering (e.g. Biomedical, Aerospace, Mechanical) or a closely related field
• Experience supporting human spaceflight programs (e.g., NASA, DoD, commercial spaceflight)
• Demonstrated technical expertise in health- or medical-related engineering within spaceflight or operationally relevant extreme environment contexts

All Candidates

• Health and medical human spaceflight operational experience, particularly associated with Low Earth Orbit and/or exploration-class vehicles and habitats
• Working knowledge of health and medical countermeasures to combat physiological deconditioning, maintain crew member health, and mitigate spaceflight-associated risks
• Understanding of human health impacts in extreme environments (e.g., hyper/hypobaric environments, prehospital and remote medicine)
• Familiarity with life support systems required for human survival in space
• Expertise in astronaut and ground crew emergency response across different phases of flight
• Experience writing and evaluating system requirements and verifications
• Ability to identify, evaluate, and develop new space technologies and procedures
• 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

Desired:

• For physicians:Active and unencumbered medical license to practice in Washington, Florida, Texas, or Alabama
• Advanced operational experience with NASA, DoD, or commercial human spaceflight programs
• Experience as a certified flight controller or in an equivalent Mission Operations capacity
• Prior experience developing or contributing to human spaceflight medical standards, policies, or regulatory frameworks

Base Pay Range for:

CA applicants is $213,677.00 - $299,147.10 CO applicants is $202,331.00 - $283,262.70 WA applicants is $213,677.00 - $299,147.10 VA applicants is $213,677.00 - $299,147.10

Other site ranges may differ

Culture 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 an 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.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blue's Standard Background Check
• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation
• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing, vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.
• Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

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.
• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.
• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

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 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. 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, sex, 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 "Know Your Rights," 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 atEEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.