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Mission Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Pae

Mission Design Tools Software Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

The Mission Design Tools Software Engineer will work on NASA's Mission Design Software Development Team, which provides software development support for a variety of tools that support multiple NASA ...

Pae

Mission Design Tools Software Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

The Mission Design Tools Software Engineer will work on NASA's Mission Design Software Development Team, which provides software development support for a variety of tools that support multiple NASA ...

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Mission Design Engineer information

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$40.5K

$88.2K

$158.5K

How much do mission design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for mission design engineer in the United States is $88,150.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $68,000.00 and $98,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a mission design engineer do?

A Mission Design Engineer is responsible for planning and designing space missions, including determining spacecraft trajectories, launch windows, and mission timelines. They analyze technical requirements, perform simulations, and optimize mission parameters to ensure the mission's objectives can be achieved efficiently and safely. Mission Design Engineers work closely with other engineering teams to integrate spacecraft systems and address any potential challenges in the mission profile. Their work is crucial in ensuring the success of space exploration, satellite deployment, and other aerospace projects.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a mission design engineer?

To thrive as a Mission Design Engineer, you need strong analytical skills, expertise in orbital mechanics, and a degree in aerospace engineering or a related field. Proficiency with mission analysis tools such as STK, GMAT, and MATLAB, as well as familiarity with simulation and modeling software, is typically required. Exceptional problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork and communication skills help set outstanding engineers apart. These competencies ensure the creation of successful, efficient, and safe space missions that meet rigorous technical and operational objectives.

What are some typical challenges a mission design engineer faces when coordinating with interdisciplinary teams?

Mission Design Engineers often work closely with specialists in propulsion, avionics, systems engineering, and operations. One common challenge is ensuring that the mission trajectory and requirements are clearly communicated and harmonized across different technical domains. Balancing competing constraints—such as payload capacity, fuel efficiency, and launch windows—requires strong collaboration and negotiation skills. Addressing these challenges successfully can lead to innovative solutions and is key to mission success.

What is the difference between Mission Design Engineer vs Systems Engineer?

AspectMission Design EngineerSystems Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Aerospace, Mechanical, or related fields; certifications like PMP or specific aerospace credentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related fields; certifications like INCOSE CSEP
Work EnvironmentDesigning and planning space missions, often in aerospace or defense sectorsIntegrating and managing complex systems across industries like aerospace, defense, or technology
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily in aerospace, space agencies, defense contractorsWidely in aerospace, defense, IT, and manufacturing sectors

While both roles require engineering backgrounds and involve complex technical work, Mission Design Engineers focus specifically on planning and designing space or mission-specific operations. Systems Engineers have a broader scope, managing entire systems' integration and functionality across various industries.

How much do mission design engineers make?

Mission design engineers typically earn between $70,000 and $130,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and location. Senior engineers with specialized skills in spacecraft systems or orbital mechanics can earn higher salaries, especially in aerospace or defense industries.

What cities are hiring for Mission Design Engineer jobs?

Cities with the most Mission Design Engineer job openings:

Who are the top companies hiring for Mission Design Engineer jobs?

The top employers for Mission Design Engineer jobs are:

What states have the most Mission Design Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Mission Design Engineer jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Mission Design Engineer jobs?

For Mission Design Engineer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Mission Design Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $88,150 per year, or $42.4 per hour.

Orbit Determination and Mission Design Engineer II

Denver, CO • On-site

Blue Origin
Space Research Administration • 1 - 5K employees
Learn more about Blue Originexternal

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 17 days ago

Blue Origin rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 92 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

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.

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth.We'reworking 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!

Blue Origin's Blue National Security business unit is navigating spacecraft across some of the most complex and demanding regimes in spaceflight - from geostationary orbit to cislunar space and beyond to interplanetary destinations. Blue Ring, our multi-mission space vehicleare expanding the frontier of where weoperateand what our navigation systems must do. Supporting these missions requires a growing team of skilled engineers who are ready to learn, code, and contribute from day one.

As an Orbit Determination and Mission Design Engineer II on the Astrodynamics and TrajectoryeXecution(ATX) team, you will build deepexpertisein spacecraft orbit determination while contributing to mission design activities across GEO, cislunar, and interplanetary mission portfolios. This is a hands-on, learning-forward role with a heavy emphasis on software development and operational support. You will work closely withengineers and navigators, growing your skills across the full mission lifecycle while directly enabling mission success.

Your Impact:

  • Perform Orbit Determination:Process radiometric, Doppler and GPSto generate orbit solutions for GEO, cislunar, and interplanetary spacecraft; learn to interpret and communicate results in an operational context.

  • Develop Navigation Software:Write, test, andmaintainnavigation algorithms and data processing tools in Python, Julia, or C++; contribute to a shared codebase following software development best practices.

  • Support Mission Operations:Provide operations support during mission-critical phases, learning to execute orbit determination products under real-time constraints alongside experienced navigators.

  • Contribute to Mission Design:Support trajectory and mission designtasksfor GEO, cislunar, and interplanetary concepts.

  • Build and Validate Models:Develop andvalidateforce models, measurement models, and simulation tools that underpin high-fidelity navigation analysis.

  • Collaborate and Communicate:Work closely withATXteam members, flight operations teams, and systems engineers; clearly document and present your results in technical memos and design reviews.

  • Deliver with Agile Discipline:Contribute to sprint planning and delivery in an Agile development environment; use tools such as Jira and git to manage and track your work.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related fields with 2+ years of relevant experience; OR Ph.D. with noadditionalexperiencerequired.

  • Foundational knowledge of astrodynamics and orbital mechanics.

  • Experience or coursework in orbit determination, estimation theory, or navigation.

  • Experience in at least one of the following: Python, Julia, or C++.

  • Familiarity with numerical simulation tools or scripted analysis environments.

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

  • Ability to earn trust,maintainpositive 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:

  • Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related fields.

  • Applied experience with orbit determination tools such as Monte, STK/ODTK,FreeFlyer, or GMAT.

  • Familiarity with GEO, cislunar, or interplanetary mission environments and their associated navigation challenges.

  • Experience with radiometric orbit determination (Doppler, ranging) or optical navigation techniques.

  • Experience with mission design analysis including trajectory trade studies, delta-v budgeting, orConOpsdevelopment.

  • Exposure to spacecraft operations or mission operations environments.

  • Experience with DevOps processes including configuration control, continuous integration/deployment, Agile methodologies, and code review.

  • Previousexperience with software development tooling such as Jira, git, Jenkins, Docker, and at least one IDE.

  • Experience using generative AI tools toexpediteand automate your workflow.

  • Willingness or ability toacquireActive Top Secret (TS) / Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearance with Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) with polygraph preferred.


Base Pay Range for:

VA applicants is $107,136.00 - $149,990.40 CO applicants is $98,208.00 - $137,491.20

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.


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About Blue Origin

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Blue Origin is a private aerospace manufacturing and suborbital spaceflight services company based in Kent, Washington, USA. Established in 2000 by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the company operates in the cutting-edge aerospace industry aiming to build a future where millions of people can live and work in space. They develop a variety of technologies, with a focus on reusable rocket systems which significantly reduce the cost of space travel. Blue Origin's core mission is to make this vision come to life by incrementally building on its successes with an ultimate vision of dramatic cost reduction and increased reliance on reusable spacecraft.

Industry

Space research administration

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Kent, WA, US

Year founded

2000

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