Spacecraft Operations Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

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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!

We are a talented team of collaborators, doers, and problem- solvers who are relentlessly committed to a culture of safety. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable space flight. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space and enabling Blue Origin's vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth.

As part of a hardworking team of engineers, you will ensure our spacecraft satisfies the needs of our critical partners, and crafts the larger vehicle and ground data architectures to enable us to successfully implement the required capabilities for our mission. As the Spacecraft Data Systems Engineer, you will provide the technical glue connecting data from our flight software to the systems functions to our ground operations and test engineering. You will help ensure the program requirements, operational descriptions, and system designs have been shaped so that they overall system meets our customers' needs. You will be responsible for interpreting functional description documents, and existing command and telemetry definitions to create an overall data and data handling architecture for the Blue Ring satellites. You will help guide the data format, streams, and storage development and testing, resulting in the verification of a complete spacecraft solution. To accomplish this, you will work closely with our spacecraft development engineers, flight software developers, spaceflight operations organization, and test engineering to implement all use cases for the data architecture.

This role will encompass detailing the data architecture, developing our standards and processes, and ensuring sufficiency in our data products. This position demands a systems-thinking approach, requiring a comprehensive understanding of the architectural and design elements of interconnected systems. Your responsibilities will include aligning our data interfaces and interactions to meet the needs of these systems effectively.

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

Special Mentions:

• Relocation provided
• Travel expected up to 10% of the time
• TS/SCI with CI poly is desired but not required

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead the Command and Telemetry Database and the Parameter Database development, as well as define file management and onboard data storage.

• Manage data for uplink to the spacecraft, onboard command sequences, data transfer, telemetry downlink, and data prioritization within the spacecraft flight software and memory management devices.

• Define data architecture strategies that differentiate data placement between CTDB and Parameter data

• Develop a roadmap for constructing scalable and robust data architecture strategies tailored for managing telemetry and command data across a fleet of vehicles.

  • This includes anticipating future needs, different payloads and missions, etc.

• Shape all areas of the program, including the payload, spacecraft, developing sophisticated techniques, processes, and criteria to enable effective data management and data handling architecture.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. degree in computer science, computer engineering, information technology, applied mathematics, or related field.

• 8+ years of experience in spacecraft development and operations

• Proven experience in developing and managing Command & Telemetry Databases (CTDB) with proficiency in spacecraft telemetry, data management, and command sequencing.

• Familiarity with spacecraft flight software design and architecture.

• Experience with CCSDS standards, including command and telemetry formats.

• Proficiency in programming languages such as Java, Python, JavaScript, C, or C++, with a proven background in software development and automation for data solutions.

  • Automate data processes and deployment of data products for testing and operational readiness on flight hardware

• Experience with Command and Control (C2) or Flight Software (FSW) software tools.

• Ability to engage effectively with various teams like Integration & Test, Ground & Spaceflight Operations, and Systems Engineering to integrate data sets and parameter information files.

• 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

• Familiarity with Agile methodologies and modern software development practices.

• Proficiency in the application of AI and machine learning techniques to improve data processing capabilities

• Experience with data governance, standard methodologies for security, and compliance.

• CCSDS experience, understanding the full OSI stack and where items fit in across the application and data layers.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex data and software architecture concepts to IPT leads, executives, and customers, resulting in clear understanding of the issues that lead to decisions.

• Domain expertise of spacecraft system and subsystem functions, interfaces, and communication protocols (i.e. serial, 1553, Ethernet, embedded software, etc.).

• Demonstrated experience debugging and identifying root cause at the hardware/software boundary.

• Experience using hardware testbeds and lab environments for software and system verification.

• An understanding of cloud infrastructure for data deployment and orchestration.

• Jira, gitlab, CI/CD pipelines.

• Active TS/SCI

Base Pay Range for:

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.