Medical Director (R38244)

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 part of Engineering and Program Management (EPM), where we provide technical standards, tools, processes, training, and subject matter expertise for product engineering and manufacturing. EPM allows all Blue Origin business units to benefit from commonly used capabilities, hardware, and software and assists business units in identifying, selecting, and training engineers from both inside and outside the organization.

As part of a hardworking team of diverse engineers, you will be responsible for providing astronaut health and medical engineering to vehicle design and development. Support also includes the design of astronaut interfaces and operations product development (e.g., emergency response procedures) to support Blue Origin’s vision of millions of people living and working in space. Develop clinical care standards of care that will define the direct care for commercial astronauts and client flight crews before, during, and after the mission. Other areas of responsibility include Biomedical Engineering, Flight Control Operations, Aerospace Medicine, Space Radiation Analysis, Research Operations and Integration, and Behavioral Health and Performance (e.g., sleep shift modification for operators; astronaut psychological assessments, in flight care, and emergency psychological support). 

• Respond to company needs, but more importantly, identify company needs and engage across programs to ensure medical expertise influences design, operations, and strategy, maximizing benefit for Blue Origin.

• Develop, implement, and represent Blue Origin medical standards and strategy in company, cross-company, as well as in public forums and with key stakeholders to strengthen and build relationships.                                      

• Own and develop technical data and deliverables/products (e.g., medical requirements and ConOps).    

• Identify human spaceflight risks for vehicle and operational concept development                                     

• Develop mitigations and strategies to prevent or minimize human spaceflight risks                                    

• Develop standards for crew, astronauts, and passengers that will fly to space         

 

Special Mentions

• Relocation may be provided

• Travel expected up to 25% of the time

• Medical Licensure verification required

 

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Works closely with Executives and Directors across the organization to make strategic and operational decisions that advance company strategies and goals and collaborates to deliver on company-wide deliverables/requirements.

• Represents organizational strategy in public forums and with key stakeholders to strengthen and build relationships. Consistent with organizational direction, works to shape policy and potential partnerships to advance strategic priorities.

• Develop, test, and deliver countermeasures that may affect crew health, safety, and/or performance during or after space flight missions.

• Identify and evaluate medical risks and requirements associated with low earth orbit, hypogravity (lunar), and deep space operations.

• 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 act as Technical Advisor for Mission & Flight Ops.

• Support crew launch and recovery operations.

 

Qualifications:

• Doctor of Medicine or of osteopathic medicine.                

• Active state license (relevant medical board complaints subject to review).

• Continuous clinical practice of medicine in a specialty field over the past 2 years.

• Health and medical expertise, particularly aerospace medicine and emergency medical care, associated with Low Earth Orbit and Deep Space vehicles/habitats.

• Exercise countermeasures to combat this physiological deconditioning, keep crewmembers healthy, and mitigate associated risks.

• Understanding of human health impacts in extreme environments (e.g. hyperbarics, high altitude, wilderness medicine).

• Familiarity with life s