Principal (Level 5) Systems Engineer, Space Systems Development

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!  

Space Systems Development: This position is part of the Space Systems Development (SSD) business unit. SSD develops next-generation concepts and systems to advance our future of living and working in space sustainably.

As part of a hardworking team of diverse specialists, technicians, and engineers, you will lead assessment and definition of integrated, system-level / vehicle solutions including functional definition of capabilities and demonstrating compliance with common vehicle certification standards.  You will bring broad and deep technical expertise to lead activities that span the systems engineering lifecycle of a vehicle in development including launch vehicle integration, risk management, requirements definition, system safety and reliability, configuration and data management, integrated test planning, technical performance measurement management, verification, validation, and lifecycle baseline management. You will work with counterparts across the program as well as across Blue Origin to ensure on-time delivery and compatibility with the customer environment. This role reports to the Systems Engineering, Integration, & Test (SEIT) leader within a program residing in SSD. We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Special Mentions

• Relocation provided
• Travel expected up to 20% of the time

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead vehicle integration and systems engineering activities and products in accordance with tailored system engineering standards and practices:
  o    Develop, manage, and allocate requirements & interfaces
  o    Manage and execute gated/milestone design and operational reviews
  o    Develop and/or mature Concept of Operations documents
  o    Develop, review, and assess verification artifacts (test plans, test reports, analysis reports, inspection reports, etc.)
  o    Manage Vehicle Qualification and Test Planning
  o    Develop and own vehicle technical resource budgets (mass, power, link, etc.)
• Coordinate consistent System Safety products for the vehicle and own system-level system safety products
• Ensure all aspects of the vehicle are working across the product lifecycle
• Act as the negotiator between multiple and sometimes conflicting interests in order to make sure the vehicle is optimized while ensuring internal and external stakeholders’ needs are being represented
• Develop strategies, approaches for specialty engineering (operability, reliability, maintainability, supportability) integration, analysis, and verification
• Balance budget and schedule considerations with technical decisions at the Vehicle/Systems-level
• Develop and manage relationships across the company
• Act as a technical advisor to program management and the customer
• Provide mentoring and technical leadership

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of a B.S. degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace engineering or other technical field
• Highly knowledgeable of systems engineering practices and experience rightsizing for rapid development/experimental programs
• Self-directed and capable of balancing several tasks at one time
• Demonstrated track record of resourcefulness and success from previous assignments and working with interdisciplinary and cross-functional teams
• Experience with system definition methods and tools (state diagrams, functional block diagrams, interface control, FTAs, FMECAs, hazard analysis)
• Experience leading technical projects successfully and within cost and schedule constraints
• Ability to communicate, work effectively, and lead diverse technical teams through project execution and coordination
• Act as a lead technical integrator and coordinate different functions in support of the program goals
• Participate and lead, as needed, in technical and programmatic customer interactions that require your expertise
• Work inter-dependently with other leaders to drive progress at the organizational level
• Lead cross-functional teams at a vehicle level to achieve key programmatic milestones
• Ability to earn trust, maintain and build positive and professional relationships, practice humility, and