Senior Flight Software Engineer — TT&C - Project Sunrise – Orbital Data Centers

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.

 Join Blue Origin as we build infrastructure in space for the benefit of Earth. We're developing Project Sunrise, a constellation of orbital data centers designed to transform how compute infrastructure is deployed and leveraged at an unprecedented scale. 

As a Senior Flight Software Engineer for Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TT&C), you will be responsible for developing the software that serves as the primary communications link to our satellites. You will own the entire TT&C software stack, from the low-level drivers that interface with the radio hardware to the application-level logic that packetizes and routes data. A key advantage of this role is the ability to begin development immediately on commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) transponders, allowing you to build and validate the core software stack before the final flight hardware is available. This is a critical, hands-on role for an engineer who excels at integrating hardware and software to create a robust and reliable communications system. 

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

• Design, develop, and verify the flight software for the Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TT&C) subsystem. 

• Develop and maintain the device drivers and software interfaces for the spacecraft's radio transponders. 

• Implement the command processing logic, including command decoding, validation, and execution. 

• Build the telemetry and data handling software, responsible for collecting, packetizing, and downlinking vehicle state-of-health and mission data. 

• Develop and execute test plans for the TT&C software, initially using commercial transponders and progressing to flight hardware in an integrated lab environment. 

• Collaborate with the ground software and mission operations teams to ensure end-to-end compatibility and performance of the communications link. 

• Support on-orbit commissioning and troubleshooting of the TT&C subsystem. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field. 

• 5+ years of experience in embedded software development. 

• Strong programming skills in C/C++ in a real-time, resource-constrained environment (RTOS or bare-metal). 

• Demonstrated experience developing software for communication systems, including work with radio hardware, modems, or transponders. 

• Experience writing low-level device drivers for interfaces such as SPI, I2C, or UART. 

• 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: 

• Master's degree or PhD in a relevant field. 

• Deep understanding of RF communications, digital signal processing, and communication protocols. 

• Experience with spacecraft communication protocols, such as CCSDS (Space Packet Protocol, TM/TC Space Data Link, and SDLS security). 

• Hands-on experience testing and debugging hardware/software interfaces using lab equipment (e.g., spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes). 

• Familiarity with software-defined radios (SDR). 

• Familiarity with software assurance standards such as NASA-STD-8739.8, NPR 7150.2, ECSS-Q-ST-80C, or equivalent (e.g., DO-178C), and with embedded coding standards such as the JPL Institutional Coding Standard, MISRA C/C++, or CERT C/C++. 

• A passion for building and testing the end-to-end communications chain, from the operator's keyboard to the spacecraft and back. 

Special Mentions: 

• Travel may be required up to 10% of the time. 

• Relocation assistance available. 

 

Base Pay Range for:

VA applicants is $197,529.00 - $276,539.55 CO applicants is $181,626.00 - $254,275.35 WA applicants is $197,529.00 - $276,539.55

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 at [email protected]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.