Senior Simulation and GNC

Application close date:

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! 

Early studies / pre-project work (architecture & trades)

• Lead control architecture and actuator concept trades for space systems and lunar surface concepts (control modes, redundancy, sensing, compute placement, interfaces, fault strategy)
• Rapidly stand up and iterate Newton dynamic models (6-DoF / multi-body as appropriate) to evaluate control concepts, margins, sensitivity, and operational envelopes
• Build scenario-based rover mobility studies in Isaac Sim (terrain/slope/obstacle cases, contact/traction behaviors, repeatable test harnesses) to inform requirements and design decisions
• Develop terramechanics approaches appropriate to fidelity needs (e.g., simplified parametric models for trades vs. higher-fidelity models for risk retirement) and quantify key sensitivities/uncertainties
• Produce technical roadmaps: model maturation plan, test-to-model correlation plan, and phased verification strategy (MIL→SIL→HIL)
• Synthetic data generation to support machine learning training activities

Project execution (design, implementation, verification)

• Design and implement closed-loop actuator control (torque/velocity/position loops, supervisory mode logic, limit handling, saturation/anti-windup, fault detection/response) for mission-critical functions
• Mature Isaac Sim + Newton models into verification-grade assets: configuration management, parameter governance, logging/metrics, automated regression scenarios
• Correlate models to component/vehicle/rover test data; drive system identification, parameter updates, and model credibility arguments
• Define control requirements, interfaces, and verification artifacts (test cases, analyses, acceptance criteria) for both space vehicle and rover actuation/mobility control
• Support debugging and anomaly resolution from lab to integrated testing (and operations as applicable)
• Mentor junior engineers and establish best practices for controls/modeling software quality and reviews

• 8+ years developing controls for high-reliability electromechanical actuation (aerospace/space, mobility platforms, or similarly mission-critical systems)
• Strong control fundamentals: stability/robustness, estimation/filtering, practical tuning under constraints and nonlinearities
• Demonstrated ability to use simulation to drive decisions across the lifecycle: trade studies → design → verification
• Real-time controls implementation experience (C/C++ and/or embedded-real-time environments) plus disciplined requirements/verification practices

• B.S. (M.S./Ph.D. preferred) in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Controls, or related field
• Hands-on experience with NVIDIA Isaac Sim for mobility/vehicle scenario simulation (repeatable environments, terrain/contact interaction workflows, logging/analysis)
• Experience developing/using Newton dynamics models for rapid iteration and verification support (multi-body/6-DoF, actuator/sensor abstractions, Monte Carlo/sensitivity)
• Lunar surface (such as rovers) controls and terramechanics experience (slip/traction modeling, sinkage/rolling resistance, slope handling)
• Space systems actuator/mechanism control experience (health monitoring, safeing, redundancy management, fault containment)
• MIL/SIL/HIL verification experience and automated regression testing of simulation scenarios
• Experience applying modern software practices to modeling/controls (CI, automated tests, configuration/parameter management)

Compensation Range for:

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.