Systems Modeling Engineer – Space Safety & Sustainability TeraWave

Application close date:

At Blue Origin we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. Were 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!

As a member of the Integrated System Modeling team within Blue Origins Chief Systems Architecture office you will develop own and maintain the analytical models that underpin our space safety and sustainability posture. Your models will directly inform architecture decisions on debris mitigation collision avoidance post-mission disposal and demise compliancetranslating regulatory requirements and physical environments into quantitative predictions that drive design.

This is a hands-on modeling and analysis role. You will build and maintain integrated models in MATLAB Python and purpose-built tools that produce the quantitative basis for our space safety commitments. Your work will feed directly into regulatory filings architecture trade studies and design requirements across spacecraft propulsion power and operations teams. You will work alongside engineers modeling power communications and orbital performance ensuring that space safety analysis is tightly coupled to the broader system picture and that sustainability trades are evaluated in the context of their impact on network capability.

Responsibilities

• Develop own and maintain MMOD environment and impact risk models including flux characterization impact probability estimation and shielding effectiveness assessment to inform vehicle design requirements
• Develop and maintain demise and re-entry survivability models including aerothermal breakup analysis ground casualty risk estimation and compliance assessment against demisability requirements
• Develop collision probability models and conjunction assessment analysis tools at full constellation scale
• Build and maintain validated version-controlled and documented analytical tools in MATLAB and/or Python ensuring reproducibility of results and enabling rapid trade studies as the design evolves
• Perform MMOD-driven failure mode analysis for critical spacecraft systemsparticularly batteries propellant tanks and pressurized systemsto inform shielding placement and passivation design decisions
• Support adherence to orbital debris mitigation plans by providing the underlying analytical results model descriptions and compliance assessments required for regulatory submission
• Integrate space safety models within the broader Integrated System Model ensuring consistency with system-level orbital mechanics power thermal and mission timeline models
• Perform trade studies quantifying the space safety implications of constellation design choices including altitude and inclination spacecraft geometry and materials disposal strategies and operational concepts
• Develop and maintain space traffic density and long-term debris environment models including assessment of the constellations own contribution to the debris environment
• Collaborate with spacecraft propulsion power thermal and GNC teams to translate model outputs into actionable design requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in aerospace engineering astrodynamics physics mechanical engineering or equivalent technical field
• 5 years of experience in orbital debris analysis spacecraft survivability collision avoidance or closely related technical disciplines with demonstrated hands-on modeling and analysis experience
• Proficiency in MATLAB and/or Python for scientific computing with demonstrated ability to develop validate and maintain engineering analysis tools
• Working knowledge of the MMOD environment including debris population models (e.g. ORDEM) and experience applying them to spacecraft risk assessment
• Familiarity with re-entry demise analysis methodology and tools (e.g. DAS or equivalent) including aerothermal modeling of spacecraft breakup and ground casualty risk estimation
• Working knowledge of conjunction assessment and collision probability methods including covariance-based Pc estimation miss distance statistics and screening methodologies
• Ability to clearly document modeling methodology assumptions and results in written reports suitable for regulatory submission and cross-team consumption
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced dynamic environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters or Ph.D. in aerospace engineering astrodynamics or a closely related field with thesis work relevant to orbital debris spacecraft survivability or space traffic management
• 8 years of experience spanning multiple areas of space safety analysis including MMOD demise collision avoidance and long-term debris environment modeling
• Experience with large-scale LEO constellation programs and unique analytical challenges such as fleet-level collision risk aggregation intra-constellation conjunction management and disposal reliability analysis
• Experience with Monte Carlo simulation techniques for uncertainty quantification in orbital mechanics and debris analysis
• Familiarity with space surveillance data products and commercial space situational awareness (SSA) services
• Experience developing automated analysis pipelines and integrating models into larger simulation frameworks
• Knowledge of spacecraft design considerations for debris mitigation including shielding tank and battery protection and design-for-demise principles
• Experience with hypervelocity impact testing data ballistic limit equations or empirical MMOD damage models
• Familiarity with version control (Git) collaborative development practices and software engineering principles applied to engineering analysis tools

Base Pay Range for:

Other site ranges may differ

Culture Statement

Dont 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 youre excited about this role but your past experience doesnt 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 a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blues 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 10001 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 companys intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the companys results or other factors at the companys 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

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