Flight Software Engineer III

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 Blue National Security (BNS), where our focus is the design, development, and delivery of launch and spacecraft systems for national security missions. Through Blue Ring, our all-in-one, high-powered hybrid solar-electric and chemical-propelled spacecraft, we provide unmatched mission maneuverability, versatility, and capacity at dramatically lower-profile costs.

About the Role

Multi-Mission, Multi-Orbit Space Mobility. Blue Ring is a high-powered hybrid solar-electric and chemical propulsion spacecraft that maneuvers, hosts, and deploys payloads across Earth orbits, the Moon, Mars, interplanetary space, and near-Earth asteroids. It supports science, commercial, and defense missions, and provides hosted payloads with communications, power, data storage, and computing services.

Blue Ring isn't a one-off spacecraft. It's a platform other missions are built on, such as the Mars Telecommunications Orbiter. Our flight software is built the same way: a reusable, configurable product line that evolves with every vehicle we deliver and supports multiple missions from integration and test through on-orbit operations.

That makes this a long-term team. You won't write code for one launch and move on. You'll grow with the platform, carry lessons from each vehicle into the next, and help shape the software that flies on all of them.

As a Flight Software Engineer III, you'll own flight software subsystems end to end, from hardware interfaces through verification, and see your work improve across successive vehicles. That kind of iteration rarely happens in a career built on one-off spacecraft.

Special Mentions:

• Security clearance and citizenship: Active clearance is highly desired but not required. (TS/SCI with CI poly or upgradable to it)
• Export control: 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.
• Relocation: Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates.
• Travel: Up to 15% travel to other Blue Origin facilities, test sites, or launch sites may be required.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Independently design, develop, integrate, and test flight software subsystems in C and modern C++, including hardware interface layers and device drivers
• Derive software requirements from system-level specifications and maintain traceability through verification
• Develop and execute software verification plans, including unit, integration, automated regression, and hardware-in-the-loop/software-in-the-loop (HIL/SIL) test procedures
• Lead debugging of complex software and hardware/software integration issues, and support anomaly investigations and root cause analysis
• Define software interfaces with avionics, GN&C, propulsion, and systems engineering
• Conduct design and code reviews, and contribute to coding standards and development practices
• Improve software processes, tooling, and CI/CD infrastructure
• Mentor and peer-coach Level I and II engineers
• Support integration, test campaigns, and mission readiness activities as needed

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related STEM field
• 5+ years of professional experience in embedded or flight software development
• Proficiency in C and modern C++ (C++14 or later) in resource-constrained embedded or real-time environments
• Experience with Python for tooling, test automation, or scripting
• Experience with Git version control
• Experience with embedded software verification, testing, and debugging
• 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:

• Experience developing flight software for spacecraft, launch vehicles, or other safety- or mission-critical aerospace systems
• Experience with NASA core Flight System (cFS)
• Experience with embedded Linux and Yocto
• Experience developing Linux kernel modules or device drivers
• Experience with hardware interfaces and protocols such as ADC, DAC, RS-422, UART, SPI, I2C, and Ethernet
• Experience with RTOS (e.g., VxWorks, RTEMS, FreeRTOS)
• Experience developing test frameworks and HIL/SIL environments
• Working knowledge of the systems engineering V-model
• Familiarity with software standards such as NPR 7150.2, DO-178C, SMC-S-012, or equivalent
• Experience with issue tracking and agile tools (e.g., Jira) and CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI, or equivalent)
• Master's degree in a related field
• Active TS/SCI clearance

Why Blue Origin

A career at Blue Origin is more than a job - it's a chance to be part of something historic. We are building a road to space so that future generations can live and work beyond Earth. As part of the Blue Ring team within In-Space Systems, you will contribute to a spacecraft that is redefining what's possible in on-orbit mobility, payload hosting, and space infrastructure.

At Blue Origin, you'll find:

• A mission-driven culture united by curiosity, collaboration, and a commitment to safety
• Opportunities to work on cutting-edge technology at the intersection of software, hardware, and spaceflight
• A team of passionate engineers who support your professional growth and development
• The chance to see your software fly in space and enable missions that matter

Are you ready to write the code that moves humanity forward? We invite you to apply and join Team Blue - where your work reaches beyond the horizon.

Base Pay Range for:
VA applicants is $164,652.00 - $230,512.80 CO applicants is $150,931.00 - $211,303.05

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 EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com . Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.