Blue Origin
Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer I - Early Career & New Graduate Rotation (2026 Starts)
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!
-We are collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers who are relentlessly committed to a culture of safety. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable space flight. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space and enabling Blue Origin’s vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth.
Early Career Pathways: We offer two pathways for full-time employment (please indicate your preference in your application):
Direct Hire: Multiple positions available across our Business Units. You will be matched with an appropriate engineering team based on your skillset and experience and our current business needs.
New Graduate Rotation Program: This one-year development program enables you to expand your engineering skillset through a variety of hands-on experience and mentorship. Throughout your three four-month rotations, you'll explore a variety of fields supporting our business units: New Shepard, New Glenn, Blue Engines, Lunar Permanence, In-Space Systems, Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering, and Operations. Upon completing this uniquely personalized program, you'll collaborate with the Program Manager to determine the best team fit for your ongoing career.
Timeline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis staring in early September. Due to the high volume of applications, please expect to hear back from us in approximately one month after applying.
Primary locations:
We prioritize placing early career engineers in locations where they can be co-located with their team and the relevant hardware they support. The primary locations for this role are listed below. Please indicate in the application where you would be willing to be located.
Kent, WA
Denver, CO
Reston, VA
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Your projects may include guidance, navigation, controls, autonomy, avionics, simulation, mission design, trajectory optimization, system test, aero sciences, mission design, trajectory optimization, and systems engineering.
Design, analyze, develop and verify guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) software for spaceflight systems.
Build on our existing human-rated GN&C software to improve reliability, enable capabilities, and reduce operating cost.
Perform system analyses, including simulations and Monte-Carlo, to satisfy specifications and requirements and to drive system-level architectural decisions.
Specific duties are subject to our business unit objectives.
Qualifications:
Minimum of a B.S. degree in physics, aerospace engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or other relevant engineering field.
Will have earned their degree within the last year and able to start by Fall 2026.
Demonstrated knowledge in designing and testing control systems for aerospace vehicles or mechanical and fluidic subsystems.
Fundamental understanding of dynamics, orbital mechanics, estimation, and control theory.
Practical experience in guidance, navigation, and controls algorithm development and analysis for aerospace or mobile robotic applications.
Strong software and model development skills, particularly in MATLAB/Simulink, and C/C++.
Relevant internship/co-op and/or hands-on experience that demonstrate development of both technical skills as well as leadership qualities.
Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and strengthen our culture of inclusion.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team on rapid development programs.
Flexible and adaptable mindset.
Self-driven with the ability to seek out requirements with minimal direction.
Desired:
M.S. degree or PhD in physics, aerospace engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or another relevant STEM field.
Knowledge of multi-body dynamics, flexible body dynamics, gas and fluid dynamics and thermodynamics.
Experience with modeling electro-mechanical, hydraulic and electrical subsystems.
Experience anchoring/fitting first principles models to test data or high-fidelity external simulations using system identification or other numerical methods.
Experience developing and verifying physical models for the purpose of control design, component sizing, and system performance evaluation.
Experience with Spacecraft Systems Engineering
Experience with Monte Carlo simulation testing.
Experience supporting flight testing or launch operations
Experience supporting component level testing and/or flight testing.
Ability to continuously manage risk and become comfortable with lean software development techniques
Proven system engineering, configuration management skills.
Experience with Python and Linux environments.
Experience with Verification and Validation
How to prepare:
We are solving challenging, new problems and we need people to represent a wide variety of perspectives. Experience in aerospace is not a requirement. We value broad academic and industry experiences such as Tech, Oil & Gas, Nuclear, Automotive, and more.
When you apply, include your internship, co-curricular and research experience in your resume. Please also include the relevant programming languages you have used in these settings. If you haven’t yet used a tool in a professional setting, please include relevant coursework that demonstrates your preparation for these roles.
Compensation Range for:
CO applicants is $78,153.00-$109,414.20;WA applicants is $85,259.00-$119,361.90Other 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 (CDL drivers only), 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.
Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.
Discretionary bonus: Bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results.
Eligibility for benefits varies by role type, please check with your recruiter for a comprehensive list of the benefits available for this role.
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.
California Applicant Privacy Notice
If you are a California resident, please reference the CA Applicant Privacy Notice here.
Top Skills
Similar Jobs
What you need to know about the Colorado Tech Scene
Key Facts About Colorado Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 260,000; 8.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Lockheed Martin, Century Link, Comcast, BAE Systems, Level 3
- Key Industries: Software, artificial intelligence, aerospace, e-commerce, fintech, healthtech
- Funding Landscape: $4.9 billion in VC funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Access Venture Partners, Ridgeline Ventures, Techstars, Blackhorn Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: Colorado School of Mines, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Denver, Colorado State University, Mesa Laboratory, Space Science Institute, National Center for Atmospheric Research, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Gottlieb Institute