Software Lead - Oasis-1 Mission (Space Resources Program)

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.

We believe that to preserve our planet, humanity must expand beyond our current limits, venturing into space to explore and harness new energy and material resources. In pursuit of this vision, we invite you to join our Space Resources Program, working alongside Blue Alchemist, Blue Origin's initiative to enable lunar surface power production and building blocks for humanity from local materials.

The Space Resources Program encompasses multiple projects; in this role, you will contribute across the portfolio, including the current Blue Alchemist effort and future initiatives. We're dedicated to developing and demonstrating Prospecting and In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) technologies for the Moon, Mars, and beyond. If our mission resonates with you and you are eager to contribute, you could be the perfect addition to our inclusive, open-minded, and forward-thinking team.

In this hands-on leadership role, you will work in a fully in-person capacity at our Los Angeles Space Resources Center of Excellence (SRCE) facility. You will serve as the software owner for the lunar prospecting mission Oasis-1, connecting flight and ground software, ultra-low-altitude navigation, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testbeds, and ground stations into a coherent, secure, reliable, and operable system. You will own mission flight and ground software architectures; lead fault management implementation; stand up and operate HIL benches; validate ground station compatibility; and execute cybersecurity work package and accreditation inputs. You will lead a small software team, collaborate closely with Systems, Instruments, Mission Operations, and Quality, and engage external partners to ensure secure, reliable end-to-end operations.

About Project Oasis and Oasis-1 : Project Oasis is Blue Origin's lunar prospecting campaign to map and ultimately harvest key resources, enabling a commercial Earth-Moon economy. It progresses in three phases: (1) Orbital Reconnaissance Oasis-1; (2) Surface Resource Validation; (3) Extraction Operations. Oasis-1 (Phase 1) will deliver ~9x better spatial resolution resource maps than currently exist by flying two low-flying SmallSats, deployed by the MK1 lander into a 10 x 50 km orbit with periapsis near the Moon's South Pole. Its instruments map water-ice, proxies for helium-3, platinum group elements, and rare earth elements, plus radionuclides. After 90 days of global mapping, a 10-day secondary mission performs a controlled deorbit to impact downrange of the most water-rich sites.

We value self-motivated, hands-on leaders who can find practical solutions to abstract problems. Our teams work in fast-paced cycles of design, analysis, and operations to deliver scalable solutions. We're looking for someone adaptable, willing to take action, eager to learn, and committed to a highly dedicated and open-minded team of team players working together, all while embracing a culture of safety and quality. Your creativity, innovative spirit, and ability to navigate changing requirements are crucial.

Conditions of Employment : Offer and start are contingent upon contract award/funding and required internal approvals. If the contract is not awarded, the role may be paused or canceled.

Location and Travel: Fully in-person role based at our Los Angeles (North Hollywood) SRCE facility.

Key Responsibilities and Core Deliverables:

• Software leadership and strategy : Define and own the flight and ground software architecture and development plan aligned to Oasis-1 mission ConOps, guidance, navigation, and control needs, and stakeholder objectives. Deliver software architecture, roadmap, standards, and configuration-controlled documentation.
• Requirements, interfaces, and quality : Define software requirements, ICDs, acceptance criteria, and quality metrics; ensure traceability to system requirements and Oasis-1 mission objectives. Deliver configuration-controlled requirements, ICDs, verification plans, and review records.
• Flight software : Lead design and implementation of real-time flight software, fault management, and ultra-low altitude navigation algorithms in coordination with GNC and systems. Deliver qualified flight software releases with unit/integration tests, coverage reports, and as-built release documentation.
• Ground software and mission control : Own ground segment software for commanding, telemetry, and data handling; validate ground station compatibility and secure communications. Deliver ground software releases, end-to-end link test reports, and operator procedures.
• Hardware in the Loop (HIL) benches, simulation, and test : Stand up and operate HIL benches and closed-loop simulations; integrate instruments and avionics for end-to-end testing. Deliver HIL readiness reviews, automated regression suites, test reports, anomaly investigations, and closures.
• Cybersecurity and accreditation : Execute the cybersecurity work package with the Cybersecurity Lead; implement controls, key management, and secure-ops procedures; provide accreditation inputs. Deliver a cybersecurity plan with the Cybersecurity Lead, control implementation evidence, and incident response playbooks.

• Verification, validation, and reviews : Own the software V&V plan; lead software content at gated reviews; maintain audit-ready artifacts. Deliver verification matrices, test results, discrepancies/closures, and gate-readiness packages.

• Operations readiness and support : Coordinate with Mission Operations to prepare commissioning and nominal/contingency procedures; support rehearsals and on-console operations as needed. Deliver operations readiness demos, on-call playbooks, and final closeout documentation.
• Cross-functional collaboration : Interface with Instruments, Systems, Lead Scientist, Mission Assurance/Quality, and external ground station providers to align interfaces, schedules, and risk mitigations. Deliver team operating rhythms, interface agreements, and change-control submissions for software impacts.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in computer science, electrical/computer engineering, aerospace engineering, or related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• 10+ years of experience delivering flight and/or ground software for spacecraft or similarly safety/mission-critical systems.
• Demonstrated ownership of fault management or navigation software; experience integrating with GNC and avionics.
• Hands-on experience building and operating HIL benches and closed-loop simulations; end-to-end RF/ground station compatibility testing.
• Proficiency in modern software development for embedded and ground systems (e.g., C/C++ for RTOS/Linux; Python for tools/automation) and version control (e.g., Git).
• Experience defining software requirements/ICDs, verification plans, and acceptance criteria; operating within formal reviews and change-control processes.
• Familiarity with secure communications and cybersecurity control implementation for mission systems.
• Strong collaboration skills in fast-paced environments; ability to coordinate cross-functional teams (instruments, systems, mission ops, quality).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in a related field; 12+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience with small satellite missions, CCSDS or similar space communications protocols, and ground station network integration.
• Expertise in spacecraft navigation methods (e.g., guidance laws, EKF/UKF, FDIR/FMECA-driven fault management).
• Depth in test automation and CI/CD for embedded and ground software; experience with static/dynamic analysis and code quality tooling.
• Experience leading software through gated reviews with audit-ready artifacts.
• Cybersecurity accreditation experience and familiarity with common control frameworks for space/ground systems.
• Experience integrating instrument drivers, data handling pipelines, time synchronization, and performance telemetry.
• International collaboration experience and familiarity with data governance/export control considerations.

Compensation Range for:

CA applicants is $177,567.00-$248,593.80

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 (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 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.