Senior Systems Engineer

Job description

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!  As a member of the Blue Origin family of companies Honeybee Robotics has been at the forefront of robotics for over 40 years, establishing ourselves as pioneers in developing novel exploration systems for the most extreme planetary environments. At our Southern California location, we look to "Touch Life" by supporting planetary science, including every NASA Mars rover since Spirit and Opportunity. We aim to "Mine the Sky" through the development of practical In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) solutions. We search for technically brilliant individuals in engineering, software, and support fields who take ownership of their work, enjoy collaborating in teams, and have a laser focus on the details that drive excellence. About Honeybee Robotics Honeybee Robotics, a Blue Origin company, is a pioneering force in the development of robotic systems for space exploration. Operating within Blue Origin's Exploration Systems (BNS-EX) business team, Honeybee engineers design, build, and test novel spacecraft and robotic systems that push the boundaries of planetary exploration — from lunar and Martian surface missions to deep-space science instruments. Our teams are small, fast-moving, and technically elite, delivering flight-ready hardware on lean schedules for some of the most ambitious missions in the industry. We build things that go to space and work. Job Overview As a Senior Systems Engineer at Honeybee Robotics, you will act as the Responsible Engineer for one of our robotic spaceflight missions. You will drive the delivery of the project’s technical deliverables and be accountable for technical success throughout the project lifecycle. With minimal oversight, you will serve as the primary technical interface to the customer and lead agile, cross-functional teams to rapidly design, build, and test novel systems with minimal resources. Responsibilities Translate mission objectives into a verifiable, pragmatic system architecture, and lead rapid cross-disciplinary trade studies that balance performance and reliability against schedule and cost Own system requirements, ICDs, and performance budgets throughout the project lifecycle, with clear validation and verification activities that protect technical margins Partner with program managers to manage the trade-space between technical scope, schedule, and budget, and inform program plans with credible risk assessments, resource needs, and high-fidelity estimates Act as the primary technical interface to the customer, translating evolving needs into verifiable requirements while communicating the schedule, cost, and risk impacts of changes Serve as a key hands-on contributor to design, analysis, integration, and test activities, authoring verification plans and leading test campaigns Drive development by decomposing system goals into actionable tasks and providing daily guidance to a multi-disciplinary team in a fast-paced environment. Own the system technical risk register and lead rapid root-cause analysis and corrective action for anomalies during integration and test Tailor reliability and safety standards to the mission’s risk posture, ensuring the design is robust enough for spaceflight and planetary environments. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field 8+ years of experience in the design, development, fabrication and test of complex systems Demonstrated experience owning the full design cycle of a complete system, from requirements through verification, with minimal oversight, and working knowledge across multiple functional areas (such as avionics, mechanisms, structures, thermal, software, and test) sufficient to challenge assumptions and detect subtle design flaws Experience serving as the primary technical contact for customers and on cross-organizational projects, with strong verbal, written, and graphical communication skills Experience leading cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, hardware-centric development environment where technical and schedule decisions are closely linked Advanced proficiency in requirements development and management, interface control, verification planning, change control, risk management, and anomaly investigation, and in the tools that support them 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 Master's degree in engineering or a related technical field Direct experience leading or owning systems on spaceflight missions or programs, with familiarity with NASA or other relevant industry standards and practices for spaceflight systems Experience with space robotics systems, including rovers, robotic arms, and/or science instruments Demonstrated ability to work hands-on across the full hardware lifecycle, from bench-level troubleshooting to system-level integration and environmental testing Experience mentoring engineers, developing or improving systems engineering processes and tools Why Honeybee Robotics At Honeybee, you won't spend your career on a single bolt of a single vehicle. You will own systems. You will see your work launch. You will work alongside some of the most talented and mission-driven engineers in the industry, building hardware that explores worlds beyond our own. If you are a systems engineer who leads with technical credibility, thrives in a fast-paced and resource-constrained environment, and wants to leave a mark on the history of space exploration — this is your role. Honeybee Robotics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Base Pay Range for: CA applicants is $145,188.00 - $203,263.20 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.