Mission Planning Engineer III

BLUE ORIGIN

. Design and own end-to-end mission planning process from mission design through operational execution, including planning cycle workflows, activity request intake, deconfliction, resource allocation, and timeline generation.

Posted 4/29/2026full-timeDenver • Colorado, Virginia • 🇺🇸 United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $119,814 - $182,987 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

PythonTypeScript

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Design and own end-to-end mission planning process from mission design through operational execution, including planning cycle workflows, activity request intake, deconfliction, resource allocation, and timeline generation.
Establish constraint frameworks that govern how activities are scheduled, sequenced, and validated across all Blue Ring missions.
Translate system-level requirements, mission design outputs (trajectory plans, spacecraft models, ConOps), and mission objectives into actionable planning requirements.
Define command sequence structure, procedure formats, and play architectures that align with the mission planning process and enable development of executable operational products.
Ensure mission planners have clear, validated activity templates, planning tools, and operational processes to execute planning cycles during mission operations.
Partner with mission planning software architects and developers to define operational requirements, and design, validate, and integrate mission-unique activity templates and command sequences into planning tools.
Lead development of mission planning ops products, including activity templates, constraint definitions, planning procedures, and timeline products.
Contribute to the development and maintenance of mission planning tools and automation capabilities.
Support test activities and rehearsals as the mission planning technical lead, ensuring planning products are verified and validated through simulation, rehearsal, and review processes.
Mentor and guide junior mission planning engineers and operations team mission planners on planning processes and best practices.
Support real-time mission operations as an on-console mission planner during launch and early orbit phase and other critical mission events as needed.
Represent mission planning in cross-functional forums and design reviews.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Active US Government Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance
Minimum of a B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field
5+ years of experience in spacecraft mission operations, mission planning, flight dynamics, or flight operations
Demonstrated experience designing or significantly contributing to new mission planning processes, tools, or systems
Experience developing command sequences, operational procedures, or activity timelines for spacecraft operations
Strong understanding of spacecraft subsystems and how they constrain operational planning (power, thermal, data, comms availability, attitude)
Software development experience in Python or equivalent programming language
Experience working across organizational boundaries to integrate engineering outputs into operational products
Strong communication and coordination skills for interfacing with customers, engineering teams, and operations personnel
Ability to earn trust, build positive professional relationships and collaborate with individuals of broad backgrounds to achieve mission success.

Benefits

Comp & perks

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%
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.

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

mission planningflight dynamicscommand sequencesoperational proceduresactivity timelinessoftware developmentPythonconstraint frameworkstrajectory plansspacecraft models

Soft Skills

communication skillscoordination skillsmentoringcollaborationtrust buildingrelationship managementleadershipproblem-solvinginterpersonal skillsbest practices guidance

Certifications

Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance