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Blue Origin · 10 hours ago

Mission Scientist - Planetary Mission (Space Resources Program)

Los Angeles, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level

$141K/yr - $197K/yr

7+ years exp

Blue Origin is a company focused on developing reusable and low-cost space vehicles for the benefit of Earth. The Mission Scientist for the Space Resources Program will lead scientific integration for lunar missions, oversee data processing pipelines, and collaborate with various teams to ensure mission success.

AerospaceManufacturingNational SecurityRenewable Energy

No H1B

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

Define the scientific roadmap across near-term and future phases; align concepts of operations, instrumentation needs, data products, and resource models with mission and business objectives

Deliver a documented science plan and roadmap, including review artifacts and action closures

Specify the science product suite from raw to higher-level processed products; establish acceptance criteria, quality metrics, and traceability

Deliver a product definition and quality plan, configuration-controlled documentation, and review records

Architect, implement, verify, and operate the end-to-end pipeline from instrument data ingestion through processed data products and models

Deliver configuration-managed software releases with test coverage, verification artifacts, reproducibility packages, and user documentation; maintain change-control and audit readiness

Develop and validate geologic models with clear assumptions, uncertainty quantification, and calibration traceability

Deliver technical reports, configuration-managed modeling code, data products, and prioritized target lists to support mission and campaign planning

Collaborate with instrument teams on calibration strategies and verification activities; integrate calibration data into operational processing

Deliver a calibration integration plan and records linking calibration datasets to processing parameters and product acceptance

Lead operational production of science products from downlink to delivery; manage quick-turn outputs, anomaly investigations, reprocessing, and final closeout

Deliver periodic science status updates and a final operations closeout package covering data, models, and acceptance evidence

Lead science content at major reviews and readiness gates; prepare artifacts, respond to actions, and maintain records per program standards

Deliver an integrated science schedule and milestones, maintain configuration-managed archives, and align with data governance and cybersecurity requirements

Coordinate compliant public data releases (acceptance records, documentation, screening) with internal stakeholders and international partners

Deliver release packages to designated repositories; co-author publications; lead or co-lead proposals and partnership engagements with agencies, industry, and academia

Direct and mentor science staff; drive cross-functional coordination with software, instruments, systems, and mission operations

Deliver team operating rhythms, interface agreements, and stakeholder engagement plans that support milestone execution

Qualification

Planetary scienceGeologic modelingScience data pipelinesScientific programmingRemote sensingData analysisCollaboration skillsLeadershipMentorshipEffective communication

Required

Ph.D. in planetary science, geochemistry, remote sensing, or related discipline

7+ years of relevant experience in space science, remote sensing, or planetary science

Demonstrated ownership of science data pipelines for space or remote sensing missions, including definition of quality metrics, acceptance criteria, and configuration control

Experience developing and validating geologic models, including uncertainty quantification and correlation to calibration and ground truth

Experience translating science/modeling needs into instrument and data requirements in collaboration with multidisciplinary engineering teams

Proven record leading proposals and engaging external stakeholders (public agencies, industry, or academic partners)

Experience operating within formal review, verification/validation, and change control environments

Proficiency with scientific programming and data analysis (e.g., Python; MATLAB or C++ as needed) and version control (e.g., Git)

Strong collaboration skills in fast-paced environments; ability to coordinate cross-functional teams (science, instruments, software, systems, mission operations)

Preferred

10+ years of relevant experience

Experience integrating multi-instrument remote sensing datasets for geologic mapping

Demonstrated leadership of scientists/analysts with delivery to program milestones; mentorship and team leadership

Experience defining science operations concepts and aligning pipeline operations with mission timelines and stakeholder needs

Proficiency in model validation and uncertainty methods (e.g., statistical inference, Monte Carlo), geostatistics, and correlation with lab/field data; proficiency producing mapping products and prioritized targets

Experience with instrument feasibility trades, calibration planning, interface documentation, hardware-in-the-loop or field testing, and end-to-end science verification

Track record of successful proposals, partnerships, and peer-reviewed publications; experience coordinating public data releases and operating within data governance/export control frameworks

Effective communicator with experience presenting at major reviews to technical and executive audiences