Senior IMU Navigation Engineer

Blue Origin
life insurance, parental leave, paid time off, paid holidays, 401(k)
United States, Washington, Seattle
Oct 02, 2025
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. Blue Origin's Enterprise Engineering Flight Systems group is seeking a top-tier Navigation Engineer and Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) subject matter expert to act as a navigation leadin support of the New Shepard, New Glenn, Lunar Permanence, In Space Systems, and Advanced Concepts business units' navigation needs at Blue Origin. As part of a hardworking team of specialists, you will be supporting IMU design, integration, testing, implementation, as well as navigation system design across all flight regimes for current and future spaceflight systems. This position will require your commitment and detailed attention towards safe, low cost, and repeatable spaceflight and will directly shape the future of space exploration. Responsibilities: Consult on enterprise-wide IMU projects. Lead business-wide IMU sensor center of excellence with significant coordination across all Blue Origin GNC teams. Lead the development and guide the implementation of efficient algorithms and models for IMU and sensor fusion projects, including sensor I/O. Conduct thorough testing and validation of IMU performance in various environments. Develop and maintain documentation for IMU design, calibration procedures, and navigation algorithms. Stay at the forefront of technology related to IMUs and sensor fusion. Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior navigation engineers. Minimum Qualifications: MS degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. 7+ years of experience with software and/or hardware development for IMU applications. Experience with IMU sensor design, calibration, characterization, and environmental testing. Deep understanding of estimation theory and its application to IMU integration into navigation algorithms. Experience implementing navigation algorithms,such as Extended Kalman Filters. Software development skills in C, C++, MATLAB, Python. Excellent communication skills and ability to interface companywide as technical leader. Self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced new product development environment. Desired: Full product lifecycle experience with IMU sensors. Familiarity with the fundamental physics of gyroscope and accelerometer technologies, including mechanical, fiber-optic, ring laser, quartz/MEMS, piezoelectric, and quantum. Experience with space-based applications and the challenges with sensors associated with space and launch vehicle environments. Experience in verification and validation of embedded software and systems. Experience with machine learning techniques applied to sensor data. Knowledge of GPS and other complementary navigation technologies. Experience with real-time systems and embedded programming. Compensation Range for: CO applicants is $139,979.00-$195,969.90;WA applicants is $152,235.00-$213,127.95 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 atEEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. 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.