Principal Human Factors Engineer - Lunar

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 the Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Origin’s Blue Moon landers and related products. To further Blue Origin's mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth, we are building sustainable infrastructure for our transport of crew and cargo from Earth to the lunar surface.

As the principal human factors authority on Blue Origin's Lunar program, you will serve as the primary technical lead for all human factors engineering activities supporting the development of crewed lunar vehicles. You will drive the human integration of complex systems, from crew interfaces to surface access architectures, ensuring that safety, operability, and the crew experience are at the center of every design decision. Partnering closely with NASA's Astronaut Office and Blue's systems engineering, design, and operations teams, you will shape requirements, lead human-in-the-loop evaluations, and own the verification strategies that will carry our Lunar systems through certification. This position carries broad technical authority and direct influence over program architecture: your work will shape the safety and success of human Lunar exploration. Passion for our mission and an unwavering commitment to crew safety and mission success are essential.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Serve as the Human Factors Engineering lead for the Lunar program, owning the full scope of HF activities from requirements development through verification

Write, evaluate, and challenge human factors requirements; drive simplification and ensure requirements reflect true crew safety and operability needs

Develop and own HF verification strategy, including mapping requirements to verification expectations and verification events, and authoring verification event content

Conduct and mature task analyses (TA) and human error analyses (HEA) for crew interfaces and operations, in collaboration with NASA counterparts

Lead human-in-the-loop (HITL) test campaigns across different environments (e.g., NBL, ARGOS, JSC facilities), from planning and execution through translation of results into actionable design direction

Perform anthropometric analyses and ergonomic evaluations to support design decisions and requirements compliance

Partner with systems engineering and design teams to influence system architecture decisions based on crew operability findings and HF analyses

Interface with NASA's Astronaut Office, including leading or co-chairing joint test panels and other formal collaboration forums

Mentor engineers across the team and model a standard of technical excellence, clear communication, and inclusive collaboration

Contribute to enterprise-level HF frameworks, standards, and knowledge resources applicable across Blue Origin programs and business units

Minimum Qualifications

Passion for our mission: working towards millions of people living and working in space!

Minimum of a B.S. in Engineering or a related technical discipline

10+ years of industry experience in human factors engineering or human-centered system design

Expertise in task analysis and human error analysis methodologies and execution

Expertise in anthropometric analysis

Demonstrated experience leading human-in-the-loop test programs in safety-critical environments

Strong systems engineering background, including hands-on experience with requirements development and verification planning

Proven ability to influence system architecture and design decisions through human factors analysis and technical advocacy

Experience working directly with NASA or other human spaceflight customers or operational stakeholders

Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex HF findings into concise, actionable engineering direction

Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion

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

15+ years of industry experience in HF or human-centered system design

Experience in human spaceflight vehicle design and/or certification

Familiarity with NASA human systems integration standards (e.g., NASA-STD-3001) and certification processes

Operational experience in a technology-intensive, safety-critical environment (e.g., aviation, spaceflight, defense)

Experience developing program-adopted standards, methodologies, or knowledge resources

Master's or Ph.D. in Human Factors, Aerospace Engineering, Cognitive Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline

Base Pay Range for: CA applicants is $169,624.00 - $237,473.25 WA applicants is $169,624.00 - $237,473.25

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.

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.