Planetary Scientist III — Planetary Mission (space Resources Program)

Planetary Scientist

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.

This position is part of the Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE) business unit. ACE develops next-generation concepts and systems to advance our future of living and working in space sustainably. We believe that to preserve our planet, humanity must expand beyond our current limits, venturing into space to explore and harness new energy and material resources. In pursuit of this vision, we invite you to join our Space Resources Program, working alongside Blue Alchemist, Blue Origin's initiative to enable lunar surface power production and building blocks for humanity from local materials. The Space Resources Program encompasses multiple projects; in this role, you will contribute across the portfolio, including the current Blue Alchemist effort and future initiatives. We're dedicated to developing and demonstrating Prospecting and In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) technologies for the Moon, Mars, and beyond. If our mission resonates with you and you are eager to contribute, you could be the perfect addition to our inclusive, open-minded, and forward-thinking team.

In this hands-on role, you will work in a fully in-person capacity at our Luxembourg site. You will serve as a Planetary Scientist, executing end-to-end science data processing pipelines; generating and quality-controlling maps and higher-level products; and contributing to geologic/resource assessment models. You will own science product generation, quality and acceptance metrics, and reproducibility practices; integrate calibration datasets with instrument and geochemistry teams; support mission operations from downlink through quicklook and final product generation; and prepare compliant public data releases with stakeholders. You will collaborate closely with the Mission Scientist, Sr. Geochemist, Software, Systems, Instruments, and stakeholders to deliver validated, auditable science outputs that inform mission decisions and amplify community impact.

Conditions of employment: Offer and start are contingent upon contract award/funding and required internal approvals. If the contract is not awarded, the role may be paused or canceled.

Location and travel: Fully in-person role based at our Luxembourg site; the position begins in the US with relocation to Luxembourg within one year; periodic domestic and international travel expected; candidate must be willing and eligible to work internationally; weekly teleconferences with the OASIS-1 team in Los Angeles occur between 6:00–7:00 PM (Luxembourg time).

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Science product execution and quality
  • Execute L0–L3 science data pipelines per specifications; implement QC metrics and reproducibility practices; maintain version-controlled archives and metadata.
  • Deliver tagged releases with coverage/quality metrics, processing parameter logs, and configuration-managed documentation.
• Pipeline operations and verification
  • Run end-to-end pipelines for instrument raw data to processed maps.
  • Deliver unit/system test evidence, code review records, and inputs to the Data Processing Pipeline Functionality Report.
• Map generation during mission operations
  • Ingest downlinked data; generate quicklook and final products; produce and update planetary maps; investigate anomalies and reprocess as needed.
  • Deliver weekly science status, rolling map updates, a Map Generation Final Report, and geologic model work packages.
• Model validation and uncertainty quantification
  • Execute validation and uncertainty methods (statistical inference, Monte Carlo, geostatistics) using lab/field/heritage datasets.
  • Deliver validation reports, uncertainty budgets, and prioritized targets/flags for campaign planning.
• Calibration and test data integration
  • Ingest final calibration datasets; update pipeline coefficients/parameters; participate in Science/Calibration reviews and field tests with instrument and geochemistry teams.
  • Deliver updated calibration parameters and field test inputs/outputs to the archive.
• Public release and publications
  • Prepare compliant public data and public pipeline packages with stakeholders; ensure embargo/IP/export screening and reproducibility; align with public release timing.
  • Deliver public release packages via stakeholders and coauthor peer reviewed publications.
• Reviews, gates, and configuration management
  • Contribute science content at SRR/PDR/CDR and operations gates; maintain CM discipline and audit ready records per PA/QA guidance.
  • Deliver review materials, action closures, and CM/audit records.
• Cross-functional collaboration and outreach
  • Collaborate with the Mission Scientist, Sr. Geochemist, Software, Systems, Instruments, and partners/academic partners; support mission decisions and community engagement.
  • Deliver interface agreements, inputs to ConOps and pass plans, and outreach/publication tracking.

Minimum qualifications:

• M.S. or Ph.D. in planetary science, geochemistry, geophysics, remote sensing, or related discipline (or equivalent practical experience).
• 5+ years executing remote sensing science pipelines and producing mapping products for space or airborne/terrestrial missions.
• Hands on experience with various spectroscopy datasets.
• Demonstrated experience in model validation and uncertainty quantification tied to calibration, lab, or field ground truth.
• Proficiency in scientific programming and data analysis (e.g., Python, NumPy/Pandas/Xarray; Jupyter), geospatial tooling (e.g., ArcMap; ENVI), and version control (e.g., Git).
• Experience operating within formal review, verification/validation, and configuration management processes; strong documentation and reproducibility practices.
• Experience preparing scientific publications and/or public data releases with external partners.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills; ability to coordinate across science, instruments, software, systems, PA/QA, and mission operations.
• Must be eligible to work in Luxembourg and comply with applicable export control requirements.

Compensation range for CA applicants is $117,498.00-$164,497.20. 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 (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