Avionics Hardware Engineering Manager - Lunar Permanence

Blue Origin; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 151,000 - 211,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Stock options

Paid time off

Job summary

Blue Origin invites a seasoned Avionics Hardware Engineering Manager to lead a team delivering upgraded analog and digital avionic designs for the Lunar Landers. You will own architecture, guide hardware and firmware across the life cycle, and drive risk analyses, DFx, and production readiness.

This role emphasizes mentorship, strategic planning, and cross‑unit collaboration to advance safe, reliable spaceflight.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical or Computer Engineering, Physics, or related disciplines.
• 5+ years of experience in at least one specialty area applicable to space flight.
• Excellent verbal, written, and graphical communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, lead, and own upgraded analog and digital avionic designs for lunar hardware.
• Own architecture of hardware and firmware designs across the product life cycle.
• Lead design risk analyses, failure modes effects and criticality analyses (FMECA), design for test/manufacture/cost (DFx).
• Communicate development status, risks, and challenges to management.

Skills

Leadership

Communication skills

Hardware engineering principles

Team management

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Physics or related

Master of Science in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Physics or related

Job description

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.

Job Description

In this role, you would directly impact the history of space exploration, and your dedicated commitment and detailed attention to detail would further the cause of safe and repeatable spaceflight for Blue Origin’s next-generation Lunar Landers and this will be a chance to leave your fingerprints on the history of crewed spaceflight.

As an Avionics Hardware Engineering Manager, you will manage and lead a team of subject matter experts who are working on developing electrical hardware equipment for Lunar Landers. You will be a lead technical contributor in your area of expertise, providing technical support directly to your product team. In this capacity, you will be responsible for exemplifying best practices, balanced technical judgment, and a superior work ethic.

You will be responsible for cultivating an evolving, rightsized workforce; overseeing performance, merits, and promotions; shepherding team members' careers through coaching, and technical development; benchmarking their work standards and tools with other Blue Origin business units and with industry trends; and assuring that the team’s work products meet domain quality standards.

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to join our team and positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required. If you’re excited by providing near‑term value, solving novel problems, learning about interesting topics, and completing challenging activities,

Responsibilities

• Develop, lead, and own upgraded analog and digital avionic designs, which provide control of fluids and engine systems and on-board lunar hardware.
• Own the architecture of these hardware and firmware/microprocessor designs and support the team developing the rugged electronic hardware assemblies across the entire product life cycle, from concept and requirements definition, design, analysis, prototyping, schematic capture, layout, design review, test/verification (power‑on, functional / acceptance / qualification testing) and through release to production.
• Lead any architecture trade studies, analyses, performance characterization and specification, device selection, and product roadmap direction.
• Lead design risk analyses, failure modes effects and criticality analyses (FMECA), design for test/manufacture/cost (DFx), and root‑cause analysis of test discrepancies.
• Participate in program level technology development, mission assurance and safety initiatives, and avionics development process improvements.
• Effectively communicate development status, risks, and challenges to management.
• Lead the team by example and create long‑term strategic plans to positively influence each person on your team toward achieving Blue Origin’s vision.
• Be a mentor, and offer leadership and development opportunities, putting those around you first.
• Grow people into their full potential through inspiration and motivation.
• Responsible for forging a vision of a better future, strategizing on Blue Origin’s direction, and motivating your team to achieve Blue Origin’s overarching objectives by training, planning, directing, delegating, and monitoring success.
• Supply people, processes, and tools needed to meet the demand signals specified by project and program managers. Negotiate Statements of Work with the respective product managers.
• Manage your direct reports’ professional development (e.g., hiring, performance reviews, compensation and promotion management, routine one‑on‑one development conversations) and coach them on performance.
• Organize and equip the Team and assure that its staff are trained.
• Embody, promote, and coach the Blue Origin leadership principles and the Lunar Permanence team culture.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical or Computer Engineering, Physics, or related disciplines
• Experience in leading multidisciplinary development projects, people, or functional groups with the responsibility of coaching others.
• 5+ years of experience in at least one specialty area applicable to space flight.
• Excellent verbal, written, and graphical communication skills.
• Understanding of the principles, concepts, and methods of hardware engineering
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast‑paced, dynamic work environment while regularly providing imaginative and detailed technical solutions to complex problems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Science in Electrical or Computer Engineering, Physics, or related disciplines
• Prior responsibility for career management of employees.

Base Pay Range For

CA applicants is $150,743.00 - $211,039.50 CO applicants is $138,181.00 - $193,453.05 WA applicants is $150,743.00 - $211,039.50

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, 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.

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 Aff…disability accommodation, please contact us at [e-mail]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.