Manager - Avionics, GNC & Electronics

Blue Origin; Jemison (AL); On-site; USD 151,000 - 211,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking a Project Engineer for the Advanced Engines – Controls team. You will own the integrated master schedule across software, PLC, and hardware, coordinating with multiple disciplines to ensure milestones and readiness reviews are met.

You will drive daily cadences, manage risks, and interface with Mechanical, Thermal, Fluids, Test Operations, and Safety to align on ICDs and technical trade-offs. A strong background in project management and controls is required.

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, Systems, Controls, or Software Engineering (or related technical discipline).
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Responsibilities

• Own the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS): build, maintain, and track the master schedule across software sprints, PLC logic releases, sensor procurement, electrical fabrication, and test facility activations.
• Identify critical paths and drive schedule recovery plans.
• Use modern project management tooling systems (e.g. Microsoft Project) to track and inform stakeholders and team members.
• Drive Daily Engineering Cadence & Unblocking: run daily standups and operational syncs to identify blockers and keep velocity high.
• Lead Cross-Discipline Technical Integration: serve as the primary interface between Controls and Mechanical/Thermal/Fluids/Test Operations/Safety; manage ICDs and resolve trade-offs.
• Manage Engineering Milestone Reviews: plan, coordinate, and close out technical gate reviews (PDR, CDR, TORs), ensuring verification and baselines.
• Coordinate Procurement & Supplier Interlocks: partner with Global Supply Chain to translate schedules into long-lead procurement triggers; track FATs.
• Drive Risk & Configuration Management: maintain risk/opportunity register and enforce change-management across hardware/software baselines.
• Support Branch Operations & Delegation: act as operational delegate for Branch Lead; assist in resource planning, standards, and reporting.

Skills

Project management

Agile / Scrum

Schedule management

Systems integration

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Education

B.S. in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, Systems, Controls, or Software Engineering

Tools

Jira

Confluence

GitLab

MS Project

Primavera

Smartsheet

Job description

Project Engineer, Advanced Engines – Controls

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. This role sits within Advanced Engines as the Project Engineer for the Controls team. The team is responsible for the complete digital and physical control architecture for next-generation hardware—encompassing supervisory software, real-time PLC automation, instrumentation, electrical distribution, and operational technology (OT) infrastructure. As part of a hardworking team of specialists and engineers, you will own the integrated engineering schedule, technical baseline, and delivery cadence across all controls disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Own the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS): Build, maintain, and track the master schedule across software sprints, PLC logic releases, sensor procurement, electrical fabrication, and test facility activations.
• Identify critical paths and drive schedule recovery plans.
• Use modern project management tooling systems (e.g. Microsoft Project) to track and inform stakeholders and team members.
• Drive Daily Engineering Cadence & Unblocking: Run daily standups and operational syncs to identify technical, procurement, or facility roadblocks; work directly with engineering leads to remove blockers and keep velocity high.
• Lead Cross-Discipline Technical Integration: Serve as the primary operational and systems interface between Controls and partner engineering disciplines (Mechanical, Thermal, Fluids, Test Operations, and Safety). Own Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and resolve inter-team technical trade-offs.
• Manage Engineering Milestone Reviews: Plan, coordinate, and close out technical gate reviews (PDR, CDR, Test Readiness Reviews, and Operational Readiness Reviews), ensuring requirements verification and configuration baselines are met.
• Coordinate Procurement & Supplier Interlocks: Partner with Global Supply Chain to translate engineering schedules into long-lead component procurement triggers (sensors, controllers, custom enclosures, compute hardware); track supplier delivery milestones and factory acceptance tests (FAT).
• Drive Risk & Configuration Management: Maintain the risk and opportunity register, quantify schedule and technical exposure, and enforce change-management rigor across hardware and software release baselines.
• Support Branch Operations & Delegation: Act as operational delegate for the Branch Lead when needed, supporting team resource planning, engineering standards, and cross-program status reporting.

Minimum Qualifications

• Passion for Blue Origin’s mission: Millions of people living and working in space!
• B.S. degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, Systems, Controls, or Software Engineering (or related technical discipline).
• 8+ years of progressive experience in engineering project management, project engineering, or technical systems leadership delivering complex hardware/software, aerospace, or industrial automation systems.
• Demonstrated track record managing integrated master schedules, critical-path risk mitigation, and milestone delivery across multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience establishing and running daily operational rhythms (agile/scrum standups, technical syncs, blocker resolution).
• Broad technical literacy across industrial control systems: PLC architectures, supervisory/SCADA software, instrumentation, and electrical power distribution.
• Proven experience managing supplier delivery schedules and long-lead component procurement for mission-critical hardware.
• Strong written, verbal, and executive-level presentation skills; ability to distill technical complexity into clear programmatic decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusting relationships, mentor engineers, and drive technical consensus across multi-disciplinary teams.
• 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

• M.S. degree in Engineering, Systems Management, or technical MBA; PMP or INCOSE certification.
• Direct experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, propulsion test facility commissioning, or complex fluid system operations.
• Working knowledge of industrial safety and machinery standards (IEC 61508/61511, NFPA 70E, NFPA 85) and electrical panel standards (UL 508A).
• Experience transitioning development hardware and prototype baselines into repeatable manufacturing configurations.
• Prior experience serving as an Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead, Technical Lead, or Deputy Lead.
• Advanced proficiency with modern project management toolchains: Jira, Confluence, GitLab, and scheduling tools (MS Project, Primavera, Smartsheet).

Culture & Inclusivity 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.

Benefits & Total Rewards

• 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 regular employees.
• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.
• Discretionary bonuses based on company and individual performance.

Base Pay Range

Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $150,743.00 - $211,039.50. Other site ranges may differ.

Background Check Required

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.

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.

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