MK1-Avionics System Engineer III - Command & Data Handling

Blue Origin LLC; Washington; On-site; USD 131,000 - 183,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Education Support Program

Stock options (regular employees)

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC is seeking a Senior Avionics Systems Engineer to advance the C&DH architecture for the Blue Moon lunar landers. You will lead requirements flow-down, verification planning, and vehicle integration within the Lunar Permanence team.

The role requires strong systems engineering, experience with deterministic networks (Time-Sensitive Networking, ARINC 664, Time Triggered Ethernet), and a track record delivering safety-critical avionics for complex spacecraft.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level technical degree in a relevant engineering/computer field.
• 5+ years in full life cycle avionics development (requirements, design, integration, test, operations).
• Strong systems engineering practices and safety-critical mindset.
• Ability to define, decompose, and flow down requirements; hardware interface definitions.
• Proven expertise delivering complex, integrated C&DH avionics with multiple subsystems.
• Experience with deterministic networks and spaceflight hardware/software delivery.
• Familiarity with MS Visio for electrical architecture diagrams.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to or lead C&DH architecture trade studies and vehicle integration.
• Analyze and flow down C&DH requirements to lower-level specifications.
• Create verification/validation plans and support tests with the I&T team.
• Develop and manage network architecture for multiple subsystems with deterministic performance.
• Produce technical documentation and interface descriptions.
• Contribute to design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR) and ensure quality/artifact standards.

Skills

C&DH architecture

Time Sensitive Networking

ARINC 664

Time Triggered Ethernet

Network/Precision Time Protocol

Layer 2/3 networking

Serial Bus Communications

Ethernet/IO interfaces

Requirements decomposition/flow-down

Systems engineering

Spacecraft safety-critical systems

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Master of Science in Aerospace/Systems/Software/Electrical (desirable)

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Creo

Jama

Cameo

Confluence

JIRA

MS Visio

Job description

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 a Senior Avionics Systems Engineer within the Lunar Permanence team, you will play a pivotal role in developing the Blue Moon landers and associated infrastructure, essential for transporting crew and cargo to the lunar surface. We seek a professional with robust technical expertise, leadership abilities, and a commitment to quality, aimed at advancing safe human spaceflight. A passion for our mission and vision is essential. You will work within the Avionics Command and Data Handling (C&DH) team, engaging in the hardware/software integration of C&DH components and designing networking systems for our crewed landers. As part of a dedicated team, your contributions will directly impact the development of sustainable lunar transport solutions.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to or lead C&DH architecture trade studies, concept development, verification planning, vehicle integration, and operations support.
• Analyze, manage, and interpret requirements at the C&DH subsystem level and flow down requirements to lower-level component specifications.
• Generate verification and validation plans, and work with Integration and Test team to ensure the C&DH subsystem meets requirements.
• Develop and manage network architecture, integrating multiple subsystems while ensuring deterministic performance and budget compliance.
• Develop and manage C&DH fault tree analyses and other reliability analyses across the system lifecycle.
• Produce technical writing (procedural definitions, specifications, interfaces, analysis support and description documents).
• Contribute to design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR) and ensure technical artifacts meet quality and compliance standards.
• Provide technical mentorship and peer review within the avionics engineering team.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical subject area
• 5+ years relevant experience in the full life cycle development of avionics systems, including requirements, design, integration, test, and operations.
• Highly knowledgeable of systems engineering practices, integration processes, and mission/safety critical systems
• An understanding of requirements definition, decomposition, and flow-down, circuit design, interface definition, hardware specifications, interface control, analyses, and verification.
• Demonstrated expertise delivering complex, safety critical C&DH or similarly highly integrated avionics systems involving multiple subsystems and networked and IO interfaces.
• Demonstrated expertise related to configuring and managing time-sensitive, deterministic networks such as like Time Sensitive Networking, ARINC 664, Time Triggered Ethernet, or other approaches.
• Demonstrated expertise with Network/Precision Time Protocol and layer 2/3 networking (e.g., Ethernet, VLANs, QoS, IP, TCP/UDP, routing, etc.).
• Demonstrated functional understanding of common electrical digital and analog interfaces (e.g. Serial Bus Communications, Video, Audio, Ethernet, Analog Sensors, etc.).
• Excellent verbal, written, and graphical communication skills.
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships.
• Strong ability and desire to analyze complex systems and deliver results-oriented solutions.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast paced, dynamic work environment.
• Desired (but not required): M.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Systems, Software, Electrical, or related technical subject area.
• Experience with human-rated spacecraft.
• Experience with full spacecraft design life cycle.
• Experience with developing and delivering integrated, space qualified Hardware/Software components.
• A solid hardware and software background is desired.
• Experience with network topologies, architectures, and design principles.
• Experience with spacecraft communication protocols (CCSDS).
• Experience with systems safety design practices.
• Experience with electrical architecture diagramming practices and tools including MS Visio.
• Experience with software tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, Creo, Jama, Cameo, Confluence, and JIRA

Base Pay Range

Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $130,706.00 - $182,987.70.

Benefits

• 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.

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. At Blue, our team is building the future as their unique selves.

Thank you for your interest in working at Blue Origin!

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.

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