Principal Avionics Hardware Engineer - New Glenn

Blue Origin; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 183,193 - 256,469; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock Options

401(k) with company match

Paid Time Off

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking an experienced engineer for mission computing hardware development for the New Glenn launch vehicle in Seattle, WA. You will establish hardware requirements and collaborate with cross-functional teams, ensuring reliability and safety in aerospace systems.

This position requires a B.S. in electrical or computer engineering and over 10 years of relevant experience. Benefits include medical insurance, 401(k) match, and stock options.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of hands-on experience on full life cycle of airborne electronics.
• Familiar with testing and qualifying hardware per standards like MIL-STD-1540 and DO-160.
• Experience in safety-critical systems development is valued.

Responsibilities

• Establish hardware requirements and design for the integrated vehicle system architecture.
• Plan and execute hardware development life cycle per company standards.
• Communicate development status, risks, and challenges to management.

Skills

Electronics knowledge

Electrical circuit fundamentals

Signal integrity in high-speed signals

Communication skills

Independent and team work ability

Education

B.S. in electrical or computer engineering

Tools

Schematic capture

DFx

PCB fabrication

Job description

Application close date: It is ongoing 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 supports the development and operations of New Glenn, a single‑configuration, heavy‑lift orbital launch vehicle capable of routinely carrying people and payloads to low‑Earth orbit, geostationary transfer orbit, cislunar, and beyond. Its first stage is fully reusable, and the vehicle was designed from the beginning to be human‑capable.

As part of a small, passionate and accomplished team of experts, you will be responsible for product development and delivery of mission computing hardware for New Glenn. This hands‑on position requires experience in developing, validating, executing Environmental and EMI/EMC test plans in order to produce reliable flight hardware.

This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your dedicated commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable spaceflight.

Responsibilities

• Establish hardware requirements and design to work within the integrated vehicle system architecture, including power distribution, interfaces, grounding/bonding, environmental conditions, EMI/EMC design standards, and ESD mitigations.
• Plan and execute hardware development life cycle per company standards, including requirements and architecture definition, schematic capture, layout, fabrication, assembly, functional/acceptance/qualification test, and release to production.
• Coordinate with cross functional team consisting of system, mechanical, software, digital design, reliability engineers throughout the life‑cycle.
• Effectively communicate development status, risks, and challenges to management.
• Support root cause analysis on design and test failures.
• Facilitate the team in maintaining hardware configuration and traceability to support quality audits.
• Facilitate transition of development hardware into production, working with the ISC organization.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a B.S. in electrical, computer engineering or related field.
• Sound knowledge of electronics, electrical circuit fundamentals, signal integrity in high speed signals.
• 10+ years of hands‑on experience on full life cycle of airborne electronics.
• Familiar with schematic capture, DFx, class 2/3 PCB fabrication and assembly.
• Familiar with testing and qualifying hardware per standards like MIL‑STD‑1540, DO‑160, or SMC‑S‑016.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team on rapid development programs.

Desired

• 8+ years of safety‑critical systems development experience (automotive, aerospace, medical, etc.).
• Experience designing electronics and systems for space radiation environments.
• Experience in performing reliability, worst case analysis, to inform failure modes and affects.
• Experience with performing system safety analyses including Functional Hazard Assessments (FHA), Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analyses (FMECA), and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA).

Base Pay Range for WA applicants is $183,193.00 – $256,469.85. Other site ranges may differ.

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.

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 workforce. 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.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin's affirmative action plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and interview process, please contact us at [e-mail]. This is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.