Principal Embedded Software Engineer

Blue Origin LLC; Altadena (CA); On-site; USD 231,000 - 323,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Paid parental leave

Stock options

401(k) with company match

Education Support Program

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Blue Origin Honeybee Robotics is hiring a rover autonomy lead for CT-4 lunar rover development. You will implement onboard perception and navigation, map terrain, and avoid hazards in real time, driving this capability from concept through field tests and flight operations.

You will collaborate with scientists, engineering teams, and program management to deliver new products from concept to production, with a focus on robust autonomous systems across rover lines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/Robotics/EE or related field.
• 10+ years of hands-on software development for embedded platforms.
• Proficient in developing bare-metal C/C++ applications.
• Background in spaceflight avionics applications.
• Experience with unit testing and testing frameworks.
• Proficient in writing drivers for sensors.
• Strong Git version control skills.
• Understanding of RTOS and real-time systems.
• Familiarity with communication protocols (Ethernet, USB, CAN, SPI, I2C).

Responsibilities

• Lead coding, testing and validation of vehicle control software.
• Manage software field deployments and provide on-site/remote support.
• Derive and own software system requirements and schedules.
• Identify improvements for robust autonomous systems.
• Collaborate with scientists and management to drive development from concept to production.
• Write requirements and specification documents.

Skills

Bachelor's Degree (CS/Robotics/EE)

10+ years embedded software

C/C++ baremetal

spaceflight avionics

unit testing

sensor drivers

Git version control

RTOS concepts

digital comm protocols (Ethernet, USB,

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering

Tools

GDS

RTOS

Testing frameworks

Python scripting

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!

As a member of the Blue Origin family of companies Honeybee Robotics has been at the forefront of robotics for over 40 years, establishing ourselves as pioneers in developing novel exploration systems for the most extreme planetary environments. At our Southern California location, we look to "Touch Life" by supporting planetary science, including every NASA Mars rover since Spirit and Opportunity. We aim to "Mine the Sky" through the development of practical In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) solutions. We search for technically brilliant individuals in engineering, software, and support fields who take ownership of their work, enjoy collaborating in teams, and have a laser focus on the details that drive excellence.

HBR is now building a family of robotic lunar rovers to support NASA science and technology missions. The first for the CP-21 mission will carry NASA’s Lunar-VISE instruments on a 1 km scientific traverse across Gruithuisen Gamma Dome; the second for the CT-4 mission will carry NASA's NIRVSS instrument on a 2 km traverse into permanently shadowed regions at the lunar south pole. These vehicles require onboard sensing and autonomous navigation capabilities to traverse multiple kilometers through hazardous terrain per lunar day.

About the role: HBR is hiring a rover autonomy lead on our CT-4 lunar rover. You will lead the implementation of an onboard classical perception and navigation system that enables the rover to map the surrounding terrain and avoid hazards in real time. You will own this capability and drive it from concept through field testing and flight operations. Collaboration is key and you will work with Honeybee’s scientists, engineering teams, and program management to bring exciting new products from concept to production. You'll have the opportunity and funding to innovate and improve robust autonomous exploration systems and will build lasting capability across HBR's rover product lines.

Responsibilities

• Lead efforts in coding, testing and validation of vehicle control software
• Manage software field deployments and provide support on-site and remotely to customers
• Work with stakeholders to derive and own software system requirements and schedules
• Evaluate and identify improvements to system design with a specific focus on robust autonomy
• Collaborate with scientists, engineering managers, product management, and program management to drive new product development programs from concept to production
• Write requirements and specification documents

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering
• More than 10 years of hands‑on experience in software development for embedded platforms
• Proficient in developing baremetal applications using C/C++
• Background in spaceflight avionics applications
• Proficient in applying testing frameworks and conducting unit tests
• Proficient in writing drivers for various types of sensors
• Basic understanding of electromechanical systems (motors, actuators, controls)
• Experience crafting autonomous safety‑critical fault recovery code
• Proven experience crafting reliable software architectures for critical systems
• Adept with Git version control system
• Understanding of digital communication protocols (Ethernet, USB, asynchronous serial, CAN, SPI, I2C)
• Familiarity with automated testing methodologies and continuous integration practices
• Familiarity reading circuit schematics and performing basic hardware debugging tasks

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience of operational control of a remotely controlled mission with large latencies
• Experience with building and working with GDS or other C2 systems
• Familiarity with vision based autonomy and hazard avoidance
• Skilled in Python scripting
• Background in developing software for vehicles
• Experienced in working with sensors and camera systems
• Experience with localization
• Proficiency in building maintainable and versatile multithreaded and multi‑process applications in an RTOS environment

Base Pay Range

Base Pay Range for: CA applicants is $230,773.00 - $323,081.85. 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.

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

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. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affiant Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, 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. We’re committed to building the road to space so our children can build the future.

Company Vision

We are a mission‑driven company focused on ideas and innovation, and encourage fresh perspectives from bold voices. At Blue, our team is building the future as their unique selves. Thank you for your interest in working at Blue Origin! Blue Origin was founded with a vision to enable a future where millions of people are living and working in space to benefit Earth. In order to preserve Earth, Blue Origin believes in the need to enable humanity to expand, explore, find new energy and material resources, and move industries that stress Earth into space. Blue Origin believes it has an important role in building a road to space and lowering the cost of getting there. At Blue Origin, we’re working on this today by developing fully reusable launch vehicles and systems that are safe, reliable and affordable. Every launch vehicle is designed for human spaceflight from the beginning and able to ferry payloads to space.

U.S. Applicant Privacy Notice EU Applicant Privacy Notice