Senior Avionics FPGA Design & Verification Engineer - TeraWave

BLUE ORIGIN

Cupertino (CA)

On-site

USD 157,000 - 220,000

Full time

4 days ago

Be an early applicant

Application generator

Turn this role into an interview — a resume and cover letter built around what this employer wants.

Get past ATS filters

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Stock options

Paid time off

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking engineers to design and develop high‑reliability satellite avionics with FPGA cores and SoC interfaces. You will craft RTL for critical blocks, verify via advanced methods, and integrate hardware with software in a fast-paced space program.

The role emphasizes collaboration across teams, prototype support, and rigorous documentation. Experience with SystemVerilog, FPGA toolchains, and trusted verification flows is essential.

Qualifications

B.S. or higher in Electrical/Computer Engineering or related discipline.
7+ years of experience in digital design and SoC architecture.
Proficiency in SystemVerilog or Verilog for RTL implementation.
Experience with SoC integration and interface design.
Understanding of digital timing and synchronization concepts.
Knowledge of AXI, AHB, and similar bus protocols.
Familiarity with synthesis tools and RTL-to-gates.
Experience with simulation and debugging of complex digital systems.
Strong FPGA background and tool flow.
Knowledge of Questasim and code coverage metrics.

Responsibilities

Design and develop digital hardware architectures for high reliability satellite avionics.
Create RTL code for critical SoC blocks and interfaces.
Contribute to architecture optimization for performance, power, and cost.
Collaborate on design verification to ensure robust designs.
Participate in advanced verification: UVM, constrained random verification, and SVA.
Support prototype development for early validation.
Document design specifications and decisions.
Participate in design reviews with cross-functional teams.
Troubleshoot and debug complex digital design issues.
Implement interfaces between hardware and firmware/software components.
Research new architectural approaches to meet evolving requirements.

Skills

SystemVerilog/Verilog

FPGA tool flow

SoC integration

RTL debugging

Questasim

Digital design

Code coverage

Interfaces (AXI/AHB)

Scripting (Python/Tcl/Perl)

Verification (UVM)

Education

B.S./M.S. in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Master’s/PhD preferred

Tools

Questasim

FPGA toolchain

Xilinx/AMD Versal

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!

Blue Origin is pioneering the future of space-based communications with TeraWave, a revolutionary satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. This multi-orbit constellation will consist of optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO), providing enterprise-grade connectivity for critical operations worldwide.

As part of the Spacecraft Systems team, you will develop vehicle avionics with Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) at the core for vehicle control and operation with processing and integration of various system interfaces. As part of the development team, you will design, develop, and verify high-performance avionics hardware for space flight vehicles. You will drive requirements definition, modeling, analysis, design, test, and production release of on-vehicle systems. Your responsibilities will encompass electronic requirements, architecture concepts, detailed design development, design verification and test. In addition, you will follow avionics designs through formal verification, environmental qualification, release, and participate in integration and flight support activities.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Design and develop digital hardware architectures for high reliability satellite avionics
Create and implement RTL code for critical SoC blocks and interfaces
Contribute to architecture optimization for performance, power, and cost trade-offs
Collaborate on design verification to ensure robust and reliable designs
Participate in advanced verification techniques: Assertion-Based Verification, Universal Verification Methodology, and/or Constrained Random Verification
Support prototype development for early validation
Document design specifications, architecture decisions, and implementation details
Participate in design reviews and technical discussions with cross-functional teams
Troubleshoot and debug complex digital design issues
Implement interfaces between digital hardware and firmware/software components
Research and evaluate new architectural approaches to meet evolving requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

B.S. or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline
7+ years of experience in digital design and SoC architecture
Proficiency in SystemVerilog or Verilog for RTL implementation
Experience with SoC integration and interface design
Understanding of digital timing and synchronization concepts
Knowledge of industry-standard bus protocols (AXI, AHB, etc.)
Familiarity with synthesis tools and RTL-to-gates methodology
Experience with simulation and debugging of complex digital systems
Strong background in Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) and FPGA tool flow
Solid knowledge of simulation-based test using Questasim, and evaluation of code coverage metrics

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related discipline
Experience developing avionics or electronics for space, aerospace, or other harsh-environment/mission-critical applications
Experience with radiation-tolerant or radiation-hardened FPGA/SoC design techniques (e.g., TMR, SEU/SEL mitigation, error detection and correction)
Hands-on experience with space-grade or aerospace-qualified FPGAs (e.g., Xilinx/AMD Versal, RTG4, Microsemi/Microchip PolarFire)
Proficiency with Universal Verification Methodology (UVM), Constrained Random Verification, and/or Assertion-Based Verification (SVA) in a production design flow
Experience with high-speed serial interfaces (SpaceWire, SERDES, JESD204, PCIe, etc.) relevant to satellite or optical communication payloads
Familiarity with safety-critical or high-reliability development standards (e.g., DO-254, MIL-STD-883, NASA EEE-INST-002)
Experience with hardware/software co-design and firmware integration, including embedded processor cores (e.g., MicroBlaze, ARM Cortex, RISC-V soft cores)
Scripting and automation experience (Python, Tcl, Perl) to support verification, regression testing, and design flow automation
Experience with formal verification methods and tools

Base Pay Range for:

CA applicants is $156,802.00 - $219,522.45CO applicants is $144,179.00 - $201,849.90WA applicants is $156,802.00 - $219,522.45

Other site ranges may differ

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 affirmative action plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.

Get your free, confidential resume review.

or drag and drop your file here.