Senior Avionics Hardware Engineer - Lunar Permanence

Blue Origin LLC; United States; On-site; USD 157,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Parental leave

401(k) with company match

Education Support Program

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC is seeking an Avionics Hardware Engineer to design and own digital, analog, and mixed-signal avionics boards for spaceflight applications. You will contribute across the full lifecycle from concept through production, tackling high-reliability hardware challenges and collaborating across engineering teams.

The role emphasizes radiation-aware design, fault-tolerant architectures, and mission assurance, with travel 25-50% and relocation support. U.S.

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical or Computer Engineering or related discipline.
• Experience with electronics hardware development for complex circuit cards or aerospace products.
• Experience with image sensors, APD, and lasers.
• Experience in analog, digital or mixed-signal design, testing, and part selection.
• Knowledge of signal integrity, power, grounding, and board layout.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own digital, analog, and mixed-signal avionics designs that interact with systems.
• Own avionics boards and hardware assemblies through lifecycle from concept to production.
• Support architecture trade studies, performance characterization, and device selection.
• Support FMECA, DFx, and root-cause analysis.
• Participate in technology development, mission assurance, and safety initiatives.
• Communicate status, risks, and challenges to management.

Skills

Electrical hardware design

IR/visible sensors

FPGA programming

Signal integrity

Radiation-hardened design

Education

BS in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Tools

Python

MATLAB/Simulink

HFSS

HSPICE

VHDL/Verilog

Job description

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. The Lunar Transportation Business Unit is Blue Origin’s team dedicated to developing mission architectures, creating, and fostering new technologies into our existing offerings, building our next generation of leaders, and commercializing new platforms, such as our planned Lunar Lander program, Blue Moon (Link: https://www.blueorigin.com/blue-moon ), and other ambitious space destinations programs that fuel Blue Origin’s growth and further its mission. Our work scope is broad and deep, forging the path toward our vision of millions of people living and working in space. We're shaping our future in space, and we’re looking for dedicated and inspired people to join us! We are a diverse team of collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers who are relentlessly committed to a culture of safety. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable space flight. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space and enabling Blue Origin’s vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth. The Avionics Hardware Engineer scope includes every aspect of spacecraft electrical design from flight computing and networking to analog interfacing and power switching. We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required! Special Mentions Relocation provided Travel expected 25-50% of the time unless hired in Kent, WA Interviews will include a technical assessment

Scope

The Avionics Hardware Engineer scope includes every aspect of spacecraft electrical design from flight computing and networking to analog interfacing and power switching.

Responsibilities

• Develop, lead, and own digital, analog, and mixed-signal circuit avionic designs that interact with avionics systems (including sensors and electromechanical/electrohydraulic actuators).
• Own these avionics boards, and the rugged electronic hardware assemblies across the entire product life cycle, from concept and requirements definition, design, analysis, prototyping, schematic capture, layout, design review, test/verification (power-on, functional / acceptance / qualification testing) and through release to production.
• Support avionics controller architecture trade studies, analyses, performance characterization and specification, device selection, and controller roadmap direction.
• Support controller risk analyses, failure modes effects and criticality analyses (FMECA), design for test/manufacture/cost (DFx), and root-cause analysis of test discrepancies.
• Participate in program level technology development, mission assurance and safety initiatives, and avionics development process improvements.
• Effectively communicate development status, risks, and challenges to management.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related disciplines
• A breadth of understanding in electronics hardware development such as developing complex circuit cards, consumer electronics, wireless devices, or other advanced electronic commercial or aerospace products
• Experience with designs featuring IR and visible spectrum image sensors, avalanche photo-diodes and lasers.
• Experience with analog, digital or mixed-signal circuit design, including analysis, simulation, test, troubleshooting, and part selection
• Knowledge of signal integrity, power, grounding, and general board layout principles
• Familiar with many of the following parts and their usage: microcontrollers, processors, FPGAs, ADCs, DACs, OpAmps, power supplies (linear, LDO, DC/DC), volatile memory (DDR), non-volatile memory (NAND, NOR, etc.), and MOSFETs
• Knowledge of high-speed communication data interfaces such as GMSL
• Knowledge of other common communication methods, such as RS232, RS422, I2C, SPI, LVDS, Ethernet, CAN, or PCIe
• Knowledge of radiation effects on electronics and how to apply this to designs targeting space applications
• Desire to work hands-on, both independently and as part of a team, throughout the development and production phases of the electronic assembly product lifecycle
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and supply to a culture of collaboration
• 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

• Master of Science in Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related disciplines
• Successful Candidates typically have 10+ years of experience (8+ years with Masters) in design, development, test, and operation of vehicle Avionics systems
• Experience with launch vehicle Avionics systems hardware development, integration, and test
• Experience with FPGA programming
• Demonstrated experience designing high reliability safety-critical, Class 2/3 board assemblies; familiarity with IPC-A-600/610, DO-254 and similar standards
• Scripting, Programming and Analysis: TCL, Python, Linux shell and Windows batch scripting; C / C++; MATLAB / Simulink, HSPICE and HFSS (or similar modeling/analysis tools)

Base Pay Range

• CA applicants: $156,802.00 - $219,522.45
• CO applicants: $144,179.00 - $201,849.90
• WA applicants: $156,802.00 - $219,522.45
• 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.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin 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.

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. 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 [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. 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. 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. We appreciate your interest in working at Blue Origin!