Senior Avionics Hardware Engineer, Spacecraft Systems

Blue Origin; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 183,000 - 256,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Stock options

Paid time off

Education Support Program

Job summary

Blue Origin, based in Reston, VA, is seeking a Principal Avionics Hardware Engineer to lead the design, development, and testing of spacecraft avionics hardware throughout the lifecycle. You will prototype in labs, build harnesses, and ensure seamless integration of avionics with vehicle systems.

The role emphasizes hands‑on engineering, radiation hardening, and end‑to‑end power system design, collaborating with mechanical, thermal, and software teams to achieve reliable on‑orbit performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 15+ years of experience in avionics and power hardware development for aerospace, defense, automotive, or other high‑reliability applications.
• Demonstrated hands‑on engineer experience designing, building, and reworking wire harnesses and prototype electronics.
• Understanding of common circuit analyses (Worst Case Circuit Analysis, Derating, Power Analysis, Timing, etc.).
• Strong understanding of designing for the space radiation environment and its effects on electronic components.
• Experience with various sensor types and their analog/digital interfaces.
• Experience with schematic capture and PCB layout tools such as Altium Designer or Cadence.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and test spacecraft avionics systems.
• Lead the design and analysis of vehicle power systems, including power generation, energy storage, regulation, and distribution architectures.
• Perform hands‑on fabrication, assembly, and testing of engineering‑level hardware, including wiring harnesses, soldering components, and sensor integration for rapid prototyping.
• Design for the space environment, applying radiation hardening principles to ensure system reliability.
• Define and manage requirements for various sensors and their electrical interfaces (SPI, I2C, UART, RS-422, CAN, Ethernet).
• Collaborate with mechanical and thermal teams to influence vehicle layout, packaging, and connector selection.
• Develop schematics, manage PCB layout, and perform simulations (SPICE).
• Create comprehensive test plans, procedures, and reports for hardware verification and validation at multiple levels.
• Troubleshoot hardware issues across integrated systems and support vehicle‑level testing and launch campaigns.
• Generate and maintain electrical power budgets by mission phase.

Skills

Hands-on engineering

Schematic capture

PCB layout

Power systems design

Radiation hardening

Sensor interfaces (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN

Altium Designer

Cadence

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering

Master of Science preferred

Tools

Altium Designer

Cadence

Job description

Blue Origin, based in Reston, VA, is seeking a Principal Avionics Hardware Engineer to lead the design, development, and testing of spacecraft avionics hardware throughout the lifecycle. You will prototype in labs, build harnesses, and ensure seamless integration of avionics with vehicle systems.

The role emphasizes hands‑on engineering, radiation hardening, and end‑to‑end power system design, collaborating with mechanical, thermal, and software teams to achieve reliable on‑orbit performance.