Senior Embedded Systems Engineer - TeraWave

Blue Origin; Cupertino (CA); On-site; USD 157,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Stock options

Paid time off

Education Support Program

Job summary

Blue Origin in Cupertino, CA is seeking an experienced embedded software engineer to design, implement, and verify mission-critical software for avionics hardware used in satellite programs. You will work closely with hardware engineers to read datasheets, understand registers, and optimize performance while debugging with real hardware in a lab.

The role involves BSP development, bare-metal and OS-level programming, and bringing up HW accelerators in modern SoCs.

Qualifications

• BS in computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of experience in the field(s) above.
• Strong embedded software design and development skills in C/C++/Rust with Linux (or similar) scripting experience.
• Strong debugging skills using cross HW/SW tools (GDB, XSDB, GRMON, Logic Analyzer, Protocol Analyzer, Wireshark).
• Strong background in computer architecture, memory buses, cache, DMA, CPU pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Developing Board Support Package (BSP) software for new hardware, including driver development.
• Bare-metal or OS-level programming for hardware initialization, control, embedded data processing, and networking/communication.
• Hands-on work with avionics spaceflight hardware, including debugging with logic analyzers and JTAG debuggers.
• Participating in design reviews, focusing on HW/SW partitioning.
• Defining and implementing embedded SW for interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART, TCP/IP, UDP, etc.).

Skills

Embedded software

C/C++/Rust

Linux scripting

Debugging

Hardware interaction

Education

BS in computer engineering / CS / EE

MS in related field

Tools

GDB

XSDB

GRMON

Logic Analyzer

Wireshark

JTAG

Git

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 Bus Avionics team, you will be a crucial member of our avionics organization and will directly contribute to the successful development of avionics components for our satellite program. Our avionics components make up integrated products such as Command & Data Handling (C&DH), Electrical Power Systems (EPS), Cameras, and similar products. Built with modern Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA), microcontrollers, and advanced System-on-Chip (SoC) devices, our integrated avionics products host embedded software that configures, controls, performs preprocessing, and enhances the operation of our hardware components.

We are looking for an experienced embedded software engineer that will be responsible for designing, implementing and verifying embedded software for mission-critical spaceflight systems working directly with avionics hardware engineers. This is a software role that is hardware heavy, and the candidate that we are looking for should be comfortable reading hardware datasheets, understanding registers maps, have a keen sense of performance tradeoffs, and must have hands-on lab debugging skills. You will collaborate with cross-functional, multidisciplinary teams and often work on multiple embedded software efforts simultaneously.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Developing Board Support Package (BSP) software for new hardware, including driver development

• Bare-metal or OS-level programming for hardware initialization, control, embedded data processing, and networking/communication

• Hands-on work with avionics spaceflight hardware, including debugging with logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and JTAG debuggers

• Participating in design concepts and reviews, with special attention to partitioning between HW and SW implementation

• Performing benchmark analysis and deploying benchmarking code to characterize hardware performance

• Bring up and utilization of HW-accelerators in modern SoC devices (e.g. encoders, decoders, encryption engines, image signal processing cores, etc.)

• Scripting, Linux development, and hands-on work with development kits and sensor modules

• Defining and implementing embedded SW for interfaces such as I2C, SPI, UART, TCP/IP, UDP, GMSL, SpaceWire, CameraLink, Aurora, AXI, AMBA, etc.

• Developing boot and SW-based fault-tolerance strategies

• Publishing internal documents and memos, participating in design reviews, reviewing and generating requirements

• Willingness to learn new skills, languages, debug/development tools

• 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!

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS in computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical field

• 7+ years of experience in the field(s) above

• Strong embedded software design and development skills in C/C++/Rust with Linux (or similar) scripting experience

• Strong debugging skills, using a mix of cross HW/SW techniques and tools (GDB, XSDB, GRMON, Logic Analyzer, Protocol Analyzer, Wireshark, etc.), and experience single stepping through code, looking at Assembly, probing memory, and driving I/O

• Strong background in computer architecture, understanding of memory buses, cache, DMA, CPU execution pipelines

• Experience with version control systems (Git)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Enter MS in computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical field

• 10+ years of experience in the field(s) above

• Previous experience building space avionics and/or space software systems

• Experience with DO-178 and companion documents certification guidelines

• Experience with FPGA development (VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog)

• Experience with software for HW-accelerated functions (encryption/decryption blocks, encoder/decoder blocks, image signal processor, GPU, etc.)

• Experience with tools and software for data analysis and post processing (Matlab, Python, open-source Linux tool)

• Experience with agile development methods

• Experience with kernel and driver development

• Ability to work well in a team and independently with minimal direction

Base Pay Range for:

CA applicants is $156,802.00 - $219,522.45

CO applicants is $144,179.00 - $201,849.90

WA 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

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