Sr. Avionics Systems Engineer — Advanced Technology & Architecture

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC is seeking a Sr. Avionics Systems Engineer to define possible advances for the next generation of launch vehicle avionics. You will own hardware end-to-end, evaluate emerging technologies, and hand proven baselines to design teams in a fast-paced, on-site role in Kent, WA.

The position requires 8+ years in avionics, leadership of product life cycles, and strong communication skills to influence across disciplines. Relocation assistance is provided and up to 10% travel is expected.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or a related technical field.
• 8+ years of relevant avionics experience or equivalent.
• Experience leading the full product life cycle for avionics systems as a technical owner or program/team lead.
• Experience with microcontrollers, microprocessors and FPGAs/CPLDs in complex digital designs.
• Experience with Ethernet, serial, I2C, SPI and related interfaces.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex, highly integrated systems and deliver results.
• Excellent verbal, written and graphical communication skills; able to influence across disciplines.
• U.S. citizen or eligible for U.S. work authorization.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the New Glenn Avionics Chief Architect on architecture direction and technology strategy.
• Evaluate and demonstrate critical new technologies; mature them to baselines for design teams.
• Define aggressive, achievable baselines for new avionics products and challenge performance estimates.
• Perform system-level analysis and testing to support current and future avionics systems.
• Lead architecture-level trade studies across compute, networking, power, instrumentation, and software interfaces.
• Execute rapid prototyping and demonstration plans, including breadboard/ brassboard setups.
• Translate demonstrated results into clear requirements and interface definitions for engineers.
• Support integration, test and issue resolution at stage and vehicle levels.
• Collaborate with avionics hardware, embedded software, GN&C, structures, propulsion and manufacturing teams.

Skills

FPGA/CPLD

Networking interfaces

System-level analysis

Technical leadership

Effective communication

Education

B.S. in Electrical/Computer/Aerospace Engineering

M.S. in Electrical/Computer Engineering (preferred)

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!

This role supports the development and operations of New Glenn, a single-configuration, heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle capable of routinely carrying people and payloads to low-Earth orbit, geostationary transfer orbit, cislunar, and beyond. Its first stage is fully reusable, and the vehicle was designed from the beginning to be human-capable.

This role supports the development and operations of New Glenn, a single-configuration, heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle capable of routinely carrying people and payloads to low-Earth orbit, geostationary transfer orbit, cislunar, and beyond. Its first stage is fully reusable, and the vehicle was designed from the beginning to be human-capable.

As a Sr. Avionics Systems Engineer working directly with the New Glenn Avionics Chief Architect, you will define what is possible for the next generation of launch vehicle avionics. You will rapidly evaluate and demonstrate emerging technologies, mature them to the point of confidence, and hand proven, ambitious baselines to design teams. This is a role for an engineer who has owned hardware end-to-end as a Responsible Engineer - and who also sees how every box, bus and cable in an avionics system fits together.

Special Mentions

This is an on-site role in Kent, WA, co-located with our primary New Glenn Avionics design, lab and integration teams. Relocation assistance is provided. Travel is expected to be up to approximately 10% of the time to support test campaigns, vehicle integration, launch site activities, and supplier engagements.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with the New Glenn Avionics Chief Architect as a trusted technical partner on architecture direction, technology strategy and cross-subsystem problem solving
• Quickly and effectively conduct evaluation and demonstration of critical new technologies that have the potential to enable major improvements in next-generation avionics designs, maturing them to the point where they can be baselined and turned over to design teams
• Establish an aggressive but achievable baseline for new avionics products, challenging assumptions on performance, cost, mass and schedule
• Conduct system-level analysis and testing to support the operation of current and future avionics systems
• Lead architecture-level trade studies spanning compute, networking, power, instrumentation, harnessing and software interfaces
• Build and execute rapid prototyping and demonstration plans, including breadboard/brassboard development, lab test setups and data-driven maturity assessments
• Translate demonstrated results into clear requirements, interface definitions and design guidance for Responsible Engineers and design teams
• Support integration, test and anomaly resolution at the stage and vehicle level, applying system-level insight to isolate and close issues
• Partner across avionics hardware, embedded software, GN&C, structures, propulsion and manufacturing to ensure architectures are producible, testable and operable
• Mentor engineers across the avionics organization, raising the technical bar and sharing lessons learned

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or a related technical field
• 8+ years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience leading the full product life cycle for one or more avionics systems - as a technical owner (e.g., Responsible Engineer) and/or at the program or team level - in a relevant environment such as launch vehicle, spacecraft, UAV or similar
• Experience with complex digital designs featuring microcontrollers, microprocessors and programmable logic devices (FPGAs/CPLDs)
• Experience with communication interfaces including Ethernet, serial, I2C, SPI and similar protocols
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex, highly integrated systems and deliver results-oriented solutions
• Excellent verbal, written and graphical communication skills, with the ability to influence technical direction across disciplines
• Ability to execute in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with a bias for action and comfort with ambiguity
• 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

• Experience leading architecture-level trades for avionics systems
• Experience with integration and operation of stage-level or vehicle-level avionics
• Experience with the utilization of AI for ground and flight applications, including the verification and validation of Edge AI systems
• Experience applying non-traditionally radiation-hardened electronics (commercial or automotive-grade devices) in space applications, including radiation characterization, screening and mitigation approaches
• M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or a related discipline
• Hands-on experience maturing new technologies from concept through demonstration and into a production baseline
• Familiarity with high-reliability and harsh-environment electronics practices, including qualification and environmental test
• Experience with avionics networking architectures, time-synchronized systems and fault-tolerant/redundant design
• Experience developing or specifying test equipment, EGSE and lab infrastructure for avionics development
• Working knowledge of hardware/software assurance and verification standards (e.g., DO-254, DO-178, DO-160 or similar)

Why Blue Origin

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! In this role, your work will not stay on paper. The technologies you prove out will fly - shaping the avionics that fly New Glenn today and defining the architectures that fly for decades to come. You'll have the rare combination of deep technical ownership, direct access to the Chief Architect and the freedom to pursue the most capable answer the data will support. If you’re ready to push the limits of launch vehicle avionics - and see your work fly - we want to hear from you.

Base Pay Range for: 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

• 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 Affiantive 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.

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