Sr. Compute Hardware Engineer – GPU Systems, Project Sunrise

Blue Origin; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC in Denver seeks a senior hardware engineer to own the compute payload hardware for our sunrise constellation. You will lead GPU system architecture, selecting GPUs, assessing memory subsystems, and defining the interconnect topology for space-grade performance.

You’ll design compute modules, manage thermal interfaces, engage GPU vendors, qualify devices for radiation, SEU, and vibration, and collaborate with systems and software teams to optimize AI/HPC workloads.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in HPC hardware design or GPU systems engineering.
• Experience with high-speed interconnects and design lifecycles.
• Security clearance or eligibility is common in space programs.

Responsibilities

• Define the payload compute architecture with GPU density and memory subsystems.
• Design GPU compute module, board layout, and thermal interface to the spacecraft.
• Qualify GPU devices for space environment including radiation and SEU.
• Collaborate with systems and software teams to optimize AI/HPC workloads.

Skills

HPC hardware design

GPU systems engineering

PCIe/NVLink interconnects

Radiation-hardened design

Thermal and EMI testing

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

NVLink/PCIe design experience

VHDL/Verilog for hardware design

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 Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin’s mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design.**Job Summary:***Join Blue Origin as we build infrastructure in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re developing a satellite constellation of orbital data centers, Sunrise, designed to transform how compute infrastructure is deployed and leveraged.*Our team is developing next-generation spacecraft that push the boundaries of performance and capability in orbit. We are seeking a senior hardware engineer to own the design and development of the GPU-based compute payloads at the heart of our constellation. This is a rare opportunity to apply your deep expertise in high-performance computing and GPU system architecture to the unique challenges of the space environment. You will be responsible for everything from GPU selection and qualification to the design of the compute modules and interconnect fabric that form our orbital data center. If you are a world-class expert in GPU systems and are looking for a mission that will redefine the boundaries of computing, this role is for you.**Responsibilities include but are not limited to:*** Define the payload compute architecture, including GPU density, memory subsystems, and the high-speed interconnect topology (e.g., NVLink/PCIe).* Own the design of the GPU compute module, encompassing board layout, high-speed signal integrity, mechanical mounting, and the thermal interface to the spacecraft's cooling systems.* Engage directly with GPU providers to communicate our unique system requirements, define needs, and influence future hardware designs to ensure their roadmaps align with our mission.* Lead the selection and rigorous qualification of GPU devices and other components for the space environment, analyzing TID tolerance, SEU susceptibility, and thermal/power constraints.* Develop and own the GPU module qualification plan, including radiation testing, thermal cycling, vibration, and EMI/EMC compliance.* Collaborate with systems engineers and software teams to ensure hardware is optimized for our target AI/HPC workloads.* A key area of ownership for this role is the definition of the compute fabric architecture, including switch selection, topology design, and configuration.**Minimum Qualifications:*** Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.* 8+ years of experience in high-performance computing (HPC) hardware design, GPU systems engineering, or a similar role.* Deep architectural knowledge of the modern GPU/TPU ecosystem.* Demonstrated experience designing complex systems using high-speed interconnects such as PCIe, NVLink, or the like.* Proven experience taking at least one complex hardware product through the full design lifecycle, from concept to manufacturing and customer deployment.**Preferred Qualifications:*** Master’s or Ph.D. in a relevant discipline.* Experience in a hardware engineering or system design role for large-scale data center or cloud computing infrastructure.* 10-15+ years of experience in a senior or principal hardware engineering role at a major cloud provider, HPC vendor, or semiconductor company.* Direct experience designing compute sleds, nodes, or systems with NVSwitch or PCIe switch fabrics.* Experience qualifying hardware for harsh environments (e.g., space, automotive, industrial, telecom), including thermal, vibration, and/or EMI/EMC testing.* Familiarity with the effects of radiation on electronics (e.g., Single Event Upsets (SEU), Total Ionizing Dose (TID)) is a strong differentiator.* Passion for and understanding AI and Machine Learning applications in engineering, with a demonstrated ability to learn and integrate new technologies.* Proven ability to lead complex hardware projects from concept through to deployment.**Additional Requirements:*** Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or eligible for authorization under U.S. export regulations.