Radiation Effects Engineer - Sr. Principal

Application close date:

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!

As part of a small, passionate and accomplished team of experts, you will actively engage program leadership and engineers to drive company direction, intelligent system design, part selection, subcontracts, and analysis standards. From mission inception to operation, you will ensure success of Blue Origin’s systems. Within the Radiation Effects team, you will also lead process improvements and end-to-end analysis optimizations across the entire radiation effects workflow. Passion for the mission and workflow optimizations are required.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Technical Leadership & Mentorship - Serve as Subject Matter Expert on electronics part performance and space radiation environments; mentor engineers and guide multidisciplinary teams on analysis outcomes, requirement interpretation, and risk mitigation approaches
• Process Improvement & Strategy - Drive automation/tooling initiatives, develop roadmaps for radiation testing, analysis, and research, and champion continuous improvement in engineering practices and data governance
• Data Systems & Test Standards - Architect systems and processes (Radiation Test Database) that make radiation test data usable and traceable across the organization; set the technical bar for how components and assemblies are qualified against radiation criteria
• Industry Engagement - Maintain cutting-edge expertise through engagement with industry experts, customers, and technical publications on emerging technologies and radiation concerns
• Requirements & Risk Analysis - Translate mission parameters into radiation environment definitions and effects requirements spanning system design, part selection, and circuit implementation; quantify mission risk via upset-rate modeling and failure analysis
• Circuit Analysis & Mitigation - Model and validate performance of digital, analog, and mixed-signal circuits under radiation exposure; identify and verify hardening techniques in partnership with design and manufacturing stakeholders
• Component Engineering & Qualification - Guide decisions on part selection, sourcing, and qualification status across the component lifecycle, coordinating with reliability and sourcing functions to sustain a robust radiation-tolerant parts baseline
• Documentation & Decision Support - Author and interpret control plans, requirements documents, technical memos, and comprehensive part-, circuit-, and system-level analyses that inform key company decisions
• Safety & Regulatory Adherence - Operate in accordance with organizational and regulatory radiation safety standards

Minimum Qualifications

• Education & Experience - Graduate degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Nuclear Science, or related field with 15+ years of direct experience designing, analyzing, and/or testing radiation effects on electronics and materials, including work on avionics hardware for space environments
• Technical Domain Expertise - Expert-level understanding of radiation effects on electronics and materials, spanning commercial and rad-hardened component technologies, semiconductor devices (transistors, memories, logic, microcontrollers, FPGAs), and the ability to interpret engineering design documentation to assess radiation susceptibility
• Analysis & Modeling Tools - Expert-level experience with circuit analysis, mitigation implementation, statistical methods, quantitative risk assessment for transient radiation phenomena, and standard radiation environment/transport modeling tools (e.g., IRENE, OMERE, SPENVIS, OLTARIS, CREME96, MCNP, FASTRAD, GEANT4)
• Testing & Lab Proficiency - Strong familiarity with radiation test laboratory equipment (power supplies, DAQ systems, electronic loads, SMUs, etc.) and general electronics lab skills (soldering, harnessing, oscilloscopes, multimeters, logic analyzers)
• Automation & Tooling - Extensive experience developing software solutions that support engineering workflows, from hardware test automation to data management applications; proficiency in relevant programming languages and communication protocols (Python, C, SQL, common web technologies, version control, I2C, SPI)
• Project Leadership & Autonomy - Proven ability to lead technical projects independently from inception to completion, with sound judgment across all aspects of radiation effects on electronics
• Documentation & Communication - Excellent written/verbal communication skills; extensive experience producing program deliverables (control plans, test plans/reports, design reviews, system-level analyses) and presenting radiation requirements/results at program design reviews
• Collaboration & Culture - Ability to build trust, maintain positive cross-team relationships, and contribute to an inclusive culture
• Safety Certification - Completion of radiation safety coursework and adherence to dose exposure protocols
• Eligibility & Travel - U.S. citizen, U.S. national, current Green Card holder, or individual lawfully admitted as a refugee or granted asylum; domestic travel required, occasional international travel possible
• 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

• Component & Supply Chain Expertise - Background in the component engineering discipline, with experience influencing part reliability and availability decisions in coordination with sourcing organizations
• Human Spaceflight & Materials - Familiarity with radiation assessments and mitigation strategies for human space crews, and radiation effects on spacecraft materials

Base Pay Range for:

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

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 [email protected]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.