Sr. Avionics Systems Engineer — Advanced Technology & Architecture

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!

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 include but are not limited to:

• 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. Apply today and help us build a road to space.

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.