Principal Avionics Engineer - New Shepard Crew Capsule (R36565)

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 diverse team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!  

This role is a part of New Shepard, a reusable suborbital rocket system designed to take astronauts and research payloads past the Kármán line – the internationally recognized boundary of space. Through operational reusability, New Shepard supports our mission of lowering the cost of access to space.

As part of a diverse and hard-working team of engineers, you will design and develop avionics, power distribution, and related electrical systems for the New Shepard program. You will be responsible for these systems’ complete product life cycle from initial requirements through flight qualification, including design, manufacturing, test support, performing test data reviews, processing non-conforming hardware and writing technical reports. You will need to have a background in avionics design and system architecture to be successful. You will be reporting directly to the Crew Capsule Element Lead within the New Shepard business unit.

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!

Responsibilities:

• Be responsible for all aspects of the Crew Capsule Avionics Systems.
• Lead vehicle-level trade studies and avionics architecture decisions for the next generation of the New Shepard Crew Capsule.
• Lead day-to-day activities of a team of designers and analysts to create solutions to complex problems. Evaluate solutions for challenges to integration or interface incompatibility.
• Work with production organization to resolve challenges encountered during vehicle manufacturing.
• Work with vehicle operations and maintenance teams to resolve challenges encountered on fielded vehicles and ensure operations and maintenance activities are conducted consistent with design intent.
• Collaborate with the Avionics Technical Project Manager, develop and integrate project schedules, and analyze/optimize those schedules to meet deliveries for upgrades and new designs.
• Take ownership of dependencies, including engineering, supply chain, and internal manufacturing deadlines as necessary to support end item delivery schedule.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of a B.S. degree in engineering (electrical or computer desired).
• Domain professional in avionics and vehicle/system architecture through all phases of development.
• Strong knowledge of entire avionics product/system from design, development, qualification, acceptance, and production.
• Strong technical fundamentals.
• Knowledge of computer aided design (CAD) software for electronics, mechanical, and harness development.
• 15+ years of industry experience in a related field.
• 8+ years proven ability guiding and mentoring less experienced engineers.
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to our inclusive culture.
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and strengthen our culture of inclusion.
• 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.

In addition to the general qualifications above, you will have expertise in several of the following areas:

• High-speed digital, analog, and/or mixed-signal circuit design, build, and troubleshooting, with a strong understanding of EE principles.
• Battery-based power systems, including power management, power switching, charging, and battery safety.
• Computer command and I/O control for complex industrial systems or vehicles.
• RF communication subsystem and/or component design, with a strong background in RF principles.
• Circuit analysis and simulation, such as worst-case circuit analysis, signal integrity analysis, and logic or P-Spice simulation.
• Experience in grounding and general board layout principles, including EMI/EMC tradeoffs.
• Design of data acquisition systems and familiarity with a variety of sensor technologies.
• Background developing sophisticated circuit cards, consumer electronics, wireless devices, or other advanced electronic commercial or aerospace products.

Preferred Qualifications:

• M.S. in engineering subject area or higher.
• Experience with OrCAD, Zuken, Creo (Pro/E) Wildfire 5 or greater, Windchill 10.