Director, Avionics Hardware Design Verified today

About the role

Blue Origin seeks a Director of Avionics Hardware to lead the hardware engineering organization responsible for the design, qualification, and delivery of multiple avionics systems supporting New Glenn and Lunar applications. This role owns the full hardware design lifecycle from concept and schematic capture through box-level verification, integration, and production support.

You will manage a multi-disciplinary team of electrical engineers, FPGA designers, EEE component specialists, PCB layout engineers, avionics mechanical designers, and electromechanical actuator (EMA) drive electronics engineers. The organization delivers flight-certified hardware on demanding schedules.

Technical ownership

• Own the avionics hardware technical baseline; serve as the engineering authority for electrical design decisions, architecture tradeoffs, and design review disposition.
• Lead electrical design for mixed-signal avionics boards, power conversion electronics, and ignition systems, ensuring compliance with applicable standards (IPC, NASA) and Blue Origin design rules.
• Provide technical direction and approval authority across the full hardware stack: FPGA design and firmware verification, EEE component selection and derating analysis, PCB layout for high-speed and high-density assemblies, and avionics mechanical packaging (vibration, thermal, EMI/EMC).
• Define and continuously improve the hardware verification and qualification strategy including board checkout, environmental qualification (thermal, vibration, shock, altitude), and acceptance test procedures.
• Maintain deep technical engagement: review schematics, approve component substitutions, resolve design anomalies, and serve as final design review authority for new hardware and major changes.
• Lead the design and qualification of electromechanical actuator drive electronics, including high-current motor drive circuits, resolver and encoder signal conditioning, fault detection and protection logic, and thermal management.
• Identify long-lead technical risks early and drive mitigation plans with urgency; elevate hardware obsolescence, supplier capability, and design margin issues before they impact schedule.

Program execution

• Lead hardware deliverables for multiple concurrent avionics development programs; establish and maintain accurate schedule baselines, resource plans, and milestone tracking.
• Partner with Systems Engineering, Software, and Test to align interface requirements, manage change traffic, and maintain configuration control.
• Drive the hardware design-to-production transition: own the design-for-manufacturability process, support supplier and PCB fabrication/assembly qualifications, and resolve build anomalies rapidly.
• Manage make/buy decisions, supplier statements of work, and supplier technical performance for all externally procured avionics hardware.
• Coordinate capital equipment and lab investments across the hardware design and test equipment teams.
• Track and report program status with transparency: surface risks, variances, and trade decisions at the right level.

Organizational leadership

• Build, develop, and retain a high-performing hardware engineering organization across multiple disciplines.
• Define clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations; provide differentiated feedback and recognition to accelerate team growth.
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, ownership, and operational discipline.
• Work across organizational boundaries with Test, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Mission Assurance to break down silos that slow hardware delivery.
• Develop and execute on a multi-year hardware engineering roadmap, including team capability investments, tool standardization, lab infrastructure, and process improvements.
• Represent the hardware organization in cross-functional reviews, program management meetings, and leadership forums.

Minimum qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in avionics, aerospace electronics, embedded electronics, or defense electronics hardware development.
• 5+ years of direct people management experience, including managing managers and leading multi-discipline engineering teams.
• Demonstrated experience owning hardware through full development lifecycle: requirements, design, fabrication, test, qualification, and production transition.
• Deep hands-on background in at least two of: mixed-signal electronics design, FPGA design, EEE component engineering, PCB layout, avionics mechanical packaging, or ignition/power electronics.
• Experience with environmental qualification programs (vibration, thermal cycling, shock, altitude) and familiarity with applicable standards (MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-810, IPC-A-610, NASA-STD-8739).
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex program schedules and deliver hardware on time in a fast-paced, resource-constrained environment.

Preferred qualifications

• M.S. in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Experience in space electronics.
• Experience with electromechanical actuator (EMA) drive electronics, brushless DC motor control, or high-current power electronics for aerospace applications.
• Experience with Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro, or equivalent PCB design tools; familiarity with FPGA toolchains (Xilinx Vivado, Intel Quartus).
• Background in instrumentation signal conditioning (thermocouple, pressure transducer, accelerometer) and data acquisition system architecture.
• Experience working with external PCB fabrication and assembly suppliers, including DFM review and supplier quality qualification.
• Familiarity with aerospace configuration management practices and change control processes (MIL-STD-973, AS9100).

Compensation and benefits

Base pay range for WA applicants: $218,262.00 to $305,566.80. Other site ranges may differ.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with company match up to 5%, Education Support Program, stock options for regular employees (20+ hours/week), and up to 4 weeks paid time off plus up to 14 company-paid holidays annually.