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Sr Avionics Hardware Engineer Verified today

Blue Origin · 3 Locations · Electronics · first seen 2026-10-21
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About This Role

This position is part of Blue National Security (BNS), supporting the design, development, and delivery of launch and spacecraft systems for national security missions. You will work on Blue Ring, a high-powered hybrid solar-electric and chemical-propelled spacecraft.

You will be a systems-thinking engineer and hands-on builder responsible for the entire lifecycle of avionics hardware. You will design, develop, and test critical systems from component level to integrated system, working in the lab prototyping, building harnesses, and testing the hardware you create.

You will collaborate with mechanical, thermal, software, and systems engineers to define vehicle architecture and ensure successful integration of avionics into the overall system.

Key Responsibilities

  • Design, develop, and test spacecraft avionics systems
  • Lead design and analysis of vehicle power systems, including power generation, energy storage, regulation, and distribution architectures
  • Perform hands-on fabrication, assembly, and testing of engineering-level hardware, including building and modifying wire harnesses, soldering components, and integrating sensor systems
  • Design for the space radiation environment, applying principles of radiation hardening (TID, SEE) and selecting components to meet mission radiation requirements
  • Define and manage requirements for various sensors (IMUs, star trackers, magnetometers, pressure transducers, temperature sensors) and their electrical interfaces (analog, SPI, I2C, UART, RS-422, CAN, Ethernet)
  • Collaborate with mechanical and thermal teams to influence vehicle layout, packaging, connector selection, and system design
  • Develop schematics, manage PCB layout, and perform SPICE simulations for critical circuits
  • Create comprehensive test plans, procedures, and reports for hardware verification and validation at board, box, and system levels
  • Troubleshoot complex hardware issues across integrated systems and support vehicle-level testing and launch campaigns
  • Generate and maintain electrical power budgets encompassing power consumption and generation/storage margin management by mission phase

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related technical discipline
  • 7 or more years of experience in avionics and power hardware development for aerospace, defense, automotive, or other high-reliability applications
  • Demonstrated experience as a hands-on engineer with direct experience designing, building, and reworking wire harnesses and prototype electronics
  • Understanding of common circuit analyses (Worst Case Circuit Analysis, Derating, Power Analysis, Timing)
  • Strong understanding of designing for the space radiation environment and its effects on electronic components
  • Experience working with a variety of sensor types and their associated analog and digital interfaces
  • Experience with schematic capture and PCB layout tools such as Altium Designer or Cadence

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master of Science in a related technical discipline
  • Experience with end-to-end development of avionics for a spaceflight mission
  • Experience with environmental testing (thermal, vacuum, vibration, shock) per standards like SMC-S-016 or MIL-STD-810
  • Proven experience in design and analysis of power generation, energy storage, power electronics and power distribution systems (photovoltaics, DC/DC converters, battery systems, fault protection)
  • Experience with high-voltage power systems
  • Familiarity with systems engineering processes, including requirements management and verification

Compensation and Location

Base pay range varies by location: VA applicants $156,802.00 to $219,522.45; CO applicants $144,179.00 to $201,849.90. Other site ranges may differ.

Employment Requirements

Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted as a refugee or granted asylum.

A Standard Background Check is required for all positions. Additional background checks may be required depending on role and location.

Benefits

  • 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 working at least 20 hours per week
  • Paid Time Off: up to four weeks per year and up to 14 company-paid holidays