Avionics Systems Engineer III

Application close date:

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

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 is part of the Blue Origin Engines business unit, where our focus is the design, development, manufacturing, and testing of engines and propulsion systems. Built for multiple uses, our family of engines is powering the next generation of rockets for commercial, civil, national security, and human spaceflight.

Blue Origin is self-funding rapid development of multiple in-space flight systems – over a range of sizes, propellant types, and technical challenge. This position resides within the Avionics & Control Systems organization, in the Engine Business Unit, and spans Systems Engineering and Program Execution. 

 

As an Avionics Systems Engineer III, you will be responsible for both the technical definition of avionics systems and the programmatic execution required to deliver them. You will develop and manage system requirements, define interfaces, and lead verification activities while simultaneously owning task integration & tracking, procurement tracking, lines of balance, and build coordination that keep hardware flowing on time and to specification. You serve as the bridge between engineering rigor and program execution. 

 

The successful candidate is equally comfortable writing a system requirements specification and using/building a project agile task board with all critical linkages & dependencies defined, and understands that sustained program success requires both. You thrive in a fast-paced, hardware-centric environment where technical decisions and schedule impacts are inseparable. You can lead technical peer reviews in the morning, walk the floor to resolve a build issue in the afternoon, and present a detailed risk update at the end of the day.  Your technical work products: requirements databases, ICDs, V&V plans, agile task boards, lines of balance, and risk registers collectively form the operating backbone of the program. 

 

Position requires up to 10% travel to rocket engine test sites and manufacturing facilities. 

Responsibilities: 

• Utilize Artificial intelligence (AI) & Machine learning (ML) responsibly to dramatically improve program execution without inadvertently introducing program risk 
• Develop, allocate, and manage system and subsystem requirements using requirements management tools (Jama, IBM DOORS, or equivalent); maintain bidirectional traceability from customer and mission needs through subsystem specifications 
• Define system and subsystem interfaces through Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and Interface Requirements Documents (IRDs); coordinate interface agreements across avionics, software, structures, propulsion, and test teams 
• Develop and maintain Verification and Validation (V&V) plans, requirements verification traceability matrices (RVTM), and test plans; coordinate verification activities across hardware, software, and integration test teams 
• Lead and support formal systems engineering design reviews at their customer-required level of formality & robustness, including developing entrance and exit criteria, preparing technical data packages, and driving action items to closure 
• Conduct and document trade studies and system-level analyses to inform architectural and design decisions; present findings and recommendations to technical leads and program leadership 
• Define, track, and report Technical Performance Measures (TPMs) against system requirements; identify negative margin trends early and drive corrective actions through the engineering team 
• Develop, maintain, and manage a comprehensive agile task board, including all critical linkages & dependencies for your assigned avionics hardware program using appropriate tools & management processes:  manage networked task dependencies and critical path 
• Create and maintain lines of balance (LOB) to track hardware production flow, partner with Operations & Supply Chain to identify bottlenecks, forecast hardware availability, and align build sequences with program need dates
• Initiate and track procurement activities for avionics hardware, including partnering with Supply Chain for creation of purchase requisitions, tracking of supplier deliverables, management of long-lead items, and resolution of procurement issues with the supply chain team 
• Partner with Operations & Supply Chain to coordinate and schedule build and assembly activities with manufacturing engineers & hardware technicians; monitor execution to plan and identify and resolve schedule drivers in real time 
• Partner with Operations to manage the movement of avionics hardware between facilities, test sites, and customer delivery locations, including coordination of shipping, handling, and chain-of-custody documentation 
• Support hardware sustainment activities including tracking of units in service, managing spare parts inventories, and coordinating maintenance or refurbishment schedules 
• Maintain program risk and opportunity registers; develop and track mitigation plans with defined closure criteria and owners 
• Coordinate across functional teams: engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, operations, quality, and test to identify and resolve schedule drivers and technical blockers
• Own project scope management including requirements & deliverables timing, assignment of key personnel to accomplish needed workflow & artifact burndown, ensuring critical tasks are assigned a single threaded leader & management of product cost. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Passion for our mission: Millions of people living and working in space! 
• Minimum of a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or similar 
• 5+ years of experience in systems engineering, project engineering, or technical program management within a hardware development environment 
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing system or subsystem requirements using tools such as Jama, IBM DOORS, or equivalent requirements management platforms 
• Experience defining and managing system interfaces through Interface Control Documents (ICDs) or related data products 
• Demonstrated experience with developing and maintaining Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) – and being able to adapt this knowledge to effectively manage using agile task management processes 
• Experience managing lines of balance (LOB) or similar production flow tracking and hardware forecasting artifacts 
• Experience initiating and tracking procurement activities, including purchase requisitions, supplier management, long-lead tracking, and expediting 
• Experience managing hardware build, assembly, movement, and sustainment activities in a manufacturing or test environment 
• Demonstrated ability building trusting and effective working relationships that improve team performance, deliver results, and strengthen our culture of inclusivity
• Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills with the ability to synthesize technical and programmatic information for audiences 
• Demonstrated track record of resourcefulness and success working with interdisciplinary and multi-functional teams 
• 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 with formal design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, or equivalent), including development of entrance/exit criteria and technical review packages 
• Experience developing Verification and Validation (V&V) plans, test plans, and requirements traceability matrices 
• Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools such as Cameo Systems Modeler or MagicDraw, or with SysML/UML modeling 
• Familiarity with systems engineering processes and lifecycle standards (e.g., INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook, NASA/SP-2016-6105, or equivalent) 
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent, preferably with familiarity with the latest agile-aligned project execution tools/processes 
• Familiarity with avionics, aerospace, or defense hardware development processes and product lifecycle management 
• Experience supporting test campaigns or verification events at remote test sites or customer facilities 
• Experience across multiple lifecycle phases from early concept development through integration, verification, and sustainment 
• Proficiency in Smartsheet, Jira, or similar project management and task tracking tools 
• Experience with SAP, Costpoint, or similar ERP systems for procurement and materials management 

 

Compensation Range for:

CA applicants is $130,706.00 - $182,987.70
CO applicants is $119,814.00 - $167,738.55
WA applicants is $130,706.00 - $182,987.70

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 (CDL drivers only), 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 EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.