Avionics Development Lead

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 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.

We are a team of collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers who are relentlessly committed to a culture of safety. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable space flight. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space and enabling Blue Origin's vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth. 

The New Glenn rocket is Blue Origin's low cost access to space for payloads. It continues to evolve and improve to attain our mission. As part of a hardworking team of specialists, technicians, and engineers the New Glenn Avionics Development Leader position is crucial to identifying and advancing new products and integrating new architectures into new vehicles/products.  The Avionics Development organization is responsible to manage the new product introduction lifecycle for avionics (e.g. proposals, architectures, execution, and transfer to operations). Cost, schedule, technical, safety, and overall performance parameters are managed under this role.  

Special Mentions

• Travel expected up to 25% of the time (nationwide)
• Interviews will include a technical assessment

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Directly support the Senior Director of Avionics Development in strategy and execution tasks across the new development team
• Build Single Threaded Leaders that can be applied to New Glenn Dev programs that successfully manage the cost, schedule, technical, safety, and risk aspects of avionics programs.
• Developing a lifecycle execution scheme for LRU New Product Introduction that reaches design cycle time goals with quality products
• Provide technical expertise of avionics designs as technical reviewer / leader during design deep dives, interim design reviews, critical design reviews, and architectural decision meetings.
• Managing cost, schedule, technical, risk and safety for all new avionic development programs
• Integrating the avionics architectures into each system (e.g. running architecture decision meetings, channelization of vehicles, cross-discipline solutions)
• Establishing procurement streams that fulfill the development part needs of New Glenn Avionics and ensure Supply Chain is ready to procure production parts within Master Resource Planning lead times
• Ensuring that designs support vertical integration of new avionics products that meet touch time and cycle time metrics (e.g. establishing/coordinating facilities, processes and requirements for Operations to effectively meet the LRU goals)
• Leading new proposals for Avionics Subsystems in new vehicles
• Building strong relationships with New Glenn cross-functional teams that are crucial to avionics success

Minimum Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in aerospace systems 
• 15+ years of experience in Avionics HW/SW development (can be mix of design, management, production, test, SW, system engineering, chief engineer, etc)
• B.S. in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering or related field from an ABET accredited institution

• Strong engineering development experience across the product lifecycle, with a track record of delivery on very aggressive schedules 

• Demonstrated experience managing product family development or multiple concurrent vehicle programs with different technical architectures or design approaches 

• Demonstrated advanced knowledge in designing, building, testing and flying aerospace systems for rockets, landers, and space systems 

• Demonstrated ability to quickly identify and solve ambiguous problems and use engineering judgment to make rapid decisions that minimize wasted effort 

• Attention to detail and desire to roll up your sleeves while insisting on high standards 

• Demonstrated ability to operate both strategically and tactically in a high-energy, fast-paced environment 

• Highly organized and capable of planning and guiding complex technical work across multiple concurrent programs
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and collaboration skills that enable you to earn trust at all levels 
• 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

• M.S. or PhD in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering or related field, or MBA 

• Experience managing multi-mission program portfolios
• Proven experience navigating the development-to-production transition of a complex aerospace program.
• Experience with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.
• Experience growing and developing diverse teams across a multi-business-unit integrated operations organization.
• Experience serving as a customer-facing operational focal preferably with NASA or another government / prime-contractor customer including milestone reviews, operational data exchange, and contract / change coordination.
• Exceptional judgment and discretion when handling sensitive or confidential information.
• Strong business acumen with an understanding of industry dynamics marketplace trends, competitive landscape, and technology requirements for operational sustainability.

 

Base Pay Range for:

WA applicants is $209,650.00 - $293,509.65

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.