Senior Electrical Engineering Lead – Lunar Cryocooler System

Application close date:

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! 

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. 

As part of a hardworking team, the Electrical Engineering Lead for the Lunar Cryocooler System will be responsible for the Avionics and Motor Control system for the Zero Boil Off (ZBO) Cryocooler, which enables Blue Origin to make hydrogen a storable propellant and is a key technology for our permanent lunar presence. This role is responsible for planning, setting standards within the technical team, and guiding a team of high performing avionics engineers. They will work to ensure the avionics/control electronics for the Zero Boil Off Cryocooler are developed within technical, cost and schedule constraints. This includes flight software, avionics hardware, hardware-in-loop (HIL), and development of controllers for very high-speed gas bearing motors.

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!

• Work with your team to deliver the space-rated avionics sub-system to the cryocooler, which includes requirements development, design, testing and system integration, verification planning and execution, and lab leadership
• Develop and own, with your team, the high and low voltage avionics designs that interact with the full cryocooler system
• Support design risk analyses, failure modes effects and criticality analyses (FMECA), design for test/manufacture/cost (DFx), and root-cause analysis of test discrepancies
• Participate in program level technology development, mission assurance and safety initiatives, and avionics development process improvements
• Effectively communicate development status, risks, and challenges to management

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, or related disciplines discipline
• 7+ years of electrical/avionics design, including previous team leadership experience
• Experience with analog, digital or mixed-signal circuit design, including analysis, simulation, test, troubleshooting, and part selection
• A breadth of understanding in power electronics hardware development, such as developing high voltage switching, high voltage and power regulation
• Knowledge of signal integrity, power, grounding, and general board layout principles
• Familiarity with many of the following parts and their usage: ADCs, DACs, op amps, power supplies (linear, LDO, DC/DC), processors, and MOSFETs
• Knowledge of common communication methods, such as RS232, RS422, I2C, SPI, LVDS, Ethernet, or CAN
• Desire to work hands-on, both independently and as part of a team, throughout the development and production phases of the electronic assembly product lifecycle

• Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, or related disciplines
• 10+ years of experience in design, development, test, and operation of vehicle Avionics systems
• Experience with brushless DC (BLDC) motors and controllers
• Additional experience with various motor controls, power conversion topologies, and control systems
• Knowledge of radiation effects on electronics and how to apply this to designs targeting space applications
• Experience with launch vehicle Avionics systems hardware development, integration, and test
• Electrical Design and Analysis tools: LTSpice, PSpice, SIMetrix/SIMPLIS, Simscape
• Experience designing high reliability safety-critical, Class 2/3 board assemblies; familiarity with IPC-A-600/610, DO-254 and similar standards

Compensation Range for:

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.