Senior PCB Layout Engineer

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! 

As part of the RF Payload Design team, you will be responsible for complex PCB designs and layouts with thousands of high-ball-count custom BGA devices with mmWave/RF/mixed-signal interconnects. You will play a key role in conducting PCB stackup feasibility and trace routability studies to inform key payload architectural trades. Your responsibilities also include conducting PCB fabrication house design rule studies, leading the PCB OK2FAB process including DRC checks, design release, fabrication drawing preparation, assembly drawing, and so on

• Design multi-layer PCBs for mmWave and microwave RF, complex digital, mixed-signal and high power systems including FPGAs, Microcontrollers
• Develop PCB layouts for Digital/Analog/RF circuits with careful attention to impedance control, loss tangent, and electromagnetic compatibility
• Perform signal integrity analysis for high-speed digital interfaces (PCIe, DDR, Ethernet)
• Create component libraries, design rule checks (DRCs), and maintain design standards
• Collaborate with electrical engineers on component selection, schematic review, and design optimization
• Generate fabrication and assembly documentation including Gerber files, drill files, and assembly drawings
• Work with PCB fabricators and CM vendors to ensure manufacturability and resolve fabrication issues
• Support board bring-up activities, debugging hardware issues related to PCB design
• Design for space environment considerations including thermal management, radiation tolerance, and mechanical stress

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field with 5+ years of PCB design experience
• Proficiency with PCB design tools (Altium Designer (preferred), Cadence Allegro, or similar)
• Strong understanding of signal integrity principles for high-speed digital design (transmission lines, termination, crosstalk)
• Experience with higher layer count HDI board design with dense fanout and routing.
• Experience with controlled impedance design and working with PCB stackup optimization
• Experience with high voltage layout design including considerations for creepage clearance and thermal management.
• Knowledge of EMI/EMC best practices and design guidelines
• Familiarity with IPC standards (IPC-2221, IPC-6012, IPC-A-610)
• Experience with PCB layout for FPGAs, high-speed ADCs/DACs, or mixed-signal designs

• Experience with RF/microwave PCB design using high-frequency laminates (Rogers, Taconic, etc.)
• Knowledge of power integrity analysis tools (e.g., HyperLynx, Ansys SIwave, Cadence Sigrity)
• Familiarity with thermal analysis tools and thermal management techniques for high-power electronics
• Experience designing for space environment (vacuum, thermal cycling, radiation, vibration)
• Understanding of design for manufacturing (DFM) and design for test (DFT) principles
• Knowledge of conformal coating, potting, and other space-qualification techniques
• Previous experience with aerospace or satellite PCB designs
• Familiarity with MIL-STD or NASA standards for PCB design

Base Pay 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.