Principal Technical Lead Engineer - Rocket Engine Avionics

1w1 week ago

Blue Origin

Southgate, US · Full-time · $183,193 – $256,470

About this role

This role is part of the Blue Origin Engines business unit, where the focus is the design, development, manufacturing, and testing of engines and propulsion systems. As Principal Technical Lead Engineer for Rocket Engine Avionics & Control Systems, you serve as the primary technical authority for all avionics systems within a specific rocket engine program.

You define and drive the technical architecture and own the avionics system technical baseline. You lead design reviews with full technical approval authority and ensure all avionics and control system deliverables meet the highest standards of safety, performance, and reliability.

There is no standard day for this role. You lead a multi-disciplinary engineering team across all phases from customer use case elicitation to full-scale hot-fire test and flight operations. On any given day you may architect a new engine control system, lead a failure review board, review control algorithms for stability margins, or drive interface negotiations with vehicle teams.

Position requires up to 10% travel to rocket engine test sites. Your breadth of expertise and technical judgment tie together technical decisions, mission success, and business goals while mentoring engineers through complex systems integration challenges.

Requirements

Deep domain knowledge in aerospace electronics, embedded software, controls algorithms, sensors, actuators, power systems, and data networks with systems-level thinking.
Sound judgment that balances innovation with reliability and fluency in design reviews and failure analysis.
Confident decision-making under uncertainty and a mentorship mindset with cross-functional influence.
Collaborative style that fosters innovation and resilience while holding teams to the highest standards of engineering rigor.
Strategic vision that ties technical decisions to mission success and business goals.

Responsibilities

Own the avionics and control system technical baseline for the assigned rocket engine program and define the technical vision, architecture, and long-term engineering roadmap.
Lead decomposition and allocation of engine-specific avionics requirements and maintain system-level requirements, interface control documents, and design standards.
Lead all design reviews for the assigned engine avionics systems with full technical approval authority.
Lead a multi-disciplinary engineering team across all development phases from customer use case elicitation to full-scale hot-fire test and flight operations.
Architect new generation engine control systems and review control algorithms for stability margins.
Lead failure review boards and drive interface negotiations with vehicle teams.
Mentor engineers through complex systems integration challenges.