Electrical and Communications Project Engineer, Sr., New Shepard Ground Systems at Blue Origin – Washington, Illinois

Title: Electrical and Communications Project Engineer, Sr., New Shepard Ground Systems

Location: Greater Seattle Area

Position Type: Full time

Requisition ID: R58265

Description:

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 New Shepard program. New Shepard is a reusable suborbital rocket system designed to take astronauts and research payloads past the Kármán line – the internationally recognized boundary of space. Through operational reusability, New Shepard supports our mission of lowering the cost of access to space.

As part of a hardworking team of specialists, technicians, and engineers you will manage, deliver, and provide technical support for the Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) sub-system’s development projects.

The ideal candidate brings strong technical knowledge of electrical ground systems, data acquisition, and RF communication systems, combined with exceptional project management skills. You will coordinate cross-functional teams, manage project scope, schedule, and budget, while ensuring high-quality deliverables that meet program milestones. Your ability to manage project schedules for highly technical projects across a variety of functional teams, clearly communicating, identifying and managing project risks, and filling technical gaps where they arise to complete projects will be crucial to our success.

Special Mentions:

• Relocation provided
• Travel expected up to 15%
• Interviews will include a technical assessment

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Facilitate high-level, highly technical, strategic development decisions for the sub-system to meet future programmatic goals.
• Create accurate forecasts for schedules, resource demand, and fully burdened budgets for development projects.
• Author and maintain Statements of Work (SOW) for internal projects and external suppliers.
• Create and validate Basis of Estimates (BoE) for new projects and changes to accurately forecast resources, schedules, hours, and costs.
• Process Program Change Requests (PCR) for changes to the baseline schedule or budget.
• Develop Engineering Change Requests (ECR) for changes to the engineering baseline.
• Lead and/or support technical gated design reviews, ensuring robust engineering practices.
• Identify, assess, document, and mitigate Ground system technical, safety, and operational risks throughout the sub-system.
• Manage engineering scope content in JIRA, maintaining the integrated master schedule and associated ticket content in an agile environment.
• Drive projects forward by communicating clear/concise deliverables and need-by dates to cross-functional teams and individuals.
• Submit production demand for hardware and track build progress to need-by dates with the technicians and manufacturing engineers.
• Support builds and integration of EGSE projects at New Shepard’s Launch Site in West Texas as required.
• Support project design trades, concept development, and requirement development
• Provide input for Mission Scope Reviews (MSR) to communicate scope, schedule, and resource plans to program leadership.
• Directly report and work with the Cognizant Engineer to ensure technical quality and robust engineering practices. Ability to accept delegation tasks from the Cognizant Engineer for an interim basis.
• Coordinate with hardware, software, operations, manufacturing, and systems engineering teams to maintain schedule dependencies, priorities, and technical product alignment.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously including electrical test equipment, ground power supply racks, launch vehicle battery conditioners, RF communication ground stations, and CCA/PCB development and procurement.
• Develop project test planning and coordinate cross functional teams including software, hardware, and operations.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related field
• 8+ years of experience in project management/project engineering including managing requirements, priorities, scope, schedule, cost, and communications in highly technical product development environments
• Experience working in direct or related technical operational environments
• Demonstrated ability to assimilate technical engineering information quickly and summarize concisely
• Strong leadership skills with proven ability to work effectively in collaborative team environments
• Self-directed with ability to balance several large, complex projects simultaneously
• Proficiency in project management tools and applications
• Experience working with and leading cross-functional teams
• Outstanding organizational and time management skills
• Critical thinking with innovative problem-solving skills and specific examples
• Proficient with a variety of management and planning software applications.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PMP Certification
• Proficiency in Jira, Wiki Confluence, Primavera (P6) or Project, PTC Windchill, Databricks
• Involvement with multiple portions of an aerospace product life cycle: R&D, Production, and Operations
• Knowledge in aerospace systems engineering practices, tasks, and artifacts
• Experience with aerospace certification standards (e.g., DO-178C)
• Relevant industry experiences working with launch vehicle avionics electrical and communication systems for software and hardware
• Understanding or experience in software development project planning and execution
• Experience with aerospace development processes (requirement-based definition)
• Familiarity with RF communication and telemetry systems functionality and interfaces.
• Experience with aerospace ground support equipment

Compensation Range for:

WA applicants is $156,802.00 - $219,522.45

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.

• 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.

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