Principal Radiation Effects Engineer

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 diverse team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!

Business Unit Introduction

Engineering and Program Management: This role is part of Enterprise Program Management (EPM), where we provide technical standards, tools, processes, training, and subject matter expertise for product engineering and manufacturing. EPM allows all Blue Origin business units to benefit from commonly used capabilities, hardware, and software and assists business units in identifying, selecting, and training engineers from both inside and outside the organization.

As part of a hardworking team of diverse specialists, technicians, and engineers, you will provide experienced technical leadership to Blue Origin program personnel and the established Radiation Effects team. From mission inception to operation, you will ensure success of Blue Origin’s systems. You will actively engage program leadership and engineers to drive intelligent system design, part selection, subcontracts, and analyses.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Serving as a Subject Matter Expert, mentor, and technical reference regarding electronics part performance and the space radiation environment
• Furthering the team’s knowledge of space radiation models, semiconductor device physics, and commercial and rad-hard electronics performance
• Thoroughly understanding our missions’ electronics platforms
• Defining mission radiation environments based on orbit or trajectory
• Defining mission radiation effects requirements for system design and operation, part selection, and circuit design
• Writing and interpreting radiation control plans and requirements documents
• Simulating and verifying digital, analog, and mixed-signal circuit performance with considerations for radiation effects
• Recommending and simulating mitigation techniques for radiation-tolerant circuits
• Analyzing impacts of space radiation as they relate to on-orbit upset rates, testing requirements, radiation transport, and failure analysis
• Generating thorough part-level, circuit-level, and system-level radiation effects analysis documentation
• Generating technical memos that drive company decisions based on deep knowledge of radiation effects
• Developing company initiatives and roadmaps regarding radiation effects testing and research
• Planning and guiding execution of radiation effects testing (TID, DDD, SEE)
• Aligning team’s radiation test and analysis efforts with program cost and schedule constraints
• Interfacing with various disciplines, customers, industry experts, and publications to maintain expertise in upcoming technologies and new radiation effects concerns.
  

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Nuclear Science, or related field with 10+ years of proven direct experience in design, analysis, and/or testing for radiation effects on electronics and materials.
• Strong familiarity with basic and complex discrete and integrated circuits (transistors, logic, memories, microcontrollers, FPGAs, etc.)
• Excellent demonstrated understanding of the effects of radiation on electronics.
• Demonstrated experience with the use of commercial or automotive parts in a radiation environment.
• Experience with electrical circuit analysis and implementation of radiation effects mitigations.
• Experience with standard radiation environment modeling tools (ex: IRENE, OMERE, SIRE2, SPENVIS, OLTARIS, CREME96, SAPPHIRE, ESP/PSYCHIC).
• Experience in leading technical projects from inception to completion.
• Experience producing detailed program-deliverable documentation (control plans, test plans/reports, design reviews, system-level analyses, etc.).
• Experience with radiation transport tools (ex: MCNP, NOVICE, FASTRAD, GEANT4).
• Demonstrated understanding and application of fundamental statistical methods.
• Familiarity with laboratory equipment for radiation effects test (power supplies, data acquisition systems, electronic loads, SMUs, etc.).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience presenting radiation requirements, results, and plans at program design reviews.
• Ability to work without oversight regarding all aspects of radiation effects on electronics.
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships across teams, and contribute to our inclusive culture.
• 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.
• Domestic travel required. Foreign travel possible.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in related engineering or technical field with 12+ years of direct experience in radiation design, analysis, and testing of avionics hardware for operation in radiation environments.
• Proficiency with the following programming languages, platforms, and protocols: Python, C, SVN, Gitlab, SQL, I2C, SPI.
• Familiarity with the rad-tolerant and rad-hard offerings of space electronics providers.
• Basic electronics lab skills include soldering, harnessing; use of oscilloscopes, multimeters, and logic analyzers.
• Familiarity with radiation assessments and mitigation for human space crews.
• Familiarity with radiation effects on spacecraft materials.

Compensation Range for:

Other site ranges may differ

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

Inclusivity 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 a diverse, inclusive, and 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.

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.

Discretionary bonus: Bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results.

Eligibility for benefits varies by role type, please check with your recruiter for a comprehensive list of the benefits available for this role.

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, diverse, 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, in which all employees recognize and appreciate the diversity of individual team members. 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, gender, 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 “EEO Is the Law,” 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 .

California Applicant Privacy Notice

If you are a California resident, please reference the CA Applicant Privacy Notice here .