Robotics Embedded Firmware Developer III

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!  

This position is part of the Space Systems Development (SSD) business unit. SSD develops next-generation concepts and systems to advance our future of living and working in space sustainably.

We are a diverse team of collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers who are committed to a culture of safety. This position directly impacts the history of space exploration and requires a commitment and detailed attention toward 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.  

SSD Formulation team is multidisciplinary, covering power systems, simulation and environments, thermal and fluids management, guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), autonomy, command and control, data handling and instrumentation, electrical integration and avionics, and propulsion. Working with this team to serve the various projects, studies, and programs in a rapid formulation design environment will be a key responsibility while contributing technically as an individual contributor sharing your expertise. Our group in Formulation is employing a fast-paced agile process to rapidly address early formulation work through a series of three-week sprints. This position will be as an active participant in this environment and requires the appropriate mindset of bias for action while quickly delivering results. The decisions made early on will set Blue Origin up for long-term success. It also requires a comfort with ambiguity and an ability to find a path forward.

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced FPGA Developer to join our innovative engineering team. As an FPGA Developer, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and implementing complex FPGA configurations to meet our product and customers' needs. The ideal candidate should have a deep understanding of hardware design, digital signal processing, and parallel computing, as well as a track record of successful development projects involving FPGAs and GPUs.  Candidates are encouraged to apply if they meet most, but not all, of the qualifications below.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and implement FPGA-based solutions for high-performance computing tasks, ensuring optimal performance, resource utilization, and power efficiency.
• Translate complex computational problems into parallel processing workflows that efficiently utilize FPGA architectures.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate FPGA and GPU solutions into broader systems and product offerings.
• Maintain and extend existing FPGA codebases, ensuring code quality, stability, and scalability.
• Conduct benchmarking and performance analysis to guide the design and optimization process.
• Support the full development lifecycle, including requirements analysis, design, coding, testing, debugging, deployment, and documentation.
• Keep abreast of the latest developments in FPGA and GPU technologies, tools, and best practices.
• Provide thought leadership and technical guidance within the team, mentoring junior developers and contributing to internal knowledge sharing.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, with a strong track record in electronics and computing.
• Minimum of 2+ years of hands-on experience with FPGA design and development using hardware description languages such as VHDL or Verilog, including simulation and verification.
• Experience with board-level development, including PCB design, prototyping, and debugging, as well as familiarity with industry-standard EDA tools.
• Proficient with development tools for FPGAs, such as Xilinx Vivado, Intel Quartus, or other relevant software, and capable of taking designs from concept through to hardware implementation and deployment.
• Extensive knowledge of parallel programming models, optimization techniques, and the ability to write efficient, reliable, and maintainable code.
• Experience with the deployment of FPGAs and GPUs in embedded systems, including hands-on experience with hardware bring-up, system integration, and performance tuning.
• Skilled in analyzing system requirements and decomposing complex problems into clear, actionable steps for hardware implementation.
• Strong foundations in both digital electronics and computer architecture, enabling you to navigate and innovate within the intersection of software and hardware.
• Good communication and collaboration skills, with a proven ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team and articulate technical concepts clearly.
• A continuous learner and proactive problem solver, eager to tackle the unique challenges presented in the realm of board development and hardware deployment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field with a focus on FPGA/GPU development.
• Demonstrated experience in image processing, feature detection, and object tracking algorithms, with the implementation of real-time video and image analysis solutions on FPGA and GPU platforms.
• Strong background in developing computer vision and machine learning solutions, with hands-on experience in embedding AI/ML techniques into hardware platforms for vision-based applications.
• Familiarity with navigation, localization, and mapping technologies, and experience in applying vision-based machine learning models to these domains, such as SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) techniques.
• Knowledge of sensor fusion algorithms and their implementation on heterogeneous computing platforms that involve FPGAs and GPUs, enhancing decision-making accuracy in autonomous systems.
• A proven track record of developing systems that intelligently process and interpret visual data for robotics, automotive, aerospace, or related industries, utilizing state-of-the-art techniques in embedded vision systems.

We value candidates who can demonstrate a portfolio of projects where hardware-level optimizations intersect with cutting-edge AI/ML vision techniques, significantly contributing to advancements in the fields of autonomous navigation, smart robotics, and location-aware systems. Your experience in this niche will position you as a key player in the development and future-proofing of our technology stack.

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 EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com.

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