Flight Software Engineer III — Platform & Applications - Project Sunrise – Orbital Data Centers

Blue OriginDenver, Hutto, Huntsville, Reston, Littleton, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Virginia, AlabamaOn-siteFull-timeSenior, 5–8 yearsListed 33 minutes ago

Apply now

About this role

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 Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin’s mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design.

Join Blue Origin as we build infrastructure in space for the benefit of Earth. We're developing Project Sunrise, a constellation of orbital data centers designed to transform how compute infrastructure is deployed and leveraged at an unprecedented scale.

As a Flight Software Engineer for Platform & Applications, you will be responsible for bringing our flight computers to life. This is a hands-on role focused on the lowest levels of the software stack, from the moment power is applied. You will develop the bootloader, create the Board Support Package (BSP), write the device drivers that interface with all our critical hardware, and build the core applications that form the heart of the vehicle’s functionality. If you are passionate about debugging hardware with a logic analyzer and writing the code that makes a system boot for the first time, this role is for you.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

- Develop and maintain the bootloader and Board Support Package (BSP) for our custom flight computer hardware.

- Write, test, and debug low-level device drivers for a variety of hardware interfaces (e.g., I2C, SPI, SpaceWire, Ethernet).

- Bring up new avionics hardware, working closely with the hardware team to troubleshoot and validate functionality.

- Develop and maintain core mission applications that manage the state and operation of the spacecraft.

- Implement software for hardware initialization, control, and embedded data processing.

- Participate in the design and review of new avionics boards, with a focus on software-hardware partitioning and driver-level requirements.

- Contribute to the full lifecycle of flight software development, from hardware bring-up to on-orbit support.

Minimum Qualifications:

- Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.

- 3+ years of hands-on experience in low-level embedded software or firmware development.

- Strong programming skills in C and/or C++, with experience in a bare-metal or RTOS environment.

- Demonstrated experience writing device drivers, BSPs, or bootloaders.

- Hands-on experience debugging embedded hardware using tools like JTAG debuggers, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers.

- 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Experience with modern SoC (System-on-a-Chip) devices and their peripherals.

- Familiarity with computer architecture and common bus protocols (e.g., AXI, AMBA).

- Knowledge of real-time operating systems and embedded Linux.

- Experience in the aerospace, automotive, or other safety-critical industries.

- Familiarity with software assurance standards such as NASA-STD-8739.8, NPR 7150.2, ECSS-Q-ST-80C, or equivalent (e.g., DO-178C), and with embedded coding standards such as the JPL Institutional Coding Standard, MISRA C/C++, or CERT C/C++.

- A passion for working hands-on with hardware and being in the lab.

Special Mentions:

- Travel may be required up to 10% of the time.

- Relocation assistance available.

###

Base Pay Range for:
VA applicants is $164,652.00 - $230,512.80
CO applicants is $150,931.00 - $211,303.05
WA applicants is $164,652.00 - $230,512.80

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, 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.
- Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
- 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  [email protected] . Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.