Principal BSP Embedded Software Engineer - Silicon Systems

Application close date: Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

Overview

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.

Blue Origin is pioneering the future of space‑based communications with TeraWave, a revolutionary satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. This multi‑orbit constellation will consist of optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO), providing enterprise‑grade connectivity for critical operations worldwide.

About the Role

As a Principal BSP Embedded Software Engineer, you will be a technical leader responsible for architecting and delivering board support packages for advanced SoC and ASIC platforms that power our space networking systems. You will drive technical strategy, mentor engineers, and work across hardware and software boundaries to deliver flight‑quality embedded software. This role is central to enabling our custom silicon to boot, initialize, and operate reliably in the demanding environment of space.

Location: onsite in Austin, TX, or Bay Area, CA or Kent, WA or San Diego, CA. This role is approved for a temporary remote work exception while our sites are developed.

We are looking for someone who can apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required.

Responsibilities

• Architect and own the full BSP software stack including boot ROMs, multi-level bootloaders, chip configuration, and platform initialization for custom SoCs/ASICs
• Define and drive the security boot architecture including secure boot, chain‑of‑trust, hardware root‑of‑trust, and key management strategies
• Design and implement power management frameworks including dynamic voltage/frequency scaling, power domain control, and low‑power state transitions
• Develop debug and trace infrastructure (CoreSight, JTAG, SWD, ETM) to support silicon bring‑up and system‑level debugging
• Lead silicon bring‑up activities on emulation platforms (Palladium, Zebu, Veloce), FPGA prototypes (Protium, ProFPGA, HAPS), and first silicon
• Define HAL and driver architecture for peripheral interfaces (SPI, UART, I2C, GPIO, DMA)
• Collaborate closely with ASIC teams to influence SoC architecture decisions and provide firmware requirements
• Establish coding standards, review processes, and verification strategies for embedded software
• Mentor senior and junior engineers; drive technical roadmap decisions
• Support pre‑silicon validation using emulation and RTL simulation environments

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
• 12+ years of experience in BSP/firmware development for SoCs or custom ASICs
• Deep expertise in boot ROM development, multi‑stage bootloader design, and chip configurationExtensive experience with secure boot, cryptographic acceleration, and hardware security modules
• Expert‑level proficiency in C and C++
• Proven experience with bare metal, RTOS (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, VxWorks), and/or embedded Linux (Yocto, Buildroot)
• Experience with pre‑silicon environments: emulation (Palladium, Zebu, Veloce) and FPGA prototyping (Protium, ProFPGA, HAPS)
• Strong understanding of ARM/RISC‑V processor architectures and SoC subsystems
• Track record of leading silicon bring‑up from emulation through production silicon
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance

Desired Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in relevant field
• Experience with space‑grade or aerospace embedded systems
• Familiarity with radiation‑hardened or radiation‑tolerant processor architectures
• Experience with emulation and RTL co‑simulation
• Knowledge of power management IC (PMIC) integration and system‑level power sequencing
• Experience with DO‑178C or equivalent safety‑critical software standards
• Contributions to open‑source bootloader projects (U‑Boot, TF‑A, coreboot)

Base Pay Range for: CA applicants: $269,175.00 - $376,843.95; WA applicants: $269,175.00 - $376,843.95

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 up to 5%, and an Education Support Program.
• Stock options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours per week)
• Paid Time Off: Up to four 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 workforce. 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 View email address on click.appcast.io. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.