Sr Principal Silicon Engineer

Application close date:

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!  

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 is a foundational role in our Emerging Systems team. To further Blue Origin's mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth, we are bringing together technology from across our product lines to build the future of space-based communication.

This role may be located onsite in Bay Area, CA. Candidates residing in or relocating to that location are approved for a temporary remote work exception while our local site is developed.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the custom silicon technical strategy and architecture for a first-of-its-kind mission critical communications network
• Execute complete partition synthesis and physical implementation workflows including synthesis, floorplanning, power/ground grid generation, place and route, and various signoff checks
• Define and execute a comprehensive verification and validation strategy with DFT and DFM feedback loops
• Create and enhance physical design methodologies and develop automation scripts to optimize implementation processes
• Partner with ASIC design teams to conduct architectural feasibility studies, establish timing/power/area targets, and evaluate RTL design tradeoffs
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including systems, firmware, architecture, and product engineering
• Identify and resolve complex design challenges related to timing, congestion, and workflow bottlenecks
• Perform detailed debugging and closure of signoff issues in static timing analysis (STA), noise analysis, logic equivalency checking, physical verification, and power integrity
• Support lab integration and troubleshooting activities

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related technical discipline
• 10 plus years of hardware engineering experience
• Experience with FPGA and/or ASIC design
• Proficiency in HDL programming (VHDL, Verilog, and/or SystemVerilog)
• Experience with Linux development environment
• Experience with design verification and test bench development

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
• Experience in full ASIC/FPGA lifecycle (architecture, design, simulation, verification, validation, integration & test)
• Experience with Software-Defined Radio Architectures, ADC/DAC, and/or DSPs 
• Knowledge of DSP and communications systems including spread spectrum, forward error correction, and modulation types (QPSK, QAM, PCM/FM, PAM)
• Strong object-oriented programming and scripting skills (Python, TCL, Perl)
• Experience with physical design flows and industry-standard EDA tools
• Experience with RTL2GDSII physical design and signoff flows
• Knowledge of deep sub-micron FinFET and CMOS technologies
• Experience with DFT/Scan/MBIST/LBIST methodologies
• Experience mentoring junior engineers

Compensation Range for:

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 [email protected]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.

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