Physicist Jobs in Santa Rosa, CA (NOW HIRING)

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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!

As a Principal Engineer for Product Integrity at Blue Origin, you will define the strategic technical vision and architectural foundation for reliability, thermal, structural, and applied sciences engineering across our portfolio of complex space systems. You will solve unprecedented challenges in ensuring hardware survives the rigors of launch, orbit, and long-duration deployment-pioneering physics-of-failure methodologies, predictive reliability frameworks, and AI-driven engineering approaches that redefine how high-stakes hardware is designed, qualified, and validated.

In this role, you will serve as the foremost technical authority in product integrity, establishing foundational principles that span reliability engineering, thermal architecture, structural mechanics, materials science, and qualification science. You will shape organizational strategy, mentor technical leaders, and establish Blue Origin as an industry leader in advanced hardware integrity and reliability sciences. This distinguished position offers a once-in-a-career opportunity to define the engineering paradigm for some of the most demanding hardware ever built, working at the pioneering edge of aerospace, applied sciences, and AI-augmented engineering.

Responsibilities

• Define the strategic technical vision and architectural principles for product integrity across Blue Origin's hardware portfolio, spanning reliability, thermal, structural, and applied sciences disciplines
• Establish groundbreaking technical approaches for physics-of-failure modeling, accelerated life testing, and predictive reliability tailored to space-grade and high-reliability hardware
• Pioneer qualification and validation methodologies that translate component-level stress and degradation behavior into system-level reliability and mission assurance models
• Define the architectural framework for next-generation thermal and structural analysis ecosystems, including advanced FEA, CFD, and multi-physics simulation pipelines
• Establish the strategic direction for AI-driven engineering and automation, including ML-based design optimization, simulation acceleration, failure prediction, and engineering knowledge systems
• Create the blueprint for material characterization, advanced packaging integrity, and solder-joint reliability methodologies supporting space-grade and high-volume hardware
• Establish the vision for a world-class reliability and failure analysis lab ecosystem, enabling rapid root-cause investigation and predictive analytics across mechanical, thermal, electrical, and materials domains
• Pioneer "Design-for-Integrity" principles where physics-based modeling, telemetry, and field-data analytics feed directly into design decisions, qualification strategies, and launch readiness reviews
• Define methodologies for correlating field performance, returns data, and accelerated stress results to ensure optimal reliability and customer experience across the portfolio
• Establish architectural principles for thermal, structural, and reliability margin definition that survive the rigors of launch and space environments while optimizing for mass, power, and cost
• Direct cross-layer optimization strategy, aligning electrical, mechanical, materials, manufacturing, and silicon teams to ensure end-to-end product integrity from component to system
• Serve as the chief technical authority for product integrity across Blue Origin, mentoring technical leaders and defining long-term reliability, qualification, and applied sciences roadmaps

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field with 20+ years of experience in product integrity, reliability, thermal, or structural engineering
• Recognized expertise in physics-of-failure modeling, accelerated life testing, FEA, CFD, and multi-physics simulation in complex, high-reliability environments
• Distinguished track record of architecting reliability, qualification, and validation strategies for hardware at scale, including consumer electronics, AI hardware, robotics, semiconductors, or aerospace systems
• Authoritative knowledge of failure analysis, root-cause investigation, and risk assessment across mechanical, thermal, electrical, and materials domains
• Proven experience establishing architectural direction for product integrity in satellite, aerospace, semiconductor, or high-volume hardware programs
• History of technical leadership influencing organizational strategy and direction, including building and mentoring senior technical talent
• Outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills with demonstrated ability to solve unprecedented technical challenges in hardware reliability and integrity
• Exceptional technical written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex concepts to executive leadership and a variety of technical audiences
• Experience with development in mission and safety-critical environments

Preferred Qualifications

• MS/PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field
• Extensive experience with space-grade hardware, satellite customer terminals, or other long-lifecycle, high-reliability systems
• Track record of establishing industry-leading reliability data pipelines, analytics, and AI/ML-driven engineering platforms for real-time hardware health and predictive design
• Advanced expertise in advanced packaging, solder-joint reliability, composite mechanics, crashworthiness, or thermo-mechanical co-design
• Significant contributions to reliability and engineering standards (IEEE, ASME, IRPS, SAE) or leadership in industry conferences and consortia
• Patents or published research in relevant product integrity, reliability, or applied sciences domains
• Experience founding or leading technical conferences, symposia, or communities of practice that advance the state of engineering across an organization
• Comprehensive understanding of qualification and regulatory requirements for aerospace, space communications, and consumer electronics hardware
• Proven ability to establish model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and physics-based digital twin methodologies across an organization

Base Pay 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.

• 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 atEEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.