Software Engineer Contract Jobs in Santa Rosa, CA

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!

We are seeking a Director to lead the development of a next-generation satellite communications payload including the Phase Array Antenna and RF gateways, from concept through manufacturing transfer. This leader will own a multidisciplinary team responsible for hardware architecture and design development, embedded software development, systems integration, validation, and production readiness.

Responsibilities:

• Lead hardware, embedded software, and systems engineering teams developing compact, rugged, high-performance communications terminals.
• Define product architecture across RF, digital, power, thermal, mechanical, firmware, and manufacturing domains.
• Drive execution from prototype to high-volume production, including design for manufacturability, testability, reliability, and cost.
• Partner with manufacturing and supply chain teams to select components, qualify suppliers, and transfer designs to a contract manufacturer or develop assembly processes.
• Establish program plans, technical milestones, risk management, and cross-functional coordination with operations, quality, and product management.
• Own system-level integration, bring-up, debugging, and validation strategy for hardware and firmware.
• Ensure embedded software supports secure boot, device provisioning, field updates, telemetry, diagnostics, and factory test.
• Build and mentor a high-performing team of engineers and technical leads.
• Manage external partners, including contract manufacturers, test labs, and specialist consultants.
• Create and maintain engineering processes for requirements management, change control, verification, and release readiness.

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in hardware and embedded systems development, with at least 6 years leading technical teams.
• Proven success bringing complex connected hardware products from prototype to mass production.
• Strong background in RF design, embedded systems, board design, system integration, and production test.
• Experience working with contract manufacturers and driving design transfer to manufacturing.
• Experience with RF-enabled products, high-speed digital design, power electronics, thermal design, and ruggedized consumer or industrial hardware.
• Experience with Linux-based embedded platforms, real-time constraints, boot flows, device provisioning, and firmware update mechanisms.
• Strong understanding of reliability engineering, root cause analysis, and failure analysis.
• Ability to lead across hardware, firmware, operations, and quality functions in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, with a track record of delivering on aggressive timelines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in electrical, mechanical or software engineering, or related field.
• Experience with satellite communications, antenna systems, phased arrays, or wireless networking hardware.
• Background in secure hardware, cryptography, anti-tamper, or device identity systems.
• Familiarity with regulatory and compliance requirements for consumer electronics and radio products.
• Experience scaling production from low-volume engineering builds to millions of units.
• Hands-on experience with manufacturing test development and factory yield improvement.

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, 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.