Principal AI/ML Autonomy Engineer

About the role

The AI, FSW & Autonomy organization is looking for a Principal AI/ML Autonomy Engineer. This is a hands-on IC lead role. You are the architect, the builder, and the integrator. You'll define the embedded AI/ML strategy, develop and deploy the models, and work directly alongside flight software, ground systems, GNC, avionics, MLOps, and simulation engineers to build embedded autonomous systems. You’ll develop the strategy and drive its success, with direct visibility to senior and executive leadership.

Responsibilities

• You are the accountable technical lead for embedded AI/ML from architecture and model development through deployment and operational validation
• Define and execute the technical roadmap
• Identify, architect and fine tune embedded ML models optimized for the compute environment, balancing inference performance against strict SWaP-C (size, weight, power, and cost) constraints
• Own the full ML lifecycle including data collection and pipeline development, model architecture, training, compression and quantization, hardware-aware optimization, and on-target validation
• Integrate AI/ML models directly into the flight software stack, ensuring real-time performance, deterministic behavior, and compliance with safety and reliability requirements
• Drive cross-functional technical alignment with FSW, avionics, ground systems, GN&C, and systems engineering, translating autonomous operations requirements into deployable, validated AI capabilities
• Serve as the technical authority and force multiplier across the broader AI, FSW & Autonomy team, setting the bar, unblocking peers, and accelerating delivery through influence and expertise
• Represent Blue National Security's AI/ML capability to government customers, program offices, and external partners

Requirements

• B.S. in Computer Science, Electrical/Computer Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical field
• 10+ years in developing autonomy for mission/safety-critical embedded systems
• 5+ years of hands-on experience developing and deploying AI/ML systems in a production environment with demonstrated emphasis on embedded or resource-constrained environments
• Demonstrated experience deploying ML models on embedded flight or mission-critical hardware such as edge GPUs, FPGAs, DSPs, or radiation-tolerant processors under real-world performance constraints
• Deep proficiency in Python and C/C++ for both model development and embedded software integration
• Expertise in modern ML frameworks including PyTorch, TensorFlow, or ONNX Runtime
• Hands-on experience with model optimization for edge deployment: quantization, pruning, TensorRT, TFLite, or equivalent toolchains
• Proven ability to operate within real-time, resource-constrained software environments such as RTOS, bare-metal, or safety-critical OS
• Strong technical communication skills with the ability to brief executive leadership, government customers, and engineering peers with equal clarity and confidence

Qualifications

• 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

Preferred Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
• Experience developing AI/ML for autonomous spacecraft operations including on-orbit fault detection and isolation, autonomous mission sequencing, rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), or closed-loop vehicle control
• Experience deploying ML on radiation-tolerant or space-grade compute such as NVIDIA Orin, Xilinx Versal, rad-hard SoCs, or FPGAs
• Background in flight software development or avionics software integration in a mission-critical context
• Experience with autonomous anomaly detection, fault management, and self-healing system architectures for long-duration or communications-denied operations
• Familiarity with ROS/ROS2, DDS, or analogous middleware in embedded or robotic systems
• Experience supporting DoD, USSF, NRO, or IC programs including direct customer engagement or proposal development
• Active U.S. Secret or Top Secret/SCI clearance
• Experience with simulation-to-hardware workflows and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing for AI/ML validation
• Familiarity with formal V&V methods for ML

Pay

Base Pay Range For CO applicants is $218,520.00 - $305,926.95 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.