Principal Robotics Engineer

About the role

We are seeking a Principal Automation Engineer to join our Supply Chain Warehouse Automation and Design Engineering (WADE) team. This team is at the forefront of transforming Blue Origin's warehouse and logistics operations through intelligent automation - deploying humanoid robots, Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), and advanced vision systems to support our rocket manufacturing and launch operations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own the AMR/AGV/humanoid robotics strategy and multi-year roadmap for warehouse automation, aligning priorities with supply chain and operational goals
• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize robotics use cases across warehouse operations - including palletizing/depalletizing, goods transport between zones, loading/unloading, sorting, kitting, and inventory cycle counts - translating open-ended possibilities into structured, executable pilots with clear success criteria
• Lead vendor identification, evaluation, and selection processes, including developing RFPs, scoring criteria, and business cases for robotic systems (AMRs, AGVs, humanoid robots, vision systems)
• Manage the onboarding and integration of robotics vendors, serving as the primary technical and operational point of contact throughout deployment
• Design and execute robotics pilot programs using a "fail fast, learn fast" methodology - defining KPIs, running structured experiments, and making data-driven go/no-go scaling decisions
• Lead full-scale deployment of validated robotic solutions within target timelines, coordinating with warehouse operations, IT/OT, facilities, and safety teams to ensure seamless integration with existing conveyor systems, AMRs, and WMS platforms with minimal physical infrastructure modifications
• Ensure deployed systems meet safety and compliance requirements, including human-robot interaction safety standards, collision avoidance protocols, emergency stop mechanisms, and cybersecurity/export control requirements
• Evaluate and stay current on state-of-the-art robotics technologies, including humanoid platforms, vision-guided systems, and autonomous navigation, to inform Blue Origin's automation strategy
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, deployment playbooks, funding memos, whitepapers, and lessons-learned repositories, and present automation strategy and program updates to executive leadership

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Robotics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field, or equivalent experience
• Minimum 7 years of experience in robotics, warehouse automation, or industrial automation engineering
• Demonstrated track record of at least 2 end-to-end robotic system deployments in a warehouse, manufacturing, or logistics environment (from use case definition through full-scale deployment)
• Minimum 3 years of experience with AMR, AGV, or autonomous robotic platforms, including vendor evaluation and system integration
• Ability to travel up to 25% and work on-site 5 days per week in the Orlando or greater Merritt Island area, Florida

Qualifications

• Experience evaluating or piloting humanoid robotic platforms in an operational warehouse or manufacturing environment
• Hands-on experience with computer vision systems and their application to warehouse automation (e.g., object detection, pick verification, inventory tracking)
• Proven ability to build and communicate automation business cases and ROI models, including authoring whitepapers, funding memos, and presenting recommendations to executive leadership
• Familiarity with fleet management platforms, ML/AI-driven task planning, and API/data exchange protocols for robotic system integration
• Experience working in aerospace, defense, or highly regulated manufacturing environments where safety, cybersecurity, and export control compliance are paramount
• Strong ability to translate ambiguous, open-ended requirements into phased, executable automation programs with clear milestones and decision gates

Skills

• Strong technical skills in robotics, automation, and software development
• Excellent communication and project management skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Knowledge of warehouse operations and logistics

Benefits

• 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%
• 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

Pay

Competitive salary commensurate with experience

Schedule

Full-time position