Director, ASIC Software Engineering

Job description

Application close date: Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed. 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! Blue Origin is pioneering the future of space-based communications with TeraWave, a revolutionary satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. This multi-orbit constellation will consist of optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO), providing enterprise-grade connectivity for critical operations worldwide. At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The Terawave Silicon Systems Group is developing advanced silicon, firmware, and software systems that enable next-generation space-based communications and networking capabilities. We are seeking a Director, ASIC Software Engineering & Krakow Site Lead to lead a multidisciplinary software organization supporting custom silicon development for Terawave systems. This leader will oversee a team of approximately 20 engineers across embedded firmware, platform software, device drivers, validation software, and application software. This is a senior technical leadership role focused on the full software ecosystem required to bring complex ASICs and SoCs from architecture through pre-silicon validation, silicon bring-up, system integration, and deployment. The role will own software strategy and execution for ASIC enablement, including boot software, BSPs, device drivers, firmware, hardware abstraction layers, diagnostics, test software, SDKs, and higher-level applications that support silicon development, validation, and customer use cases. In addition, this technical leader will serve as the site leader for Blue Origin’s new Krakow office, helping establish the local engineering culture, operating model, hiring strategy, and cross-site collaboration practices for a growing international engineering hub. Key Responsibilities ASIC Software Leadership • Lead and scale the Krakow-based ASIC software engineering organization, including embedded software, firmware, platform software, and application software engineers. • Own software strategy, architecture, execution, and delivery for Terawave custom ASIC and SoC platforms. • Lead teams developing the software stack required to enable, validate, bring up, and productize advanced silicon systems, including: - ASIC/SoC boot software, Boot ROM, bootloaders, and platform initialization o Board support packages, BSPs, hardware abstraction layers, and low-level platform software - Device drivers for custom silicon blocks, peripherals, interfaces, accelerators, and control planes - Embedded firmware for real-time control, radio systems, modem/PHY functions, diagnostics, calibration, and telemetry - Pre-silicon and post-silicon validation software, diagnostics, lab tools, test automation, and bring-up utilities - Application software, SDKs, reference applications, APIs, CLIs, and tools used by internal and external users of the silicon platform • Partner closely with ASIC architecture, digital design, verification, FPGA/prototyping, systems, RF, hardware, and program teams to define software requirements and hardware/software interfaces. • Drive software readiness across the silicon lifecycle, including architecture definition, pre-silicon simulation, emulation, FPGA prototyping, first silicon bring up, lab validation, system integration, and production readiness. • Ensure software teams are deeply integrated into ASIC development milestones, including register/interface definition, firmware requirements, hardware/software partitioning, validation planning, bring-up strategy, and defect resolution. • Establish strong engineering practices for ASIC software development, including coding standards, architecture reviews, CI/CD, automated testing, release management, defect tracking, documentation, and configuration control. • Develop and maintain execution plans, staffing models, technical roadmaps, and risk mitigation plans for ASIC software deliverables. • Mentor and develop engineering managers, technical leads, principal engineers, and high-potential individual contributors. • Drive quality, reliability, security, maintainability, and performance across all ASIC software deliverables. Krakow Site Leadership • Serve as the senior Blue Origin site leader for the new Krakow office. • Build and shape the Krakow engineering site as a center of excellence for ASIC software and silicon enablement. • Partner with HR, recruiting, IT, facilities, legal, finance, security, and engineering leadership to establish and scale the site. • Create a strong site culture grounded in Blue Origin’s values, technical excellence, ownership, collaboration, and mission focus. • Represent the Krakow site in cross-functional and cross-geography leadership forums. • Establish the local operating rhythm, including staff meetings, technical reviews, hiring reviews, site communications, and engagement forums. • Build recruiting pipelines and local partnerships with universities, technical communities, and industry networks to attract top ASIC software and embedded engineering talent. • Ensure strong collaboration between Krakow and U.S.-based engineering teams through clear communication norms, documentation practices, travel planning, and decision-making frameworks. • Support employee engagement, inclusion, professional development, retention, and organizational health across the site. • Ensure site operations and engineering work comply with applicable Blue Origin policies, security expectations, and export-control requirements. Minimum Qualifications • B.S. in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline. • 15+ years of software engineering experience with a strong focus on ASIC software, embedded systems, firmware, platform software, silicon enablement, or hardware/software systems. • 5+ years of experience leading software engineering teams, including direct people leadership and/or management of managers. • Demonstrated experience leading software development for custom ASICs, SoCs, FPGAs, silicon platforms, networking silicon, wireless silicon, aerospace systems, or other complex hardware-centric products. • Strong technical understanding of ASIC software and embedded systems, including C/C++, boot flows, low-level drivers, hardware/software interfaces, memory maps, registers, interrupts, buses, peripherals, firmware architecture, or real-time software. • Experience with the silicon development lifecycle, including at least several of the following: Pre-silicon software development, Simulation or emulation-based validation, FPGA prototyping, Silicon bring-up, Board bring-up, Hardware/software integration, Lab debug and diagnostics, Production software release • Experience collaborating with ASIC design, verification, systems, hardware, RF, test, and program teams. • Ability to lead across both low-level embedded/firmware domains and higher-level application/tooling domains. • Proven ability to recruit, mentor, develop, and retain high-performing engineering talent. • Strong communication and executive presence, with the ability to engage senior leaders, technical experts, program stakeholders, and individual contributors. • Experience managing schedules, technical risk, staffing plans, delivery commitments, and cross-functional dependencies. • Ability to travel internationally to support program reviews, silicon bring-up, integration activities, and site leadership needs. Desired Qualifications • M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Communications, or related field. • Deep experience in one or more ASIC software domains, including: ASIC/SoC boot software, Boot ROM and bootloaders, Secure boot or hardware root of trust, BSP/platform software, Low-level device drivers, Hardware abstraction layers, Embedded firmware, RF/radio control software, Layer 1 PHY or modem software, DSP firmware, Diagnostics, telemetry, calibration, and lab tools, Silicon validation software, SDKs and customer-facing software for silicon platforms • Experience with pre-silicon and post-silicon environments such as RTL simulation, ISS, emulation, FPGA prototyping, hardware-in-the-loop validation, silicon bring-up, or board bring-up. • Experience with emulation or prototyping platforms such as Palladium, Zebu, Veloce, Protium, HAPS, or similar systems. • Experience with wireless communications, satellite communications, 5G, Wi-Fi, software-defined radio, optical communications, or space networking systems. • Familiarity with ASIC verification workflows, register specifications, firmware-driven validation, lab debug, JTAG, trace tools, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and protocol analyzers. • Experience establishing a new engineering site, nearshore development center, or international technical organization. • Fluency in English required 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. Candidates may be subject to verification and BGS screening as per applicable law.