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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal AI Compute Engineer, Project Sunrise Orbital Data Centers - **Company:** Blue Origin - **Location:** United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $218,520.0 - $305,927.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Systems Engineering, Biometrics, Cloud Computing, Computer Clusters, Data Centers, Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Network Topologies, Network Architecture, Cloud Services, Software Engineering, Software Systems, AI Infrastructure, High Performance Computing, Computer Network Technologies, Application Specific Integrated Circuits, AI Platforms, Storage Technologies, Information Technology, Multiaccess Edge Computing - **Published:** September 29, 2026 - **Apply:** https://startup.jobs/principal-ai-compute-engineer-project-sunrise-orbital-data-centers-blue-origin-10214823 ## About the Role * Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience. * 10+ years of experience in one or more of the following areas: hyperscale/cloud infrastructure, High-Performance Computing (HPC), AI infrastructure, or large-scale platform engineering. * Significant experience deploying and operating large GPU clusters. * Experience leading, growing, and managing teams of 8+ engineers. * Deep networking knowledge including understanding of the vendor ecosystem. * Strong understanding of storage architectures for AI/HPC systems. * Experience developing and shipping complex compute or electronic hardware. * Experience in at least one relevant hardware domain such as embedded systems, avionics, HPC, FPGA/ASIC/GPU systems, or distributed/edge computing. * Strong systems-architecture and hardware/software co-design skills. * Experience commercializing data compute, AI, and cloud products. Preferred Qualifications: * Experience with data center design, build out, and operation. * Experience with software development lifecycles along with hardware/software co-design. * Space, aerospace, or other high-reliability compute-system experience. * Knowledge of radiation effects and mitigation approaches. * Experience optimizing around size, weight, and power (SWaP). * Familiarity with AI/ML accelerators or specialized edge-compute architectures. * Hands on experience building your own AI platforms. * Experience with mission- or safety-critical development and rigorous validation. * Strong cross-functional leadership spanning software, spacecraft, and systems engineering. * Familiarity or fluency with AI tools and their application for design optimization or analysis. ## Description Join Blue Origin as we build infrastructure in space for the benefit of Earth. We're developing a satellite constellation of orbital data centers to transform how compute infrastructure is deployed. As the Principal Engineer of Compute, you will own the strategy, architecture, deployment, and operation of the compute package and overall network architecture on the spacecraft. This role requires you to grow the team and operate with a high degree of autonomy, while managing multidisciplinary effort while making critical design decisions. You are a novel thinker who will find innovative approaches to challenging engineering problems. You will lead both hardware for the compute and associated software stack. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: * Own the end-to-end AI compute architecture from 0->1 and then taking it 1->n. * Define the architecture for the entire stack: GPU/CPU, networking, storage, orchestration, and the cloud-platform. * Establish infrastructure requirements for AI workloads. * Define spacecraft network topology, storage architecture, and overall compute related requirements. * Build networking and storage systems that can scale with the constellation. * Establish test, validation, and qualification strategies for compute hardware, integrating closely with spacecraft, software, mission, launch, reliability, product, operations, and finance teams. * Build and lead the compute payload engineering organization, including direct people management * Work with software teams to define workload orchestration and resource management. * Lead major supplier, component, and technology-partner decisions. This includes make/buy options and vertical integration., 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