Paula Tomlinson
About Paula Tomlinson
Paula Tomlinson is the Senior Manager of Software Avionics at Blue Origin with extensive experience in software engineering and leadership roles across multiple industries.
Current Position at Blue Origin
Paula Tomlinson currently serves as the Senior Manager of Software Avionics at Blue Origin. She has been with the company since 2019, working in Kent, WA. In this role, she manages the software developments critical to the avionics systems of Blue Origin's spaceflight and aerospace technologies.
Past Experience at Impinj
Before joining Blue Origin, Paula worked at Impinj as the Senior Director of Embedded Software Engineering from 2013 to 2019. During her six-year tenure in the Greater Seattle Area, she led the development of embedded software for Impinj's RFID products, contributing significantly to the company's technological advancements in the field.
Prior Roles at Microsoft
Paula held several positions at Microsoft. From 2005 to 2012, she served as a Senior Software Engineer Lead. Before that, she was a Program Manager Lead from 2003 to 2005. Earlier in her career, Paula was a Software Development Engineer at Microsoft from 1995 to 1997, offering a well-rounded perspective on software development and project management during her cumulative nine years with the company.
Educational Background
Paula earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Colorado State University. Later, she pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Technical Management from the University of Phoenix, completing it between 2001 and 2003. She also holds a Master of Science in Astronomy from Swinburne University of Technology, which she obtained from 2010 to 2015.
Career Start and Early Positions
Paula's career began at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center as a Student Technician from 1983 to 1985. She then worked at Hewlett-Packard in various roles, including Software Engineer, from 1987 to 1995, in Greeley, CO, and Vancouver, WA. She also had a short stint as Senior Software Engineer in 1999. In between, she worked at BSQUARE and held positions such as Software Design Engineer Lead and Business Unit Director from 1997 to 2003.