Principal Engineer – TeraWave RF and Optical Systems

About the role

This Principal Engineer position in RF and Optical System Integration & Verification is part of Blue Origin’s Emerging Systems business unit, focused on the TeraWave satellite communications network. The role owns end‑to‑end integration, bring‑up, and verification strategy for TeraWave’s RF and optical payloads, user/gateway terminals, and ground segment, serving as the technical authority for proving the constellation’s links from lab testing through on‑orbit commissioning.

Responsibilities

• Technical Ownership & Architecture
  • Own the integration and verification (I&V) architecture for one or more TeraWave RF and optical system areas and represent them in cross‑team discussions.
  • Conduct trade studies, build prototypes, and provide early feasibility analysis to identify I&V architectural options across low‑, medium‑, and high‑performance test approaches.
  • Define and own the verification strategy and requirements traceability from ConOps and link budgets through subsystem test, system‑level HITL emulation, environmental/chamber campaigns, and on‑orbit validation.
  • Develop, apply, and teach advanced technical principles across the full development cycle – requirements, design, analysis, build, verification, and test.
• Integration, Bring‑Up & Test Execution
  • Lead cross‑functional integration campaigns with hardware, silicon, RF/antenna, optical, modem/DSP, flight software, SDN, networking, and systems engineering teams.
  • Direct lab‑ and site‑level satellite and terminal bring‑up, including RF line‑up, optical bench alignment, clock/timing distribution, power, thermal, and networking test infrastructure.
  • Own RF payload line‑up and link‑budget verification (EVM, ACLR, PAPR, Tx power, spectral flatness, Rx sensitivity, adjacent channel selectivity, linearity/compression, phased‑array beam formation, sidelobes, pointing accuracy).
  • Own optical link verification (coherent optical transceiver characterization, pre/post‑FEC BER, OSNR, power‑budget margin, acquisition/tracking, pointing‑jitter performance, terminal‑to‑terminal cross‑link closure).
  • Own PHY‑layer verification (data rates, throughput, BLER, residual timing error, CFO/SFO, phase noise, Doppler effects in LEO channel).
  • Own MAC‑layer and network‑layer verification (network entry, power control, link adaptation, scheduling, handover, make‑before‑break continuity).
• Simulation, Emulation & Automation
  • Direct the architecture of high‑fidelity HITL frameworks that replicate orbital dynamics using CATR/anechoic ranges, channel emulators, GNSS simulators, hexapods/positioners, and precision RF/optical reference instrumentation.
  • Model constellation geometry, antenna ground projections, and SINR variation to predict and validate data‑rate performance across latitudes, beam configurations, and orbital/launch phases.
  • Lead design and continuous improvement of the verification SDLC: automated CI/CD pipelines, test‑vector generation, instrument abstraction layers, and automated data reduction/analysis.
  • Champion software and test‑engineering best practices (version‑controlled test assets, TDD, code review, reproducible environments, telemetry‑driven analysis).
  • Contribute production‑quality code and tooling in Python, C/C++, and MATLAB/Simulink for test automation, signal processing, and analysis; define performance KPIs and measurement methods.
• Infrastructure, Anomaly Resolution & Operational Excellence
  • Define and direct multi‑year lab, chamber, and ground‑station infrastructure roadmaps, including capital planning, vendor selection, procurement, and deployment.
  • Lead anomaly investigations and root‑cause analyses on complex RF/optical, digital, and software‑interaction failures; drive corrective and preventive actions to closure.
  • Drive operational‑excellence initiatives where processes, tooling, or test capability impede innovation or delivery.
  • Support on‑orbit commissioning and flight operations, including test‑as‑you‑fly validation, performance characterization, and handoff of runbooks and procedures.
• Leadership & Influence
  • Provide mentoring and technical leadership through design reviews, technical forums, and setting technical direction; ensure technical accuracy of others’ work.
  • Guide major programs as a formal technical leader, updating schedule, budget, milestones, and risk for owned systems.
  • Develop and manage relationships across the company and with external partners, vendors, and standards bodies; serve as spokesperson and advisor to leadership and customers.
  • Own technical documentation, verification reports, ICDs, and test plans/procedures, including release criteria for deliverables.
  • Build technical influence as an internal and industry subject‑matter expert through IP invention, publications, and committee participation.

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in RF and/or optical communications system integration, test, and verification for complex hardware/software systems.
• Demonstrated ownership of end‑to‑end I&V lifecycles (requirements/ConOps → design & simulation → lab/chamber verification → HITL emulation → field or on‑orbit validation).
• Deep hands‑on expertise with RF test and reference equipment (signal generators/analyzers, VNAs, oscilloscopes, channel emulators, noise/power meters, phase‑noise analyzers) and with anechoic chamber, CATR, or OTA test methodologies.
• Strong working knowledge of link budgets and modem/PHY performance metrics (EVM, ACLR, PAPR, sensitivity, BER/BLER, MCS/FEC behavior, CFO/SFO, timing recovery).
• Experience with 3GPP NTN, Release 17+ call‑box/UE emulation, DU/CU vendor evaluation, or hosted‑payload integration on a satellite bus.
• Proficiency developing test automation and analysis software in Python and MATLAB/Simulink; working knowledge of C/C++ and Linux‑based test and networking environments.
• Experience leading cross‑functional technical teams and mentoring senior engineers; excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience verifying mission‑critical communications systems (satellite communications, LEO mega‑constellations, non‑terrestrial networks, cellular wireless, or terrestrial telecom).
• Experience with software‑defined radios; RF transceivers and antenna system control (phased arrays, parabolic/gimbaled antennas); optical transceivers (ACOs/DCOs) and free‑space optical/laser communication terminals with acquisition, pointing, and tracking.
• Experience with TT&C, feeder/gateway, user link, and inter‑satellite/optical cross‑link verification, and with satellite bring‑up and on‑orbit commissioning at constellation scale.
• Experience building HITL/digital‑twin test frameworks that emulate orbital dynamics with GNSS simulators, hexapods, and positioners; precision timing (ns‑class) and positioning verification.
• Experience defining and deploying large‑scale lab, ground‑station, and mobile test infrastructure (RF, power, clock/timing, thermal, network architecture).
• Familiarity with formal verification methods for safety‑critical software, radiation‑hardened computing environments, and spectrum/regulatory compliance (ITU/FCC) coordination.
• Track record of publications, patents, or standards‑body participation (3GPP, IEEE, AIAA, CCSDS).

Location & travel

This role is onsite in the Greater Seattle Area, WA. A temporary remote‑work exception is approved while the local site is developed. Relocation assistance is available. Travel may be required up to 25 % of the time to test ranges, ground‑station sites, vendor facilities, mission‑operations centers, and standards‑body meetings.

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.