Principal Modem PHY IP Design Engineer - Terawave
About the role
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.
We are seeking a Principal Modem PHY IP Design Engineer to support the design and development of advanced modem physical layer (PHY) IP for the Terawave program.
Responsibilities
- Design and develop modem PHY IP for Terawave ASIC and prototyping platforms.
- Contribute to PHY algorithm development and hardware architecture for functions such as: modulation and demodulation, timing and frequency synchronization, channel estimation and tracking, equalization, FEC integration, MIMO / beamforming support, impairment mitigation and calibration support.
- Translate system and link requirements into implementation-ready PHY block specifications.
- Develop floating-point, fixed-point, and bit-accurate models for modem PHY functions.
- Perform performance analysis and trade studies across throughput, latency, area, and power.
- Work with architecture and RTL teams to partition algorithms into efficient hardware implementations.
- Support interface definition and subsystem integration for PHY IP within the broader modem/baseband architecture.
- Collaborate with verification teams to define test strategies, reference models, and coverage plans.
- Analyze simulation, emulation, FPGA, lab, and silicon data to debug design issues and improve PHY performance.
- Support bring-up and validation of modem PHY features in FPGA prototypes and silicon.
- Document design assumptions, architecture decisions, performance results, and implementation details.
- Work effectively with internal teams and external design partners to help drive execution.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or related technical field.
10+ years of experience in wireless communications, modem PHY design, DSP, or ASIC/FPGA-based baseband development.
Strong background in digital communications theory and modem implementation.
- Experience in several of the following areas: OFDM and/or single-carrier systems, synchronization algorithms, channel estimation and equalization, adaptive modulation and coding, FEC such as LDPC, Polar, Turbo, or BCH, fixed-point analysis and quantization, MIMO or beamforming techniques.
- Proficiency with MATLAB, Python, C/C++, or similar tools for modeling and simulation.
- Experience translating algorithms into hardware-oriented architectures for ASIC or FPGA implementation.
- Strong analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work across cross-functional teams in a fast-paced development environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Signal Processing, Communications, or related field.
- Experience with modem PHY design for: mmWave / sub-THz / Terahertz systems, satellite or space communications, 5G/6G systems, high-throughput wireless backhaul or mesh systems.
- Familiarity with RTL design and verification flows.
- Experience with FPGA prototyping, lab characterization, and silicon bring-up.
- Knowledge of RF and mixed-signal impairments such as phase noise, carrier offset, nonlinearities, and calibration effects.
- Experience working with external IP vendors or design service partners.
- Ability to work effectively in an ambiguous, fast-moving development environment.
Pay
Base Pay Range For CA applicants is $269,175.00 - $376,843.95. Other Site Ranges May Differ.
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%, and an 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.