Principal Software Engineer - Dataplane & Edge Infrastructure
About the Role
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.
As a Principal Software Engineer for Dataplane & Edge Infrastructure, you will serve as the primary architect and builder of the TeraWave Point of Presence (PoP) infrastructure. You will lead the design and implementation of next-generation PoP systems, writing the low-level software that handles terabits of traffic with surgical precision. This role requires deep expertise in high-performance networking, systems-level programming, and edge infrastructure to define TeraWave's competitive advantage in satellite communications. You will be responsible for building and optimizing the high-performance data path that processes packets at wire speed, while mentoring engineers and setting technical standards for code quality and system design across the team.
Responsibilities
- Architect a scalable, resilient, and ultra-high-performance Point of Presence from the ground up, establishing foundational technical standards and design principles for TeraWave's PoP infrastructure
- Build and optimize the dataplane using DPDK and VPP to ensure wire-speed packet processing and maximum network throughput
- Implement and fine-tune IP networking stacks, including BGP, OSPF, and custom routing logic to support TeraWave's edge networking requirements
- Drive performance engineering efforts to identify and eliminate bottlenecks at the software-hardware interface, optimizing for throughput, latency, and CPU cache efficiency
- Provide technical leadership by mentoring senior engineers and establishing standards for code quality, system design, and infrastructure-as-code principles
- Define and implement edge infrastructure patterns capable of supporting terabits of traffic with high reliability and precision
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate PoP infrastructure with the broader TeraWave satellite communications ecosystem
- Drive continuous improvement in dataplane engineering methodologies, tooling, and deployment processes
- Evaluate and adopt emerging technologies in high-performance networking to sustain TeraWave's technical edge
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field
- 10+ years of experience in software engineering with a focus on high-performance networking or systems-level programming
- Deep, hands-on experience with DPDK (Data Plane Development Kit) and VPP (Vector Packet Processing), with demonstrated ability to extract maximum performance from network interface hardware
- Expert-level proficiency in C or C++
- Comprehensive understanding of networking protocols including IPv4/v6, BGP, MPLS, VXLAN, and Segment Routing
- Strong knowledge of Linux kernel networking, eBPF/XDP, and system parameter tuning for high-performance workloads
- Demonstrated experience designing or maintaining large-scale distributed systems or ISP-grade edge infrastructure
- Proven ability to lead and mentor engineering teams in complex, technically demanding environments
- Excellent communication skills with ability to translate low-level networking concepts to varied technical audiences
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree or higher in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field
- Experience with Rust in a networking or systems programming context
- Experience with SmartNICs or FPGA-based network offloading
- Contributions to open-source networking projects such as FD.io, DPDK, or equivalent
- Experience with containerized networking solutions including Kubernetes CNI and Multus
- Background in satellite communications, space-based network infrastructure, or related technologies
- Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code methodologies and tooling at scale
- Experience transitioning high-performance networking systems from prototype to production environments
- History of successfully delivering complex, low-level systems under stringent performance and reliability constraints
Pay
Base Pay Range for CA applicants is $290,709.00 - $406,991.55. WA applicants is $290,709.00 - $406,991.55. 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%
- 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