Senior Optical Communications Design Engineer, Project Sunrise

Application close date:
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

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!

This role is part of Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin’s mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design.

Join Blue Origin as we build infrastructure in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re developing a satellite constellation of orbital data centers, Sunrise, designed to transform how compute infrastructure is deployed and leveraged.

Job Summary: Our team is at the forefront of developing a cutting-edge satellite constellation designed to provide high-bandwidth connectivity across the globe. We are seeking a seasoned and innovative Senior Optical Communications Design Engineer to drive the evolution of our space-based laser communication systems. In this role, you will take ownership of an existing optical communications design, adapting and enhancing it to meet new system requirements and performance targets. You will lead a multidisciplinary team of hardware and software engineers, guiding the development of pointing algorithms, hardware solutions, and integration strategies to ensure our constellation remains best-in-class.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

- Lead the design, analysis, and optimization of free-space optical communication systems, including robust strategies for pointing, acquisition, tracking (PAT), and intelligent failover/redundancy.
- Direct a cross-functional team of hardware and software engineers to develop, implement, and validate optical communication algorithms and hardware.
- Design and validate the end-to-end optical communication pipeline, from the data interface through signal processing, modulation, and the optical front-end.
- Oversee the selection, integration, and testing of optical components and subsystems, including lasers, modulators, detectors, and pointing mechanisms.
- Perform detailed link budget analysis, modeling, and simulation to predict and validate system performance under various operational conditions, including platform jitter and pointing errors.
- Evolve and update existing optical communication hardware and software designs to meet new mission requirements, improve performance, and reduce cost.
- Develop test infrastructure and execute test plans for component and system-level validation, including hands-on lab work and over-the-air testing.
- Collaborate with systems, avionics, and software teams to ensure seamless integration of the optical communications payload with the spacecraft bus.
- Create and maintain comprehensive design documentation, interface definitions, and performance analyses.

Minimum Qualifications:

- Bachelor of Science degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
- 5+ years of experience in the design and development of optical communication systems.
- Demonstrated experience leading or directing small technical teams comprising both hardware and software specialists.
- Proven experience with optical communication systems for satellite constellations or aerospace applications.
- Strong understanding of pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) systems and algorithm development.
- Proficiency in performing optical link budget and performance analysis.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Master’s or Ph.D. in a relevant field.
- Experience with the full lifecycle of a satellite program, from design and development to in-orbit operations.
- Experience with real-time Digital Signal Processing (DSP) for communication systems, implemented on FPGAs, GPUs, or embedded processors.
- Familiarity with Software-Defined Radio (SDR) architectures and frameworks.
- Proficiency with optical design and simulation software such as Zemax, Code V, or MATLAB/Simulink.
- Experience designing for strict Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) constraints on flight systems.
- Knowledge of high-throughput data systems and low-latency communication architectures.
- Excellent communication and leadership skills, with a proven ability to guide and mentor other engineers.

Base Pay Range for:
CO applicants is $181,626.00 - $254,275.35
WA applicants is $197,529.00 - $276,539.55

Other site ranges may differ

Culture Statement

Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

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

Benefits

- Benefits include: 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.
- Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.