Analog Mixed-Signal IC Design Engineer (Data Converters) - TeraWave

Blue Origin; California; Hybrid; USD 269,000 - 377,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation provided

Travel up to 10%

Onsite with temporary remote work

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC seeks a Principal IC Design Engineer to lead high-speed ADCs/DACs in advanced FinFET CMOS and mentor a team of analog designers. You will model system performance in MATLAB/Simulink and SystemVerilog-AMS, validate with AMS flows, and ensure seamless integration with RF payloads.

The role is onsite in San Diego or Cupertino, CA, with a temporary remote work exception during site development, and relocation is provided.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of industry experience or PhD-equivalent experience.
• Proficiency in high-speed ADC/DAC design in FinFET
• Proficiency in SerDes for high-speed data converters.
• Familiarity with SAR, pipeline, delta-sigma, RF/sub-sampling architectures.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture, development and integration of high-speed data converters (ADCs/DACs) in FinFET CMOS.
• Develop behavioral models in MATLAB/Simulink or SystemVerilog-AMS to validate performance.
• Use Spectre and AMS flows for high-performance mixed-signal design.
• Collaborate with system architects to define interface requirements for RF payloads.
• Oversee layout, floorplanning and tape-out readiness; drive verification with product teams.
• Mentor junior engineers in analog design best practices.

Skills

Advanced ADC/DAC design

FinFET technologies

AMS modeling

MATLAB/Simulink

SystemVerilog/AMS

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

MS or PhD preferred

Tools

MATLAB

Simulink

SystemVerilog

Spectre

Job description

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!Blue Origin is pioneering the future of space-based connectivity with TeraWave, a revolutionary satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. This network will service tens of thousands of enterprise, data center, and government users who require reliable connectivity for critical operations.

We are seeking a Principal IC Design Engineer with extensive hands‑on experience in the design of high-speed data converters in advanced FinFET technology nodes. You will be responsible for leading the development of ADCs and DACs and for delivering state‑of‑the‑art performance circuits while contributing to innovative solutions that drive Blue Origin's mission of enabling millions to live and work in space for the benefit of Earth.

Special Mentions

• Relocation provided
• Travel expected up to 10% of the time.
• Interviews will include a technical assessment.
• This role will be based onsite in San Diego, CA or Cupertino, CA sites. A temporary remote work exception is approved while our San Diego site is being developed.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture, development and integration of advanced high-speed data converters (ADCs and DACs), as well as other fundamental analog/mixed-signal functions in advanced FinFET CMOS technologies, focusing on performance optimization, power and trade‑off analysis.
• Develop high-level behavioral models inMATLAB, Simulink, or SystemVerilog-AMSto validate system performance before circuit implementation.
• Utilize full proficiency in Spectre and AMS flows to develop high-performance mixed-signal circuits and systems.
• Collaborate with system architects to define block-level performance and interface requirements based on system specifications, ensuring seamless integration into RF payloads and terminals.
• Oversee layout, top-level integration, floorplanning, and verification of the overall design for successful tape‑out cycle.
• Work closely with validation and product engineers to develop test plans, facilitate bring‑up, optimize performance, and ensure reliable & high‑yield production cycles.
• Investigate and implement fundamental analog building blocks to enhance overall circuit performance and mentor junior engineers for best design practices in analog domain.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of industry experience, or the combination of industry experience and equivalent research from a PhD program.
• Proficiency in the design of high-speed ADCs and/or DACs in FinFET technologies.
• Proficiency in the design of SerDes for high-speed data converters such as DACs.
• Familiarity with analog‑to‑digital conversion architectures and techniques such as SAR, pipeline, TDC, delta‑sigma, interleaved sampling, RF, and sub‑sampling.
• Understanding of digital calibration algorithms for impairments of said architectures and techniques.
• Proficiency in mixed‑mode and analog/RF modeling, simulation, and verification methodologies using toolsets such as MATLAB, Spectre, SystemVerilog, and AMS.
• Deep understanding of Electromigration and layout‑dependent effects on circuit performance, namely in advanced FinFET technologies.
• Extensive experience in silicon characterization and debugging.
• Strong background in fundamental analog/RF building blocks, including amplifiers, filters, oscillators, reference generation and LDOs.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Preferred Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering or related technical discipline.
• Familiarity with RF design concepts and metrics such as noise figure, intercept points, line‑up analysis, etc.
• Prior experience as a Chip lead for complex front-end IC design and development.
• Fundamental understanding of device physics for process selection and performance optimization.
• Familiarity with chip-level ESD protection design and verification.
• Familiarity with digital design, digital verification, and SystemVerilog modeling.

Base Pay Range for: CA applicants is $269,175.00 - $376,843.95. 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

• 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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affimative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at [e-mail]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.

We’re committed to building the road to space so our children can build the future. We are a mission-driven company focused on ideas and innovation, and encourage fresh perspectives from bold voices. At Blue, our team is building the future as their unique selves.

Thank you for your interest in working at Blue Origin!

Blue Origin was founded with a vision to enable a future where millions of people are living and working in space to benefit Earth. In order to preserve Earth, Blue Origin believes in the need to enable humanity to expand, explore, find new energy and material resources, and move industries that stress Earth into space. Blue Origin believes it has an important role in building a road to space and lowering the cost of getting there. At Blue Origin, we’re working on this today by developing fully reusable launch vehicles and systems that are safe, reliable and affordable. Every launch vehicle is designed for human spaceflight from the beginning and able to ferry payloads to space.

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