Communications Systems Engineer III - Lunar Permanence

Blue Origin LLC; Washington; On-site; USD 131,000 - 183,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401(k) with match

Education Support Program

Stock Options

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC seeks a Communications Systems Responsible Engineer within the spacecraft Avionics team to lead design, analyses, and interfaces for the Lunar Permanence program. You will perform trade studies, develop link budgets, and guide multi-functional teams across integration and test activities.

The role requires hands-on RF system work, spacecraft experience, and strong communication skills to ensure safe, repeatable spaceflight and mission success.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace or Electrical Engineering.
• 5+ years in communication systems or RF testing.
• Experience with RF components (SSPA, LNAs, transceivers, antennas).
• Knowledge of modulation and FEC concepts and RF requirements.
• Experience delivering spacecraft comms systems including radiation, integration.

Responsibilities

• Develop communication system design for in-space architectures.
• Allocate functions to the subsystems and manage requirements.
• Support system engineering practices and cross-team alignment.
• Manage verification, validation activities and test coordination.
• Develop ConOps and perform RF simulations for link budgets and coverage.
• Coordinate with test facilities and track V&V.
• Define vehicle interfaces and safety artifacts; mentor junior engineers.

Skills

RF systems

Spacecraft experience

Digital modulation

RS-422/SpaceWire

Python/MATLAB

HFSS/STK

Aerospace communication

Verbal/written communication

Education

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering

B.S. in Electrical Engineering

Related technical field

Tools

HFSS

STK

MATLAB

Python

SpaceWire

RS-422

Ethernet

HDLC

Job description

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 the Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Origin’s Blue Moon landers and related products. To further Blue Origin's mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth, we are building sustainable infrastructure for our transport of crew and cargo from Earth to the lunar surface. As part of a hardworking team of specialists, technicians, and engineers (use as appropriate), you will work as a Communication Systems Responsible Engineer within the spacecraft Avionics team, focusing on the integration of the communications subsystem. You will lead multi-functional trade studies, run integrated analyses, and define interfaces that impact the design and integration of the spacecraft. We are a team with varied strengths of collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers who are committed to a culture of safety. This position directly impacts the history of space exploration and requires dedication and detailed attention toward safe and repeatable space flight. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space and enabling Blue Origin’s vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth. As a step towards this vision, Blue Origin is building the next generation of lunar landers.

Responsibilities

• Develop Communication system design for one or more in-space architectures.
• Allocate and decompose higher level functions and requirements to the Communications Subsystems.
• Support the alignment, documentation, and consistent implementation of Lunar Permanence System engineering practices across applicable projects.
• Support system and lower-level requirements management, including change control, audits, and coordination with other teams.
• Support the development and creation of ConOps.
• Develop, track, and maintain analyses and simulations for Communications Subsystem including: link analysis, signal distortion, system capacity, coverage analysis and performance.
• Develop subsystem verification and validation activity definitions including verification methods, expectations, and compliance criteria.
• Coordinate with Integration & Test teams to ensure test facilities (including integration labs) have the required capabilities per requirements definition.
• Track V&V activities to successful completion, which may include reviewing subsystem test plans and possible travel to test facilities when needed.
• Support in the definition of vehicle-level interfaces between systems and elements that interact with internal components.
• Support in the authoring of safety artifacts, including functional hazard assessments and hazard mitigations.
• Mentor early career systems engineers.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of a B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related technical area
• 5+ years of experience in communication systems or RF testing
• Working knowledge of major RF components used in a communication subsystem (SSPA, LNAs, Transceivers, waveguides, antennas, filters, etc.)
• Strong Communication fundamentals including understanding of digital modulation schemes including various types of QPSK modulation (OQPSK, UQPSK, spread spectrum approaches, etc.), FEC encoding like Reed Solomon and LDCP codes, and the relationship between information rates and RF requirements
• Experience delivering communications systems for spacecraft applications including experience addressing radiation effects, hardware/software integration, thermal management, etc.
• Experience integrating communication systems into larger systems, including definition of management and data interfaces using protocols like RS-422, Ethernet, SpaceWire, HDLC, etc.
• Experience developing static and dynamic RF simulations (link budgets, coverage analyses, line of site simulation, etc.) with tools like HFSS, STK, MATLAB, and/or Python.
• Working knowledge of space environments and the process to space qualify a communication flight unit
• Ability to work from incomplete specifications to drive to completion.
• Proven ability to interpret and apply high-level system requirements to practical design solutions for a complex physical assembly
• In depth knowledge of systems engineering practices (e.g., requirements development; standard verification methods; functional decomposition; standard diagramming techniques; risk and opportunity management
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of satellite communication systems, and familiarity with all phases of an RF’s product lifecycle from concept, design, manufacture, test, and integration.
• Knowledge of in-space relay communication protocols and architectures
• Knowledge of direct-with-earth communications and ranging approaches
• Knowledge of vehicle-to-vehicle crosslink communications and ranging
• Working knowledge of simulation software like HFSS for antenna placement studies, Coverage analysis, antenna pattern simulations, ray tracing simulations, and other RF studies.
• Full-life cycle engineering for a communication system from clean-sheet architecture definition through to operations planning and support.
• Experience writing RF test procedures and performing subsystem level functional tests

Base Pay Range for:

• CO applicants is $119,814.00 - $167,738.55
• WA applicants is $130,706.00 - $182,987.70
• 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%
• Education Support Program
• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
• Paid Time Off: Up to four 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. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Aff<

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 lower 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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