Electrical Engineer, RF Payloads - TeraWave

Blue Origin; Washington; On-site; USD 107,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking an electrical engineer to help develop the RF payload hardware for our revolutionary TeraWave satellite communications network. This role will be instrumental in establishing electrical engineering excellence for our hardware systems, supporting a next-generation constellation designed to deliver an aggregate global network capacity of up to 6 Tbps.

You will act as the critical engineering bridge, integrating complex high-speed digital logic with advanced phased array

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in complex hardware product development (e.g., telecom hardware, 5G base stations, or aerospace electronics).
• Proficiency in EDA tools with direct experience handling schematic capture and layout guidelines for high-speed, multi-layer mixed-signal boards.
• Strong understanding of RF concepts (impedance matching, shielding, insertion loss) to collaborate with the internal microwave antenna team.
• Proven experience designing robust power delivery networks for high-power, dynamic electronic systems.
• Hands-on experience using high-speed scopes, spectrum analyzers, and vector network analyzers (VNAs).
• Proven track record of supporting hardware through the full lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Develop multi-layer, high-density interconnect (HDI) PCB design with strict isolation of high-speed lines.
• Design power systems (PoE, DC-DC converters, PMICs) for high dynamic current swings during beamforming.
• Perform simulations to minimize noise, EMI, and crosstalk across the system.
• Lead physical bring-up, hardware debugging, and lab testing of system-level boards.

Skills

RF concepts

HDI PCB design

Schematic capture

High-speed measurements

Power delivery networks

Team collaboration

Altium Designer

Cadence Allegro

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

Master's degree in electrical engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

Cadence Allegro

Job description

Application close date: 08/23/2026

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. 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.

Job Overview

We are seeking a electrical engineer to help develop the RF payload hardware for our revolutionary TeraWave satellite communications network. This role will be instrumental in establishing electrical engineering excellence for our hardware systems, supporting a next-generation constellation designed to deliver an aggregate global network capacity of up to 6 Tbps. You will act as the critical engineering bridge, integrating complex high-speed digital logic with advanced phased array antenna systems.

Core responsibilities

Include, but are not limited to:

• Develop multi-layer, high-density interconnect (HDI) PCB design, ensuring strict isolation between high-speed digital lines and sensitive microwave routing.
• Design highly efficient power systems (PoE, DC-DC converters, PMICs) capable of handling the high dynamic current swings required during beamforming operations.
• Perform simulation and analysis to minimize noise, crosstalk, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) across the entire system.
• Lead the physical bring-up, hardware debugging, and functional lab testing of the system-level boards.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related technical field.
• 3+ years of experience in complex hardware product development (e.g., telecom hardware, 5G base stations, or aerospace electronics).
• Proficiency in EDA tools (e.g., Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro) with direct experience handling schematic capture and layout guidelines for high-speed, multi-layer mixed-signal boards.
• Strong understanding of RF concepts (impedance matching, shielding, insertion loss) to effectively collaborate with the internal microwave antenna team.
• Proven experience designing robust power delivery networks for high-power, dynamic electronic systems.
• Hands-on experience using high-speed scopes, spectrum analyzers, and vector network analyzers (VNAs) for hardware debug.
• Proven track record of supporting hardware through the entire lifecycle, from initial concept and design through integration, testing, and field operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in electrical engineering or a related technical field.
• Familiarity with satellite communication protocols (LEO/GEO systems) or commercial high-speed wireless infrastructure (5G sub-6GHz/mmWave, Wi-Fi 6E/7).
• Direct experience collaborating with antenna or RF specialists to co-design and optimize the physical interface between PCBs and radiating elements (e.g., rigid-flex PCBs, board-to-board RF connectors).
• Experience designing hardware architecture around high-performance Xilinx/AMD Zynq SoCs, Altera/Intel FPGAs, or high-speed ARM processors.
• Proven track record of designing for and successfully passing regulatory compliance testing (FCC Part 15/25, CE, ETSI) for intentional radiators.
• Knowledge of thermal management strategies for high-power density boards and design practices for outdoor, weather-proof environments (IP67+ ratings).

Base Pay Range for:

• CA applicants is $107,136.00 - $149,990.40
• WA applicants is $107,136.00 - $149,990.40
• 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