FPGA Designer - TeraWave RF and Optical Systems Firmware

Blue Origin Personnel, LLC; Redmond (WA); On-site; USD 157,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Stock options

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking an FPGA Designer to own firmware features for high‑speed data processing and signal handling. You will translate requirements into FPGA implementations, verify with testbenches, and ensure timing closure across a multidisciplinary team.

You will collaborate with systems, RF, avionics, and software engineers, developing maintainable RTL and contributing to design reviews while addressing delivery risks and tradeoffs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related technical field.
• 2+ years hands-on FPGA design or verification experience or equivalent.
• Proficiency in VHDL/Verilog/SystemVerilog for synthesizable RTL and simulation.

Responsibilities

• Own FPGA features from requirements to hardware bring-up.
• Develop RTL in VHDL/Verilog/SystemVerilog and verify with testbenches.
• Perform timing analysis, synthesis, place-and-route, and timing closure.
• Collaborate with systems, RF, avionics, and hardware/software teams.
• Lead design reviews and provide corrective actions as needed.

Skills

FPGA design

RTL development

VHDL/Verilog

SystemVerilog

UVM

Hardware verification

Timing closure

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical estimation

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Master's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering (preferred)

Tools

Industry FPGA toolchain

Synthesis/place-and-route

Oscilloscopes & logic analyzers

Python/TCL for automation

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.

Job Description Summary Own project-level FPGA features for space-based high-speed data processing, communications, and signal processing systems. With clear technical direction and some oversight, translate requirements into FPGA implementations, execute verification and timing closure, support hardware integration, and communicate delivery risks and tradeoffs.

About the Role At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We are building systems that make access to space more reliable, cost-effective, and routine. The TeraWave program is seeking an FPGA Designer to design, verify, and integrate FPGA-based systems for high-speed data processing, communications, and signal processing applications. You will work on a small, multidisciplinary team and contribute FPGA deliverables from requirements through hardware integration and test. The role requires sound engineering judgment, clear documentation, and effective collaboration with systems, RF, avionics, thermal, hardware, and software engineers.

Responsibilities

• Own FPGA features through requirements analysis, technical design, RTL development, functional simulation, synthesis, place-and-route, timing closure, and hardware bring-up with clear direction and some oversight.
• Translate allocated requirements into module architectures, interface definitions, implementation plans, verification objectives, and traceable design documentation.
• Develop maintainable RTL in VHDL, Verilog, or SystemVerilog and integrate vendor, third-party, or internally developed IP cores.
• Develop and maintain verification environments using testbenches, assertions, automated regressions, constrained-random stimulus, or functional coverage as appropriate to the design risk.
• Analyze and resolve timing, resource utilization, clocking, reset, clock-domain crossing, and integration issues for designs of moderate complexity.
• Implement and verify program-defined design-for-test, design-for-manufacturing, and space-grade reliability features, including single-event upset mitigation, triple modular redundancy, scrubbing, error-correcting codes, and fault detection where required.
• Lead bring-up and debug for owned features and perform root-cause analysis of moderate-scope design or test nonconformances; develop and verify corrective actions.
• Participate in preliminary, critical, peer, and test reviews as an author and reviewer; provide constructive feedback and ensure review actions are closed.
• Partner with systems, RF, avionics, thermal, hardware, software, manufacturing, and test engineers to define interfaces and validate end-to-end performance.
• Estimate effort and complexity, identify technical and schedule risks, communicate progress, and recommend practical tradeoffs or mitigation plans.
• Contribute improvements to FPGA coding standards, reusable IP, verification infrastructure, development workflows, and laboratory procedures.
• Support qualification, acceptance testing, production troubleshooting, radiation testing, and on-orbit operations for owned designs as needed.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Two or more years of hands-on FPGA design or verification experience, or an equivalent combination of graduate study and relevant engineering experience.
• Proficiency in VHDL or Verilog/SystemVerilog for synthesizable RTL design and simulation.
• Experience using an industry FPGA toolchain for synthesis, place-and-route, timing analysis, device programming, and debug.
• Experience with using UVM for FPGA design verification.
• Working knowledge of high-speed digital design principles, including clock and reset design, clock-domain crossings, timing constraints, metastability, and resource optimization.
• Experience developing test-benches and automated regression tests and diagnosing failures from simulation, implementation reports, and laboratory evidence.
• Experience with laboratory board bring-up and debug using embedded logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, or similar equipment.
• Ability to develop technical estimates, identify risks, document design decisions, and deliver project-level assignments with limited day-to-day instruction.
• Experience working with configuration management, requirements traceability, and formal or peer design reviews.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate across engineering disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with AMD Versal, Microchip IGLOO, Intel, or equivalent FPGA and adaptive SoC families.
• Experience implementing digital signal processing, modem, beamforming, network-processing, or high-speed communications functions in FPGAs.
• Experience with PCIe, Ethernet, JESD204, high-speed SERDES, GTH or GTY transceivers, or comparable interfaces.
• Experience with embedded processor integration and hardware-software co-design.
• Experience applying and verifying space-grade single-event effect mitigation techniques or supporting radiation test and qualification activities.
• Experience with formal verification, UVM-based verification, functional coverage, or constrained-random test methods.
• Experience developing reusable IP, verification utilities, continuous-integration workflows, or automation using Python or Tcl.
• Experience in a space, defense, satellite communications, or high-reliability product development environment.

Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $157,419.00 - $220,386.60 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.

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…

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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