Lead Optical SDR & Space Communications Architect

Blue Origin; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 237,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Origin seeks a Principal Optical Terminal Communications Software Architect to lead software architecture for advanced SDR terminals and optical communication systems in national security missions. You will shape platform-independent frameworks, guide waveform processing, and collaborate with systems, hardware, and firmware teams to deliver mission-ready software.

You will influence software design reviews, verification strategies, and secure OTA update implementations, shaping scalable,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience developing embedded and application software for SDR systems.
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ and Python; familiarity with additional languages is a plus.
• Demonstrated technical depth across software design, implementation, and cross-functional integration.
• Experience with software lifecycle management, configuration management, CI/CD pipelines, and verification/validation practices for mission-critical systems.
• Working knowledge of communication protocols including TCP/IP, UDP, CAN, I2C, SPI, and RS-422/485.
• Experience applying secure software development principles and cybersecurity best practices in embedded or mission-critical environments.
• Hands-on experience with embedded software testing methodologies.
• Active TS/SCI clearance

Responsibilities

• Architect, develop, implement, verify, and integrate software for next-generation SDR terminals, with a focus on scalability, reliability, and mission readiness.
• Design and develop SDR capabilities for spacecraft platforms, including waveform processing, modulation/demodulation, and communication protocol development.
• Define platform-independent, reusable software frameworks, services, and design patterns that support multiple waveforms, data rates, modulation and coding configurations, and future system growth.
• Partner with systems, hardware, and firmware engineers to analyze requirements and translate them into clear, detailed architectural specifications.
• Establish software architecture standards, coding guidelines, design patterns, and review practices that promote maintainability and long-term system health.
• Lead software design reviews, code reviews, and technical trade studies spanning performance, fault tolerance, redundancy, scalability, and portability.
• Support software integration, verification, and validation across software-in-the-loop (SIL), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and other mission-representative test environments.
• Build and improve software engineering infrastructure, including build systems, CI/CD pipelines, automated test frameworks, and debugging and diagnostic tooling.
• Author and maintain technical documentation including software architecture descriptions, interface control documents, verification plans, and test procedures.
• Design and implement secure over-the-air (OTA) software update capabilities for spacecraft, including authenticated delivery, validation, rollback, version control, and safe on-orbit deployment

Skills

C/C++

Python

Embedded systems

Software architecture

CI/CD pipelines

Verifications & tests

TCP/IP protocols

Security best practices

Team leadership

Space systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field

Tools

Git

Linux

Build systems

Job description

Blue Origin seeks a Principal Optical Terminal Communications Software Architect to lead software architecture for advanced SDR terminals and optical communication systems in national security missions. You will shape platform-independent frameworks, guide waveform processing, and collaborate with systems, hardware, and firmware teams to deliver mission-ready software.

You will influence software design reviews, verification strategies, and secure OTA update implementations, shaping scalable,