Principal Engineer - Position, Navigation, Timing (PNT) - TeraWave

Blue Origin; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 237,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Stock options

Job summary

Blue Origin in Seattle seeks a Principal Engineer for Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) to define timing and synchronization architecture for the TeraWave constellation and lead resilient PNT methods. You will write estimation algorithms, build simulation frameworks, run trade studies, and shape the small focused team that will follow.

Collaborate with payload, flight software, ground systems, and network teams to ensure interfaces meet timing requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or related field; MS or PhD preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in PNT systems, navigation algorithm development, or timing and synchronization engineering for satellite or distributed systems.
• Hands-on experience developing estimation algorithms for orbit determination, clock estimation, or sensor fusion.
• Working knowledge of time transfer methods and clock characterization.
• Experience with GNSS-based navigation and performance under degraded or denied conditions.
• Proficiency in MATLAB and/or Python for algorithm development, simulation, and analysis.
• Ability to frame and close architectural trades with defensible outcomes.
• Strong technical communication skills to present PNT architecture to domain specialists and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Define and own timing/synchronization architecture for the TeraWave constellation and onboard timing synchronization.
• Develop and validate PNT estimation algorithms orbit determination, clock estimation, and sensor fusion approaches using inter-satellite link measurements, GNSS observables, and ground-based tracking data.
• Build simulation frameworks to characterize estimation filter performance, timing stability, and sensitivity to degraded or denied external references.
• Conduct architectural trades across PNT approaches and document trade outcomes as the basis for design decisions.
• Define the PNT resilience posture for constellation operations: what accuracy and availability the system must maintain, under what denial or degradation conditions, and what architectural features provide that assurance.
• Develop the execution plan and build the technical case for a focused PNT team scoping the skills, sequencing the work, and defining what must be proven before committing to implementation.
• Work across payload, flight software, ground, and network teams to ensure PNT and timing requirements are understood, allocated, and verifiable at the interfaces.

Skills

Estimation algorithms

MATLAB/Python

Architectural trades framing

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's degree; MS/PhD preferred

Tools

MATLAB

Python

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!

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.

As a Principal Engineer for Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT), you will own two closely related mandates. First, you will define and maintain the timing and synchronization architecture for the TeraWave constellation how satellites establish and distribute precise time across RF and optical links, how clock errors are managed and corrected, and how timing performance requirements flow from constellation-level coordination needs down to subsystem design. Second, you will spearhead the definition of resilient PNT methods for TeraWave's constellation operations developing the algorithms, conducting the architectural trades, and designing the execution plan that ensures the constellation can determine and maintain satellite position, velocity, and timing with the accuracy and robustness the mission requires.

This is the first dedicated PNT hire within the Chief Systems Architecture office. You will be hands‑on: writing estimation algorithms, building simulation frameworks, and running trade studies yourself while simultaneously defining the architectural approach and building the case for the small focused team that will follow. Implementation at scale is a subsequent stage your job is to establish the technical foundation, prove out the critical approaches, and define what the team builds. You will own the system outcome through hardware and software development, production, and deployment at scale.

This role sits within the Chief Systems Architecture office and works closely with payload, flight software, ground systems, and network engineering teams.

Special Considerations

• Relocation provided

Responsibilities

• Define and own the timing and synchronization architecture for the TeraWave constellation how satellites establish and distribute precise time across RF and optical links, how clock errors are managed and corrected, and how timing performance requirements flow from constellation-level coordination needs down to subsystem design. An immediate priority is architecting onboard satellite timing synchronization using established methods before evaluating alternative or augmented approaches.
• Develop and validate PNT estimation algorithms orbit determination, clock estimation, and sensor fusion approaches using inter-satellite link measurements, GNSS observables, and ground-based tracking data
• Build simulation frameworks to characterize estimation filter performance, timing stability, and sensitivity to degraded or denied external references
• Conduct architectural trades across PNT approaches evaluating methods, quantifying performance and robustness, and documenting trade outcomes as the basis for design decisions
• Define the PNT resilience posture for constellation operations: what accuracy and availability the system must maintain, under what denial or degradation conditions, and what architectural features provide that assurance
• Develop the execution plan and build the technical case for a focused PNT team scoping the skills, sequencing the work, and defining what must be proven before committing to implementation
• Work across payload, flight software, ground, and network teams to ensure PNT and timing requirements are understood, allocated, and verifiable at the interfaces

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or related field; MS or PhD preferred
• 10+ years of experience in PNT systems, navigation algorithm development, or timing and synchronization engineering for satellite or distributed systems
• Hands‑on experience developing estimation algorithms for orbit determination, clock estimation, or sensor fusion.
• Working knowledge of time transfer methods and clock characterization
• Experience with GNSS‑based navigation and an understanding of performance under degraded or denied conditions
• Proficiency in MATLAB and/or Python for algorithm development, simulation, and analysis
• Demonstrated ability to frame and close architectural trades scoping the question, identifying binding constraints, and documenting defensible outcomes
• Strong technical communication skills able to present PNT architecture and trade results clearly to both domain specialists and program leadership

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with inter‑satellite link ranging or navigation using optical or RF crosslinks
• Background in LEO constellation operations, orbit maintenance, or flight dynamics
• Familiarity with satellite timing architectures PTP/NTP adaptation for space, TWSTFT, onboard clock steering
• Experience building or leading a small technical team from inception
• Experience with simulation tools and frameworks for Monte Carlo analysis of estimation performance
• Familiarity with astrodynamics tools

Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $169,624.00 - $237,473.25

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

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