Reliability Engineer - Satellite & Payloads - TeraWave

Blue Origin; United States; On-site; USD 157,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401(k) with company match

Education Support Program

Stock Options

Paid Time Off and holidays

Job summary

Blue Origin seeks a Reliability Engineer for Satellite and Payloads to translate mission objectives into hardware reliability requirements across spacecraft bus electronics and payload hardware. You will lead analyses, ID critical items, and drive design robustness in collaboration with system and hardware teams.

Responsibilities include reliability predictions, FMEAs, and ensuring verification plans cover qualification, acceptance, and life testing for a high-rate constellation. U.S.

Qualifications

• B.S. in electrical, aerospace, systems, reliability, or related technical field.
• 7+ years of reliability or mission-assurance engineering experience in aerospace or high-reliability products.
• Hands-on experience with FMEA/FMECA, fault-tree analysis, reliability block diagrams, and quantitative reliability prediction.
• Knowledge of spacecraft bus and payload hardware (avionics, EPS, propulsion electronics, GNC sensors/actuators, thermal-control, RF/optical comms).
• Ability to derive verifiable requirements and link to analyses, tests, or demonstrations.
• U.S. citizen/national or lawful residency per requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute hardware reliability and maintainability approaches for satellites and payloads.
• Derive and allocate reliability and mission-life requirements to hardware and interfaces.
• Create and maintain reliability analyses (FMEA/FMECA, fault trees, RBDs) and critical-item lists.
• Collaborate with engineers to improve design robustness and margins.
• Perform reliability predictions and sensitivity studies with component/field data.
• Quantify impact of trades on reliability, availability, and fleet operations.
• Integrate radiation, thermal, mechanical cycling, and harness degradation into analyses.
• Define reliability demonstration, qualification, and verification plans.

Skills

FMEA/FMECA

Fault-tree analysis

Reliability prediction

Derating and margins

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

B.S. in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, systems engineering, reliability engineering, applied mathematics/statistics

M.S./Ph.D. in a relevant field

Tools

DOORS

Jira

Windchill/PLM

Python

MATLAB

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 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 the TeraWave Reliability Engineer for Satellite and Payloads, you will serve as the hardware reliability technical focal point across spacecraft bus electronics, RF and optical payload hardware, avionics, EPS, propulsion electronics, GNC hardware, thermal-control hardware, structures and mechanisms, harnesses, connectors, and EEE parts. You will translate mission availability and lifetime objectives into actionable hardware reliability requirements, analyses, design decisions, and verification evidence across a high-rate constellation product lifecycle.

Special Mentions

Relocation provided up to 15% as program needs require.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and execute the TeraWave hardware reliability and maintainability approach across satellites, spacecraft bus systems, and RF and optical payload hardware, aligned with program mission-success objectives.
• Derive and allocate quantitative reliability, availability, and mission-life requirements from system objectives to spacecraft and payload hardware, LRUs, CCAs, EEE parts, mechanisms, harnesses, and critical hardware interfaces.
• Build and maintain reliability block diagrams, functional failure analyses, FMEAs/FMECAs, fault trees, critical-item lists, and single-point-failure assessments for nominal, degraded, contingency, and safe-mode operations.
• Partner with system and hardware subsystem architects to improve design robustness through derating, redundancy, cross-strapping, electrical and mechanical isolation, protective circuitry, design margins, parts selection, and graceful degradation.
• Perform reliability predictions and sensitivity studies using appropriate component, test, supplier, and field/heritage data; clearly state model assumptions, uncertainty, confidence, and limitations.
• Quantify the reliability and availability impact of satellite and payload hardware trades, including redundancy and sparing, RF and optical terminal architecture, avionics and EPS topology, propulsion capability, sensor and actuator selection, electrical protection, and hardware partitioning.
• Integrate radiation-induced failures, EEE part degradation, thermal and mechanical cycling, optical and RF degradation, mechanism wear, connector and harness failure modes, latent defects, and manufacturing variation into hardware reliability analyses in partnership with Radiation, EEE Parts, M&P, Manufacturing, Quality, and subsystem teams.
• Define hardware reliability demonstration, growth, and verification plans; support qualification, acceptance, highly accelerated, environmental, life, and integrated hardware testing.
• Review requirements, schematics, drawings, interface-control documents, test plans, nonconformances, waivers, and supplier data for hardware reliability impacts.
• Establish reliability metrics and evidence packages for program reviews, architecture closure, PBRs, design reviews, and flight-readiness decisions.
• Communicate technical risk and residual risk in decision-ready terms, balancing mission success, constellation availability, cost, schedule, producibility, and fleet operations.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, systems engineering, reliability engineering, applied mathematics/statistics, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of experience in reliability, systems, spacecraft, payload, avionics, or mission-assurance engineering for aerospace or another high-reliability product.
• Hands-on experience with FMEA/FMECA, fault-tree analysis, reliability block diagrams, critical-item management, or quantitative reliability prediction.
• Working knowledge of spacecraft bus and payload hardware such as avionics, EPS, propulsion electronics, GNC sensors and actuators, thermal-control hardware, structures and mechanisms, RF communications, or optical communications.
• Ability to derive clear, verifiable requirements and connect those requirements to analysis, test, inspection, or demonstration evidence.
• Ability to work across hardware design, manufacturing, supplier, test, quality, and operations teams and to present risk to technical and program leadership.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in a relevant engineering or reliability discipline.
• Experience with large satellite constellations, long-life LEO/MEO missions, fleet availability, or high-rate aerospace production.
• Experience applying NASA-STD-8729.1, MIL-STD-1629A, ECSS dependability practices, or comparable reliability standards.
• Experience with probabilistic methods, Monte Carlo analysis, Bayesian updating, reliability growth, accelerated-life testing, or physics-of-failure methods.
• Familiarity with radiation effects, EEE parts assurance, derating, worst-case circuit analysis, EMI/EMC, harness design, and materials/process controls.
• ASQ Certified Reliability Engineer or equivalent demonstrated expertise.
• Experience with requirements and lifecycle tools such as DOORS/Next Generation requirements systems, Jira, Windchill/PLM, Python, MATLAB, or statistical analysis software.

Base Pay Range for: CA applicants is $156,802.00 - $219,522.45 CO applicants is $144,179.00 - $201,849.90 WA applicants is $156,802.00 - $219,522.45 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 life insurance
• 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 (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 Ordin.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s affirmative action plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at [e-mail]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox.

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.

U.S. Applicant Privacy Notice

EU Applicant Privacy Notice