RF Hardware Engineer III - Lunar Permanence

Blue Origin LLC; Washington; On-site; USD 131,000 - 183,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Paid parental leave

Short/Long-term disability

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC seeks a hands-on RF/EMC test engineer to lead EMI/EMC validation across RF hardware for lunar propulsion and avionics systems. You will develop test plans, perform multipaction analyses, and guide design-for-test in a collaborative aerospace environment.

The role involves card/box level bring-up, high-power RF testing in vacuum environments, and close interaction with mechanical and systems engineers to drive flight readiness and test readiness.

Qualifications

• B.S. in electrical, computer, or aerospace engineering, physics, or related field.
• 3+ years aerospace test experience developing requirements, plans, procedures, and test setups; troubleshooting test articles.
• 5+ years hardware test experience of RF and avionics devices at card/box/system level.
• Experience planning EMI/EMC testing per MIL-STD-461/DO-160 or equivalent.
• Knowledge of EMI/EMC design: grounding, shielding, bonding, filtering, harness routing.
• Proficiency with lab equipment: VNA, spectrum analyzer, signal generators, power meters, oscilloscopes, etc.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• US citizenship or eligible for work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Develop and review RF requirements, mitigation techniques, test plans, and procedures with emphasis on RF testing, EMI/EMC, and environmental testing.
• Lead EMI/EMC test and validation across RF hardware, including emissions and susceptibility testing; advise on grounding, bonding, shielding, and harness treatment.
• Own multipaction and corona/RF breakdown analysis and testing for high‑power RF assemblies.
• Support design and systems engineers in RF hardware design verification and testability.
• Assist hardware bring‑up and integration: power-on, functional checkout, interface verification, debugging.
• Develop and verify custom Automated Test Equipment (ATE) for RF testing, including benches and fixtures.
• Characterize RF performance: gain, output power, efficiency, noise figure, linearity, spurious content, EVM, BER.
• Coordinate test facility scheduling and resource allocation; lead test readiness and issue resolution.
• Prepare test records, summaries, and verification artifacts; interface with labs, facilities, and suppliers.

Skills

RF test/EMI/EMC

Test equipment

Multipaction analysis

Python for instrument control

Grounding and bonding

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical, Computer, or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Vector network analyzers

Spectrum analyzers

Signal generators

Power meters

Oscilloscopes

Automated Test Equipment

GPIB

Python

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! This role is part of the Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Origin’s Blue Moon landers and related products. To further Blue Origin's mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth, we are building sustainable infrastructure for our transport of crew and cargo from Earth to the lunar surface. This role is part of the Lunar Permanence business unit. To further Blue Origin's mission of having millions of people living and working in space, we are building the sustainable infrastructure for our transport of crew and cargo from Earth to the Lunar Surface. As part of a hardworking team of diverse specialists, technicians, and engineers, you will lead test and integration for the RF hardware that enables our lunar missions — radios and transceivers, solid-state power amplifiers, radar sensors, and GNSS receivers — at both the card level and the box/LRU level. You will take hardware from first bring-up on the bench through functional characterization, environmental exposure, and qualification, and you will be responsible for ensuring both the hardware and the records meet engineering and quality requirements upon test completion. You will also serve as the technical lead for EMI/EMC test and validation across the RF hardware portfolio, and will own multipaction analysis and test for high-power RF assemblies operating in vacuum. This is a hands‑on, highly collaborative role where your test results directly drive design decisions and flight readiness.

Responsibilities

• Develop and review RF requirements, mitigation techniques, test plans, and procedures with an emphasis on providing your expertise on RF communications test, EMI/EMC, and environmental test methodologies and best practices.
• Serve as the technical lead for EMI/EMC test and validation across RF hardware, including conducted and radiated emissions and susceptibility, pre‑compliance screening, and formal qualification testing; advise design teams on grounding, bonding, shielding, filtering, and harness treatment to close findings.
• Own multipaction and corona/RF breakdown analysis and test for high‑power RF assemblies, including margin assessment, test article and vacuum setup preparation, detection method selection, and results interpretation.
• Support Design and Systems Engineers in RF and avionics hardware design and verification plan development, and advocate for design‑for‑testability at both the card and box level.
• Support card‑level and box‑level hardware bring‑up and integration: first power‑on, functional checkout, interface verification, debug, and troubleshooting alongside card and box.
• Responsible Engineers Work with Hardware and Software Design Engineers to design, build, and verify custom Automated Test Equipment, including RF test benches, fixtures, cabling, and calibration approaches.
• Perform and oversee RF performance characterization including gain, output power, efficiency, noise figure, linearity, spurious and harmonic content, phase noise, VSWR, and modulated signal performance (EVM, BER).
• Support schedule development and resource coordination, including test facility, chamber, and equipment scheduling.
• Lead test readiness efforts, resolve work stoppages, and delegate supporting tasks.
• Lead and/or directly run test procedures.
• Enforce safety policies during test operations, including high‑power RF exposure controls and high‑voltage safety.
• Troubleshoot test anomalies real‑time and identify test article and test equipment non‑conformances.
• Lead anomaly investigations, root‑cause analyses, and development of recovery plans.
• Generate test record summaries and support generation of verification artifacts.
• Interface with internal and external test facilities, labs, and suppliers for chamber time, specialty testing, and third‑party compliance activities.
• Develop/improve processes and standard procedures with emphasis on optimizing quality and efficiency of the team's performance.
• Train Test Specialists and other Test Engineers in RF test practice and EMI/EMC methods.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of a B.S. in electrical, computer, or aerospace engineering, physics, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years demonstrated aerospace test experience including: developing test requirements, plans, procedures, reports, and associated test equipment/test setups; operating and troubleshooting test setups and test articles; participating in environmental testing including Shock/Vibration, Thermal Cycles, Vacuum, and/or EMI/EMC.
• Minimum 5 years demonstrated hardware test experience of RF and avionics devices at the card, box, or system level (e.g., radios and transceivers, power amplifiers, radar, GNSS/navigation, RF distribution, Command & Control, Power, Input/Output).
• Demonstrated experience planning and executing EMI/EMC testing, including radiated and conducted emissions and susceptibility, with working knowledge of MIL-STD-461, DO-160, or equivalent standards.
• Working knowledge of EMI/EMC design and mitigation techniques: grounding and bonding, shielding, filtering, cable routing and shield termination, and enclosure design.
• Proficient in the use of standard electronic lab test and troubleshooting equipment, including vector network analyzers, spectrum and signal analyzers, signal generators, power meters, oscilloscopes, and electronic loads.
• Desire to work hands‑on, both independently and as part of a team, throughout the development and production phases of the mechanical and electronic assembly product lifecycle.
• Good written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work with multi‑functional teams such as mechanical, systems, and operations to partner for the best test implementation solutions.
• 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

• Direct experience with multipaction analysis and test, including ECSS‑E‑ST‑20‑01 or equivalent methodology, susceptibility charts, margin policy, vacuum test article preparation, and detection techniques (nulling, harmonic, electron probe, optical, forward/reverse power).
• Experience with multipaction and RF breakdown modeling tools (e.g., SPARK3D, CST Particle Studio, FEST3D, Ansys HFSS), and familiarity with high‑power RF component and waveguide design considerations.
• Hands‑on experience in anechoic, semi‑anechoic, reverberation, or TEM/GTEM chambers, and with thermal vacuum chambers and vibration facilities.
• Experience developing, designing, and/or verifying custom Automated Test Equipment.
• Experience working with Python for instrument control and data analysis (SCPI, VISA, GPIB).
• Familiarity with Linux and other Unix‑style operating systems.
• Familiarity with git, JIRA, Windchill.
• Experience testing space‑grade or high‑reliability hardware to qualification and acceptance standards such as GSFC-STD-7000 (GEVS), MIL‑STD‑1540, SMC‑S‑016, or ECSS.
• Experience developing hardware to IPC J‑STD‑0001xS, IPC/WHMA‑A‑620x‑S, and/or NASA‑STD‑8739.n standards.
• Familiarity with digital communication systems, spread spectrum, and modulation types such as PSK, APSK, and QAM, and with modulated signal test methods.
• Experience with GNSS test methods, including signal and constellation simulators.
• Experience with radar test methods, including target simulation, range and Doppler verification, and antenna pattern measurement.

Base Pay Range

Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $130,706.00 - $182,987.70 Other site ranges may differ.

Culture Statement

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 and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long‑term disability