RF Radio Responsible Engineer

Blue Origin; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Origin seeks a radio systems lead within the Lunar Permanence unit to drive RF hardware and firmware bring-up for space-grade SDRs. You will oversee a cross-functional team delivering hardware from development to production on an aggressive schedule.

You will define RF requirements, manage EMI/EMC tests, environmental qualification, and bridge product engineers with vehicle systems engineers. Hands-on testing and rapid iteration are essential.

Qualifications

• B.S. in electrical, computer, or aerospace engineering, physics, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years RF communications system design for space environments.
• Minimum 3 years qualifying space hardware for space environment.
• 3+ years aerospace test experience with test plans, reports, and test equipment.
• Familiar with digital comms, spread spectrum, PSK/APSK/QAM, and modulated tests.
• Hands-on hardware testing of RF/avionics devices at card/box/system level.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority for RF SDRs from UHF through Ka-Band.
• Lead a multi-disciplinary team in vertical integration under aggressive schedule.
• Develop and review RF requirements, EMI/EMC/test plans, environmental tests.
• Lead handoff of radio products from development to production.
• Interface between radio product team and vehicle system engineers.
• Design, build, and verify custom automated RF test equipment.
• Coordinate test facility scheduling and resources.
• Lead test readiness and root cause analyses.
• Generate test summaries and verification artifacts.
• Collaborate with labs, facilities, and suppliers for time and tests.

Skills

RF design

Space environment

Test & verification

EMI/EMC

Hardware bring-up

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical/Computer/Aerospace Eng

Tools

Vector Network Analyzers

Spectrum Analyzers

Oscilloscopes

Test fixtures & calibration

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.

Job Description

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 the concept development, hardware and firmware development, test and integration, and transfer from development hardware to production for the radio products. As the Single Threaded Leader for the radio products, you will be responsible for oversight and execution for the efficient hardware bring-up, 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 bridge between the product engineers and the vehicle system level team. This is a multi-disciplinary and hands-on role to be able to deliver radio products under an aggressive schedule to the lunar landers.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Serve as the technical authority for radio frequency (RF) software defined radios operating from UHF through Ka-Band
• Lead a multi-disciplinary team (electrical, RF, software, FPGA, test, mechanical) in the vertical integration of software defined radios under an aggressive schedule
• Develop and review RF requirements for various lunar vehicles, assess mitigation techniques , review test plans/procedures for EMI/EMC, and environmental tests
• Lead the handoff of the radio products from development to production
• Technical bridge between the radio product team and the vehicle system engineers
• 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
• 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
• Support schedule development and resource coordination, including test facility, chamber, and equipment scheduling
• Lead test readiness efforts, resolve work stoppages, and delegate supporting tasks
• 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

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of a B.S. in electrical, computer, or aerospace engineering, physics, or related field
• Minimum 3 years of RF communications system design for the space environment
• Minimum 3 years of qualifying space hardware for the space environment
• 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
• Familiarity with digital communication systems, spread spectrum, and modulation types such as PSK, APSK, and QAM, and with modulated signal test methods
• Minimum 3 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)
• 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 t