Satellite Flight Software Engineer III - TeraWave
Blue Origin
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Qualifications
- 7+ years of experience in spacecraft flight software or embedded software development.
- Experience developing software for spacecraft subsystems such as thermal, power, or propulsion.
- Strong programming skills in C, C++, and Python.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and implement flight software for satellite bus subsystems.
- Develop closed-loop control software for spacecraft subsystems.
- Create software interfaces between spacecraft subsystems for safe operations.
Skills
Education
Tools
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!
This position is part of Blue Origin's TeraWave business unit, a newly announced satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. TeraWave consists of 5,408 optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO), providing enterprise-grade connectivity for critical operations.
We are seeking a Satellite Flight Software Engineer III to design, develop, and verify applications for TeraWave’s satellite flight software subsystem. This role will be instrumental in building robust, scalable flight software to support the expansion of TeraWave into a 5,408-vehicle constellation. The ideal candidate is a hands‑on engineer with experience developing reliable, mission‑critical software for onboard spacecraft systems such as propulsion, power, RF communications, payload interfaces, and other vehicle subsystems.
- Design, develop, and implement flight software for TeraWave satellite bus subsystems including thermal control, power management, and propulsion control components
- Develop and implement closed‑loop control software for spacecraft subsystems, including control algorithms supporting thermal regulation, power distribution, and propulsion management
- Create and maintain software interfaces between spacecraft subsystems to support safe and integrated vehicle operations
- Collaborate with hardware, systems, and autonomy engineers to define software requirements, interfaces, and behavioral boundaries across subsystems
- Develop and integrate simulation environments and models to test FSW across a range of nominal and off‑nominal operational scenarios
- Support software architecture, design reviews, and systems engineering trade studies
- Participate in software integration, verification, and validation testing including software‑in‑the‑loop (SIL) and hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) environments
- Support on‑orbit operations and troubleshooting of deployed spacecraft
- Mentor junior engineers and contribute to team technical development
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field
- 7+ years of experience in spacecraft flight software or embedded software development
- Strong programming skills in C, C++, and Python
- Experience with real‑time operating systems (RTOS) such as Linux, QNX, VxWorks, RTEMS or equivalent
- Experience developing software for one or more spacecraft subsystems such as thermal, power, or propulsion
- Experience with software unit testing frameworks such as Google Test or equivalent for embedded C/C++ environments
- Experience with inter‑process communication (IPC) mechanisms including sockets, shared memory, message queues, or publish‑subscribe middleware
- Experience with cross‑compilation toolchains and embedded Linux build systems such as CMake, Make, Yocto, or Buildroot
- Experience with software lifecycle, configuration management (Git), CI/CD, and verification/validation practices for mission‑critical embedded software systems
- Familiarity with communication protocols such as TCP/IP, UDP, CAN, I2C, SPI, and RS‑422/485
- Familiarity with static analysis tools and flight software coding standards such as MISRA C/C++
- Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field
- Experience with on‑orbit spacecraft operations or satellite constellation management
- Experience with over‑the‑air (OTA) software updates
- Experience developing flight software for fault‑tolerant or redundant avionics architectures, such as dual‑string or voting‑based system designs
- Familiarity with NASA cFS, F Prime, or similar flight software frameworks
- Familiarity with spacecraft FDIR and autonomy software components and their interfaces
- Understanding of radiation effects on electronics and software‑based mitigation techniques
At Blue Origin, we’re building the future of space‑based connectivity through the TeraWave satellite communications network. As a Satellite Flight Software Engineer III, you will design and test flight software and contribute directly to a large‑scale satellite constellation delivering high‑performance, resilient global communications. Join a team solving complex, mission‑critical problems at the intersection of spacecraft, software, networking, and systems integration.
CA applicants is $164,652.00 - $230,512.80 CO applicants is $150,931.00 - $211,303.05 WA applicants is $164,652.00 - $230,512.80
Other site ranges may differ
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.
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.
- 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 (CDL drivers only), 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 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.
- 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.
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.
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 EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.
If you are a California resident, please reference the CA Applicant Privacy Notice here.
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