Senior Embedded Software Engineer - TeraWave Customer Terminals

Blue Origin; United States; On-site; USD 198,000 - 277,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Stock options

Paid time off

Education Support Program

Job summary

Blue Origin in the United States is seeking a Senior Embedded Software Engineer to design, develop, and optimize firmware for next-generation satellite user terminals. You will build mission-critical software enabling real-time beam steering, transceiver control, and high-throughput data routing.

You will work at the intersection of hardware and software, crafting bare-metal or RTOS-based firmware to control high-speed communication systems and RF hardware, with emphasis on reliability and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or CS.
• 7+ years of embedded software experience.
• Proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems.
• Experience with RTOS (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, VxWorks) and Embedded Linux.
• Ability to read schematics and use lab tools.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement modular embedded firmware for microcontrollers, FPGAs, or SoCs.
• Develop beam steering and transceiver control software for high-speed networks.
• Create low-level drivers for SPI, I2C, UART, PCIe, Ethernet.
• Optimize networking protocols for ultra-low latency between satellite and gateways.
• Implement secure bootloaders and OTA update systems.

Skills

Embedded C/C++

RTOS & Embedded Linux

Microcontroller/SoC/FPGAs

Reading schematics & Lab tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or CS

Tools

SPI

I2C

UART

PCIe

Ethernet

JTAG

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 connectivity with TeraWave, a revolutionary satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. This network will service tens of thousands of enterprise, data center, and government users who require reliable connectivity for critical operations.

Job Description

We are seeking a Senior Embedded Software Engineer to design, develop, and optimize firmware for our next-generation satellite user terminal. In this role, you will build mission-critical software enabling real-time beam steering, transceiver control, and high-throughput data routing. You will work at the intersection of hardware and software, developing robust bare-metal or RTOS-based firmware to control high-speed communication systems and complex RF hardware.

Core Responsibilities

• Design and implement modular, highly reliable embedded C/C++ firmware for resource-constrained microcontrollers, FPGAs, or SoCs.
• Write low-level software to program, calibrate, and dynamically update phase registers across hundreds of Beamforming ICs (BFICs) to achieve microsecond-level electronic beam steering.
• Write and debug low-level peripheral drivers (SPI, I2C, UART, PCIe, Ethernet) to interface with transceivers, RF front-ends, and baseband processors.
• Optimize embedded networking protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, DHCP, VLAN) to ensure ultra-low latency and maximum data throughput between the satellite network and local user gateways.
• Implement real-time thermal throttling algorithms, power-saving states, and automated fault-protection logic to keep high-power density electronics operating safely in extreme outdoor conditions.
• Develop secure bootloaders, cryptographic verification systems, and highly resilient over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of professional experience in embedded software development, specifically working on high-speed communications, radar, networking, or aerospace hardware.
• Expert-level proficiency in modern C and C++ for embedded systems.
• Deep experience working with Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS (e.g., FreeRTOS, Zephyr, VxWorks) and/or Embedded Linux.
• Strong ability to read complex electrical schematics, utilize datasheets, and use lab tools (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG debuggers) to isolate hardware vs. software issues.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience writing software to control phased array antennas, digital beamformers, or direct-RF sampling transceivers.
• Experience configuring custom Embedded Linux distributions and cross-compiling toolchains using Yocto Project or Buildroot.
• Familiarity with hardware-based security features, including TPM, TrustZone, hardware acceleration engines, and secure enclave integration.
• Experience setting up automated Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing environments and continuous integration pipelines for firmware verification.
• Experience with satellite communications systems, space-based networks, or telecommunications.
• Experience with IP, networking, and communications protocols including BGP, MPLS, SRv6, TCP/IP, UDP/IP, IPv6, voice, and video.
• Experience with software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV).
• Understanding of networking over constrained links and optimization techniques.
• Experience with formal verification methods for safety-critical software.

Base Pay Range for: CA applicants is $197,529.00 - $276,539.55 VA applicants is $197,529.00 - $276,539.55 WA applicants is $197,529.00 - $276,539.55 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.

Benefits

• 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

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affiantative 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. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.

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.