Senior Ground Data Systems Engineer – Space-to-Ground

Socket.dev; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 168,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Life insurance

Parental leave

Short and long-term disability

401(k) with company match

Education Support Program

Stock Options

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking a Ground Data Systems Engineer3 to join the In‑Space Systems team in Reston, VA. You will own ground data system requirements and interfaces, work with flight and ground teams, and drive verification, validation, and production releases across the space-to-ground lifecycle.

The role requires 5+ years in space-to-ground and RF communications, knowledge of CCSDS, modulation and coding schemes, encryption, Python, and STK.

Qualifications

• B.S. in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering, CS, physics or related field.
• 5+ years in Space-to-Ground communications and ground systems.
• Experience with CCSDS, OSI stack, transport protocols, and CCSDS standards.
• Ability to develop link budgets and predict data rates.
• Knowledge of modulation formats and channel coding (DVB-S2/X, Ka/S/X).
• Experience with ranging, encryption, TCP/IP, and network concepts.
• Proficiency in Python and STK simulations for RF analyses.

Responsibilities

• Define, derive, and maintain Ground Data Systems requirements with traceability.
• Collaborate with flight, ground software, and external vendors on architecture.
• Develop ground data system architectures across mission requirements.
• Define interfaces and control documents (e.g., S/V to Ground interfaces).
• Plan, perform, and document verification and validation for Ground Data Systems.
• Lead production software release cycles with integration and test activities.
• Support improvements to Mission Systems and Flight Operations processes.
• Analyze operability across Space–Ground System and improve where justified.

Skills

Space-to-Ground

CCSDS protocols

Python scripting

RF/communications

Satellite Tool Kit (STK)

DOORS Next Generation

Confluence/JIRA

Ground Data Systems design

Education

B.S. in aerospace engineering or related field

Tools

Confluence

JIRA

Windchill

STK

DOORS Next Generation

Job description

Blue Origin is seeking a Ground Data Systems Engineer3 to join the In‑Space Systems team in Reston, VA. You will own ground data system requirements and interfaces, work with flight and ground teams, and drive verification, validation, and production releases across the space-to-ground lifecycle.

The role requires 5+ years in space-to-ground and RF communications, knowledge of CCSDS, modulation and coding schemes, encryption, Python, and STK.