Senior Optical Communications Design Engineer, Project Sunrise

Blue Origin LLC; Littleton (CO); Sur place; USD 182 000 - 254 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Stock options

Paid time off

Education support program

Résumé du poste

Blue Origin LLC is seeking a Senior Optical Communications Design Engineer to own and evolve an optical communication design for a global satellite constellation. You will lead a multidisciplinary team of hardware and software engineers, guiding pointing algorithms, hardware selection, and integration strategies to keep our constellation at the cutting edge.

You will be responsible for end-to-end optical links, link-budget analyses, and performance validation under varied conditions, while

Qualifications

• BS in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 5+ years designing/developing optical communication systems.
• Experience leading small hardware/software teams.
• Proven satellite/space optical comms experience.
• Strong PAT and optical link-budget skills.

Responsabilités

• Lead design, analysis, and optimization of free-space optical links.
• Direct cross-functional hardware/software engineers on algorithms and hardware.
• Design and validate end-to-end optical communication pipeline.
• Select/integrate/test lasers, modulators, detectors, pointing mechanisms.
• Perform link-budget modeling and performance simulations.
• Evolve hardware/software for new mission requirements and cost reduction.
• Develop test infrastructure and perform lab and OTA tests.
• Collaborate with systems/avionics/software teams for payload integration.
• Create/design documentation and performance analyses.

Connaissances

PAT algorithms

Cross-functional leadership

Optical communication design

Link budget analysis

DSP/FPGA/embedded

SDR familiarity

MATLAB/Simulink

Formation

BS in Optical Engineering / Electrical Engineering / Physics

Outils

Zemax

CodeV

MATLAB/Simulink

FPGA/GPUs/embedded

Description du poste

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 Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin’s mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design. Join Blue Origin as we build infrastructure in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re developing a satellite constellation of orbital data centers, Sunrise, designed to transform how compute infrastructure is deployed and leveraged.

Job Summary: Our team is at the forefront of developing a cutting‑edge satellite constellation designed to provide high‑bandwidth connectivity across the globe. We are seeking a seasoned and innovative Senior Optical Communications Design Engineer to drive the evolution of our space‑based laser communication systems. In this role, you will take ownership of an existing optical communications design, adapting and enhancing it to meet new system requirements and performance targets. You will lead a multidisciplinary team of hardware and software engineers, guiding the development of pointing algorithms, hardware solutions, and integration strategies to ensure our constellation remains best‑in‑class.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, analysis, and optimization of free‑space optical communication systems, including robust strategies for pointing, acquisition, tracking (PAT), and intelligent failover/redundancy.
• Direct a cross‑functional team of hardware and software engineers to develop, implement, and validate optical communication algorithms and hardware.
• Design and validate the end‑to‑end optical communication pipeline, from the data interface through signal processing, modulation, and the optical front‑end.
• Oversee the selection, integration, and testing of optical components and subsystems, including lasers, modulators, detectors, and pointing mechanisms.
• Perform detailed link budget analysis, modeling, and simulation to predict and validate system performance under various operational conditions, including platform jitter and pointing errors.
• Evolve and update existing optical communication hardware and software designs to meet new mission requirements, improve performance, and reduce cost.
• Develop test infrastructure and execute test plans for component and system‑level validation, including hands‑on lab work and over‑the‑air testing.
• Collaborate with systems, avionics, and software teams to ensure seamless integration of the optical communications payload with the spacecraft bus.
• Create and maintain comprehensive design documentation, interface definitions, and performance analyses.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in the design and development of optical communication systems.
• Demonstrated experience leading or directing small technical teams comprising both hardware and software specialists.
• Proven experience with optical communication systems for satellite constellations or aerospace applications.
• Strong understanding of pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) systems and algorithm development.
• Proficiency in performing optical link budget and performance analysis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in a relevant field.
• Experience with the full lifecycle of a satellite program, from design and development to in‑orbit operations.
• Experience with real‑time Digital Signal Processing (DSP) for communication systems, implemented on FPGAs, GPUs, or embedded processors.
• Familiarity with Software‑Defined Radio (SDR) architectures and frameworks.
• Proficiency with optical design and simulation software such as Zemax, CodeV, or MATLAB/Simulink.
• Experience designing for strict Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) constraints on flight systems.
• Knowledge of high‑throughput data systems and low‑latency communication architectures.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with a proven ability to guide and mentor other engineers.

Base Pay Range for: CO applicants is $181,626.00 - $254,275.35 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.

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 10,001lbs. 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, 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. Affineative Action and Disability Accommodation Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affineative 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.

Company Mission

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.

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