Sr. Manufacturing RF DFX Engineer

Blue Origin LLC; Cupertino (CA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 203,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

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

Education Support Program

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC in California is seeking a Senior Manufacturing RF DFX Engineer to own end-to-end RF assembly design integration for the TeraWave modules, bridging RF/microwave design, antenna feeds, and volume production readiness.

You will drive DFX across design for manufacturability, test, reliability and serviceability at constellation scale, leading RF BOM, vendor coordination, and manufacturing readiness reviews to enable ramp and long-term performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, RF/Microwave Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of RF/microwave design, RF assembly, or RF systems integration in a product development and volume production environment.
• Experience designing RF/microwave assemblies with impedance-controlled routing, high-frequency components, and tight performance tolerances; proficiency in Altium, Cadence, ADS, HFSS, or equivalent RF design and simulation tools.
• Hands-on experience with RF assembly processes, including connectorization, shielding, calibration, RF test, and line bring-up.
• Demonstrated application of DFX principles (DFM/DFT/DFA/DFR) in bringing RF assemblies from design into volume production.
• Excellent technical documentation and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• RF Assembly Design, Integration & Manufacturing Lead RF/microwave assembly design for satellite communication modules and subsystems: RF front-ends, transceivers, filters, amplifiers, antenna feeds, waveguides, and mechanical integration of RF hardware.
• Own RF assembly process development — including impedance-controlled routing, shielding, connectorization, calibration procedures, and integration workflows — to ensure robust, repeatable assembly.
• Manage RF BOM procurement, vendor coordination, RF performance and tolerance analysis, and assembly oversight.
• Drive first-article inspection, RF performance validation, process validation, and manufacturing readiness reviews to support production ramp.
• Design for Excellence (DFX) Drive Design for Excellence (DFX) principles — DFM, DFT, DFA, DFR, and DFS — across the full RF assembly lifecycle to ensure hardware scales from prototype through volume production for TeraWave operations.
• Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Optimize RF board stackups, transmission line geometry, material selection, shielding, and assembly processes to maximize yield and minimize cost at constellation-scale production volumes.
• Design for Test (DFT): Architect RF test structures, calibration references, test points, and automated RF test coverage to enable efficient factory acceptance and in-field diagnostics.
• Design for Assembly (DFA): Simplify connector selection, shielding integration, component placement, and mechanical integration to reduce assembly time, rework, and error rates on the line.
• Design for Reliability (DFR): Apply derating, worst-case circuit analysis, FMEA, thermal-mechanical and vibration analysis, and reliability prediction to ensure stable RF performance and long-duration operation in the orbital environment.
• Design for Serviceability/Supply Chain (DFS): Coordinate with supply chain and manufacturing partners to drive component standardization, second-sourcing strategies, and obsolescence mitigation across the production lifecycle.
• Partner with manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams to define acceptance criteria, drive yield optimization, and support production ramp for sustained TeraWave operations.

Skills

RF/microwave design

RF assembly

DFX principles

Technical documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, RF/Microwave Engineering, or related field

Tools

Altium

Cadence

ADS

HFSS

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 Blue Origin Operations, which is comprised of Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance. This includes Manufacturing and Supply Chain support across all Blue Origin facilities. Blue Origin's Emerging Systems business unit is building TeraWave, a satellite communications constellation powered by the most advanced optical communications architecture ever attempted: thousands of optically interconnected satellites delivering symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth, providing enterprise and hyperscale customers with resilient, scalable connectivity for critical operations where terrestrial infrastructure cannot reach.

As a Senior Manufacturing RF DFX Engineer, you will own the end-to-end RF assembly design integration of TeraWave modules — bridging RF/microwave circuit design, antenna and feed integration, and volume production readiness. As a foundational element of TeraWave operations, hardware must be architected not only for performance but for manufacturability, testability, reliability, and serviceability at constellation scale. This is a hands‑on role for an engineer who has designed, integrated, and shipped complex RF assemblies in fast‑moving, high‑volume manufacturing environments and wants to apply that experience to hardware operating at orbital scale.

Special Mentions

Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates. Travel: Up to 50%.

Responsibilities

• RF Assembly Design, Integration & Manufacturing Lead RF/microwave assembly design for satellite communication modules and subsystems: RF front-ends, transceivers, filters, amplifiers, antenna feeds, waveguides, and mechanical integration of RF hardware.
• Own RF assembly process development — including impedance-controlled routing, shielding, connectorization, calibration procedures, and integration workflows — to ensure robust, repeatable assembly.
• Manage RF BOM procurement, vendor coordination, RF performance and tolerance analysis, and assembly oversight.
• Drive first-article inspection, RF performance validation, process validation, and manufacturing readiness reviews to support production ramp.
• Design for Excellence (DFX) Drive Design for Excellence (DFX) principles — DFM, DFT, DFA, DFR, and DFS — across the full RF assembly lifecycle to ensure hardware scales from prototype through volume production for TeraWave operations.
• Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Optimize RF board stackups, transmission line geometry, material selection, shielding, and assembly processes to maximize yield and minimize cost at constellation-scale production volumes.
• Design for Test (DFT): Architect RF test structures, calibration references, test points, and automated RF test coverage to enable efficient factory acceptance and in-field diagnostics.
• Design for Assembly (DFA): Simplify connector selection, shielding integration, component placement, and mechanical integration to reduce assembly time, rework, and error rates on the line.
• Design for Reliability (DFR): Apply derating, worst‑case circuit analysis, FMEA, thermal‑mechanical and vibration analysis, and reliability prediction to ensure stable RF performance and long‑duration operation in the orbital environment.
• Design for Serviceability/Supply Chain (DFS): Coordinate with supply chain and manufacturing partners to drive component standardization, second‑sourcing strategies, and obsolescence mitigation across the production lifecycle.
• Partner with manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams to define acceptance criteria, drive yield optimization, and support production ramp for sustained TeraWave operations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, RF/Microwave Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in RF/microwave design, RF assembly, or RF systems integration in a product development and volume production environment.
• Experience designing RF/microwave assemblies with impedance-controlled routing, high-frequency components, and tight performance tolerances; proficiency in Altium, Cadence, ADS, HFSS, or equivalent RF design and simulation tools.
• Hands‑on experience with RF assembly processes, including connectorization, shielding, calibration, RF test, and line bring‑up.
• Demonstrated application of DFX principles (DFM/DFT/DFA/DFR) in bringing RF assemblies from design into volume production.
• Excellent technical documentation and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Electrical or RF/Microwave Engineering.
• 15+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience with satellite communications, phased‑array antennas, mmWave systems, or high‑frequency transceiver design.
• Experience with RF simulation and analysis (HFSS, ADS, CST) and RF characterization/test.
• Experience designing and manufacturing RF hardware for space, aviation, or other high‑reliability thermal‑vacuum environments.
• Experience with radiation effects on RF electronics (SEE, TID, displacement damage) and mitigation techniques.
• Background in production hardware including comprehensive DFX practices (DFM/DFT/DFA/DFR), RF process optimization, supply chain coordination, and yield optimization at scale.
• Hands‑on environmental qualification testing (TVAC, vibration, EMI/EMC).

Why Blue Origin

At Blue Origin, we are driven by Gradatim Ferociter — "Step by Step, Ferociously." As a Senior Manufacturing RF DFX Engineer, you will design and industrialize the RF hardware connecting an orbital constellation at unprecedented scale, alongside world‑class engineers solving problems at the intersection of advanced manufacturing, RF systems, and spaceflight.

Base Pay Range

Base Pay Range for: CA applicants is $145,188.00 - $203,263.20 WA applicants is $145,188.00 - $203,263.20 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 10,001 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, 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%
• 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.

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. Affluent Action and Disability Accommodation Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affluent 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.