Sr. Satellite Flight Software Engineer - TeraWave

Blue Origin; Washington; On-site; USD 182,000 - 277,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Origin LLC seeks a Senior Satellite Flight Software Engineer to lead core flight software for the TeraWave constellation, collaborating with systems, avionics, GNC, and telecom teams to deliver scalable, secure, and maintainable software across the full lifecycle.

The role emphasizes hands-on architecture, design reviews, and robust verification in SIL/HIL environments, with focus on secure over-the-air updates and cyber resilience for mission-critical spacecraft.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience developing embedded software for spacecraft or other mission-critical real-time systems.
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ and Python.
• Experienced with RTOS-based embedded software development with Embedded Linux, VxWorks, or QNX.
• Experience architecting and implementing complex flight software or mission-critical embedded software systems.
• Familiarity with TCP/IP, UDP, CAN, I2C, SPI, and RS-422/485.
• Experience applying secure software development and cybersecurity best practices in embedded or mission-critical systems.
• Experience with software lifecycle, configuration management, CI/CD, and verification/validation practices for mission-critical systems.

Responsibilities

• Architect, design, develop, and integrate core flight software for a next-generation satellite platform.
• Define scalable, reusable, platform-independent flight software frameworks and services.
• Develop and evolve components including C&DH, telemetry, health monitoring, and fault-management infrastructure.
• Establish software architecture standards, coding guidelines, and review practices.
• Collaborate with systems, avionics, GNC, communications, power, propulsion, thermal, payload, and autonomy teams.
• Conduct software design reviews, code reviews, and trade studies for performance, fault tolerance, and portability.
• Support software integration, verification, and validation in SIL, HIL, and other test environments.
• Develop and improve software engineering infrastructure including build systems, CI/CD pipelines, automated tests, and debugging tools.
• Contribute to documentation such as architecture descriptions, interface control documents, verification plans, and test procedures.
• Design and implement secure OTA software update capabilities with validation, rollback, and safe deployment.

Skills

C/C++

Python

RTOS

Embedded Linux

Software architecture

CI/CD

Security

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field

Job description

## Sr. Satellite Flight Software Engineer - TeraWaveApply: Greater Seattle Area: Los Angeles, CA: Denver, CO: Full time: Posted Today: R73026Application 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! Blue Origin is pioneering the future of space-based communications with TeraWave, a revolutionary satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. This multi-orbit constellation will consist of optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO), providing enterprise-grade connectivity for critical operations worldwide.**Job Description:**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 Senior Satellite Flight Software Engineer to provide technical expertise for TeraWave's Satellite Flight Software Subsystem. This role will be instrumental in developing robust, scalable flight software to support the growth of TeraWave into a 5,408-vehicle constellation. The ideal candidate is a hands-on flight software architect who will shape software architecture, drive cross-functional integration, and establish high standards for software quality, verification, security, and maintainability across the full flight software lifecycle. **Responsibilities include but are not limited to:** * Architect, design, develop, and integrate core flight software for a next-generation satellite platform* Define scalable, reusable, and platform-independent flight software frameworks, services, and design patterns to support multiple spacecraft configurations and future growth* Architect, develop, and evolve key flight software components including core services, command and data handling (C&DH), telemetry, health monitoring, and fault-management infrastructure* Establish software architecture standards, coding guidelines, design patterns, and review practices to ensure maintainability, reliability, and mission readiness* Partner closely with systems, avionics, GNC, communications, power, propulsion, thermal, payload, and autonomy teams to translate vehicle and subsystem-level requirements into robust software implementations* Conduct software design reviews, code reviews, and technical trade studies related to performance, fault tolerance, redundancy, scalability, and portability* Support software integration, verification, and validation in software-in-the-loop (SIL), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and other mission-representative test environments* Develop and improve software engineering infrastructure including build systems, CI/CD pipelines, automated test frameworks, and debugging/diagnostic tools* Contribute to technical documentation including software architecture descriptions, interface control documents, verification plans, and test procedures* Design and implement secure OTA software update capabilities for spacecraft, including validation, authenticated delivery, rollback, version control, and safe deployment in mission-critical on-orbit environments* Ensure flight software architecture and implementation incorporate cybersecurity principles such as secure communications, access control, interface hardening, and resilient software design **Minimum Qualifications:** * Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field* 8+ years of experience developing embedded software for spacecraft or other mission-critical real-time systems* Strong proficiency in C/C++ and Python* Experience with RTOS-based embedded software development with Embedded Linux, VxWorks, or QNX* Experience architecting and implementing complex flight software or mission-critical embedded software systems* Demonstrated technical depth across software design, implementation, and cross-functional integration* Experience with software lifecycle, configuration management, CI/CD, and verification/validation practices for mission-critical systems* Familiarity with communication protocols such as TCP/IP, UDP, CAN, I2C, SPI, and RS-422/485* Experience applying secure software development and cybersecurity best practices in embedded or mission-critical systems* Experience with embedded software testing methodologies **Preferred Qualifications:*** Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field* Experience with flight software frameworks such as core Flight System (cFS), F Prime, or similar* Experience developing software for satellite constellations, distributed space systems, or networked embedded platforms* Knowledge of satellite communications systems, spacecraft networking, and high-throughput data handling* Experience with software-in-the-loop (SIL), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and integrated spacecraft test environments* Experience with fault-tolerant computing, redundancy management, and resilient software architectures* Knowledge of radiation-hardened computing environments and software considerations for spaceflight* Experience with communication satellite systems, optical inter-satellite links, or related networking technologies* Experience designing secure over-the-air (OTA) software update mechanisms for embedded or mission-critical systems* Experience with software build systems, static analysis, code quality tooling, or automated verification frameworks for embedded systems **Why Blue Origin** At Blue Origin, we’re building the future of space-based connectivity through the TeraWave satellite communications network. As a Senior Satellite Flight Software Developer, you will help define the software architecture, engineering rigor, and technical foundation for 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 system integration. Join our team and be part of building a space-based network designed for tomorrow, where your expertise will directly contribute to creating a system that provides connectivity anywhere on Earth. ### Base Pay Range for:CA applicants is $197,529.00 - $276,539.55CO applicants is $181,626.00 - $254,275.35WA applicants is $197,529.00 - $276,539.55