Principal Electrical Engineer, Mixed-Signal & Compute Systems (OISL Payload) - TeraWave

Application close date:

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!  

The Role 

We are seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer to join the TeraWave team at Blue Origin. In this role, you will serve as the technical authority for the mixed-signal and compute electronics that drive the optical inter-satellite link (OISL) payload. You will own the architecture, design, analysis, and verification of hardware that combines low-voltage precision analog circuitry with high-performance digital compute, controls precision opto-mechanical assemblies, interfaces with the spacecraft bus GNC and SDN systems, and executes automated space CONOPS that form an OISL mesh network. 

As a Principal Engineer, you will set technical direction across the OISL electronics, mentor and guide other engineers, and influence hardware, software, and systems architecture across the constellation. You will work within a multidisciplinary team to develop robust, flight-qualified electronics that meet demanding performance, mass, reliability, and environmental requirements. This position reports directly to the TeraWave Avionics Senior Manager and will directly contribute to the design and delivery of flight hardware. 

Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To 

• Serve as the technical lead and subject matter expert for OISL payload electronics, defining architecture, requirements, trade studies, and design standards from concept through flight qualification and production 

• Lead the architecture and design of mixed-signal electronics for the OISL payload, including precision analog front ends, data conversion, and digital control 

• Design low-noise, low-voltage analog circuits (e.g., photodetector/TIA front ends, sensor conditioning, ADC/DAC chains, precision references, and actuator drive electronics) for pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) of optical terminals 

• Architect and integrate compute subsystems using FPGAs, SoCs, and processors with high-speed interfaces such as PCIe and DDR4/DDR5, including memory topology, termination, and timing closure 

• Direct signal integrity and power integrity analysis for high-speed interfaces, including channel modeling, impedance control, stack-up definition, and PDN analysis 

• Develop control and drive electronics for precision opto-mechanical assemblies (e.g., fast steering mirrors, gimbals, and focus/alignment mechanisms), including position sensing, closed-loop interfaces, and fault handling 

• Define and own electrical and data interfaces to the spacecraft bus, including GNC and SDN systems, and lead ICD development and integration testing 

• Guide development of flight software/firmware and FPGA logic that execute automated CONOPS for link acquisition, handover, and mesh network operation, working closely with software and systems teams 

• Drive electrical and system-level performance trades for OISL link budget contributors, including pointing jitter, acquisition time, timing/clock performance, and noise 

• Support power architecture for the payload electronics, including point-of-load regulation, sequencing, filtering, and protection, in coordination with dedicated power engineering 

• Oversee PCB layout reviews to ensure design intent is captured, including high-speed routing, mixed-signal partitioning and grounding, and component placement 

• Work closely with mechanical, thermal, systems, optics, software, RF, and power engineering teams to ensure hardware is successfully integrated into the satellite platform 

• Define and lead hardware bring-up, characterization, qualification, and production test strategies, including optical and opto-mechanical test setups 

• Lead design reviews (e.g., PDR, CDR, TRR) and present analysis results to peers, senior leadership, and external stakeholders 

• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior and senior engineers, and raise the bar on design practices and analysis rigor across the team 

• Maintain compliance with Blue Origin engineering standards and applicable space industry standards 

Minimum Qualifications 

• B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering or closely related engineering discipline 

• 10+ years of relevant professional experience in electronics design 

• 4+ years of experience designing optical inter-satellite link (OISL) or comparable free-space optical communications systems, with direct contribution to electronics, PAT, or opto-mechanical control hardware 

• Demonstrated experience designing mixed-signal systems that combine low-voltage analog circuitry with digital compute 

• Demonstrated experience with high-speed digital interfaces (e.g., PCIe, DDR4/DDR5, or comparable), including schematic design and SI/PI considerations 

• Experience designing with FPGAs, SoCs, or embedded processors in complex systems 

• Direct experience designing electronics for satellite or space hardware applications, including support of flight qualification 

• Experience with hardware bring-up, debug, and characterization using lab equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, protocol analyzers, etc.) 

• Working knowledge of power design fundamentals, including POL regulators, sequencing, and power distribution for digital and analog loads 

• Proficiency in performing and documenting design analyses such as WCA, derating, reliability, and DFMEA 

• Experience with circuit simulation tools (e.g., SPICE-based tools such as LTspice, SIMetrix, or equivalent) 

• Demonstrated technical leadership of multidisciplinary teams, including leading design reviews and mentoring engineers 

• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum 

• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion 

Preferred Qualifications 

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or related discipline 

• Experience taking an OISL or laser communications terminal from design through on-orbit operation 

• Experience with precision pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) systems, or control of fast steering mirrors, gimbals, or piezo/voice-coil actuators 

• Experience with optical communications hardware (e.g., photodetectors, laser drivers, modulators, coherent or direct-detect receivers) 

• Experience with low-noise analog design, high-resolution ADC/DAC systems, and precision timing/clock distribution 

• Experience with high-speed SI/PI simulation tools (e.g., Ansys SIwave/HFSS, Cadence Sigrity, Keysight ADS) and DDR4/5 or PCIe compliance and margining 

• Experience with spacecraft bus interfaces (e.g., SpaceWire, CAN, Ethernet/TSN, LVDS, MIL-STD-1553) and integration with GNC or software-defined networking (SDN) systems 

• Familiarity with FPGA development flows (HDL, constraints, timing closure) and firmware/software co-design 

• Experience with rad-tolerant component selection and qualification for LEO environments 

• Familiarity with space-grade component standards and EEE parts screening and qualification processes 

• Proficiency in PCB design tools (e.g., Cadence Allegro, Altium Designer) and experience directing layout of high-density mixed-signal and high-speed boards 

• Knowledge of EMI/EMC design and shielding techniques for compliance with MIL-STD-461 

• Experience with constellation-scale or mesh network architectures and automated on-orbit operations 

• Working knowledge of AS9100 quality management systems and engineering change control processes 

• Prior experience working in a fast-paced, hardware-focused new-space or aerospace startup environment 

Base Pay Range for:

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.

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.

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