Director, Wireless/MAC Software – TeraWave

BLUE ORIGIN • Seattle, WA

3d • $233,934 - $327,507

About The Position

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. This is a strategic leadership position that bridges the gap between deep technical innovation and organizational execution. You will set the technical vision for our custom Media Access Control (MAC) layers, manage the talent that builds these high-speed systems, and ensure our software stack can handle multi-gigabit throughput in the most challenging non-terrestrial environments. You will not just manage delivery; you will foster a culture of engineering excellence, mentor technical leads, and partner with PHY/RF and Hardware teams to ensure cohesive system performance.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in wireless communications or networking software, with at least 5+ years in a leadership/management role managing high-performing engineering teams.
• Deep technical understanding of MAC layer design, L2/L3 networking protocols, and resource management algorithms.
• Proven experience with high-performance networking software (C/C++, DPDK, VPP) and performance-critical systems.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex system-level requirements into actionable, long-term technical strategies.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a proven track record of successfully managing cross-departmental dependencies and stakeholder expectations.
• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent; M.S. or Ph.D. in Wireless Communications or a related field is highly preferred.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with satellite constellation design (LEO/MEO) or non-terrestrial networking (NTN).
• Deep knowledge of 3GPP standards (5G NR, etc.) and their application in non-traditional environments.
• Experience leading teams through the full software lifecycle, including deployment and post-launch maintenance in embedded/constrained environments.

Responsibilities

• Own the organizational roadmap for the wireless/MAC software stack.
• Define the long-term strategy for protocol development, resource allocation, and scheduling in a dynamic LEO environment.
• Build and scale a world-class team of wireless software engineers.
• Foster an environment of high performance, rigorous code quality, and continuous innovation.
• Partner with cross-functional leadership (PHY/RF, Systems Engineering, Hardware, and Ground Operations) to ensure the software stack is fully integrated into the broader satellite system architecture.
• Drive the lifecycle of software development from requirements definition and architectural design through to space-qualified deployment.
• Ensure high reliability and minimal technical debt in mission-critical systems.
• Guide the team in leveraging state-of-the-art frameworks (e.g., DPDK, VPP) to achieve massive throughput and low latency.
• Oversee the adaptation of 3GPP/WiFi/WiMAX principles to meet unique orbital dynamics and constraints.
• Lead the team in balancing aggressive performance targets against the power, thermal, and compute constraints inherent to satellite hardware.

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)
• Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director