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

BLUE ORIGIN•Seattle, WA

14d•$249,235 - $348,929

About The Position

Blue Origin is seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer to serve as the technical authority for the mixed-signal and compute electronics powering the TeraWave optical inter-satellite link (OISL) payload. The role owns the architecture, design, analysis, and verification of hardware combining precision low-voltage analog circuitry and high-performance digital compute. This hardware controls precision opto-mechanical assemblies, interfaces with spacecraft bus GNC and SDN systems, and supports automated space CONOPS for an OISL mesh network. The Principal Engineer sets technical direction across OISL electronics, mentors and guides engineers, and influences hardware, software, and systems architecture across the constellation. Working with multidisciplinary teams, the engineer develops robust, flight-qualified electronics meeting demanding performance, mass, reliability, and environmental requirements. The position reports directly to the TeraWave Avionics Senior Manager and contributes to the design and delivery of flight hardware.

Requirements

B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
10+ years of relevant professional experience in electronics design.
4+ years 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 combining low-voltage analog circuitry with digital compute.
Demonstrated experience with high-speed digital interfaces such as PCIe, DDR4/DDR5, or comparable interfaces, 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 such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and protocol analyzers.
Working knowledge of power design fundamentals, including POL regulators, sequencing, and power distribution for digital and analog loads.
Proficiency performing and documenting design analyses such as WCA, derating, reliability, and DFMEA.
Experience with circuit simulation tools such as SPICE-based 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.

Nice To Haves

M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or a 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 such as photodetectors, laser drivers, modulators, and 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 such as Ansys SIwave/HFSS, Cadence Sigrity, or Keysight ADS, and DDR4/5 or PCIe compliance and margining.
Experience with spacecraft bus interfaces such as SpaceWire, CAN, Ethernet/TSN, LVDS, or MIL-STD-1553, and integration with GNC or SDN systems.
Familiarity with FPGA development flows, including HDL, constraints, and 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 such as Cadence Allegro or 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.

Responsibilities

Serve as 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 architecture and design of OISL payload mixed-signal electronics, including precision analog front ends, data conversion, and digital control.
Design low-noise, low-voltage analog circuits for optical terminal pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT), including photodetector/TIA front ends, sensor conditioning, ADC/DAC chains, precision references, and actuator drive electronics.
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 such as 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 spacecraft bus GNC and SDN systems, and lead ICD development and integration testing.
Guide development of flight software, firmware, and FPGA logic for automated CONOPS such as link acquisition, handover, and mesh network operation, working 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 payload electronics power architecture, including point-of-load regulation, sequencing, filtering, and protection, in coordination with power engineering.
Oversee PCB layout reviews to ensure design intent is captured, including high-speed routing, mixed-signal partitioning and grounding, and component placement.
Coordinate with mechanical, thermal, systems, optics, software, RF, and power engineering teams to integrate hardware 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 such as PDR, CDR, and TRR, and present analysis results to peers, senior leadership, and external stakeholders.
Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers, and improve design practices and analysis rigor across the team.
Maintain compliance with Blue Origin engineering standards and applicable space industry standards.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Basic and supplemental life insurance.
Paid parental leave.
Short- and long-term disability.
401(k) with company match of up to 5%.
Education Support Program.
Stock options for regular employees working at least 20 hours per week.
Paid time off of up to four weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours.
Up to 14 company-paid holidays.
Depending on role type and job level, potential eligibility for benefits and bonuses based on individual contributions and company results; amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and may change or be canceled.