Principal Electro-Optics Engineer – Optical Inter-Satellite Link

BLUE ORIGIN•Huntsville, AL

2d•$173,466 - $242,851

About The Position

Blue Origin’s Blue National Security (BNS) organization designs, develops, and delivers launch and spacecraft systems for national security missions, including the Blue Ring space-mobility platform. The Principal Electro-Optics Engineer leads electrical architecture and high-speed digital and analog design for Optical Inter-Satellite Link (OISL) terminals supporting a classified beyond-LEO mission. The role develops the electronics backbone of laser communication systems, including FPGA-based signal processing, high-speed serial interfaces, laser driver and detector readout circuits, and pointing-and-tracking and timing/synchronization architectures for robust, long-range optical links in deep-space environments. This is a hands-on technical leadership position bridging RF and digital design, optical communication system requirements, embedded management controllers, high-speed PCB layout, and Layer 2 device integration. The engineer works on complex electronic products for a highly classified program with national security impact, collaborating across optical, firmware, systems, and flight software teams and engaging with government customers and technical authorities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
10 or more years of experience in high-speed electrical design, FPGA development, or mixed-signal circuit design; optical or RF communication systems experience is identified as ideal.
Strong hands-on FPGA design experience using VHDL or Verilog, with Xilinx/AMD or equivalent radiation-tolerant FPGA platforms.
Demonstrated expertise in high-speed digital design, including SerDes, high-speed ADC/DAC interfaces, clock distribution, and signal-integrity analysis.
Experience designing transimpedance amplifiers, laser driver circuits, or high-speed photodetector readout electronics.
Strong understanding of link-level communication concepts, including modulation, FEC, timing recovery, and synchronization.
Proficiency with PCB design tools and simulation environments such as HSPICE, ADS, Vivado, or ModelSim.
Experience with space-qualified electronics design and radiation-effects mitigation, including SEE and TID, particularly for beyond-LEO or deep-space environments.
Active TS/SCI clearance or ability to obtain one; U.S. citizenship is required.
Strong communication skills and experience leading technical efforts in classified program environments.

Nice To Haves

Master’s or PhD degree.
Direct experience with classified national security space programs, such as SDA, NRO, SSC, or equivalent.
15 or more years of relevant experience.
Experience with coherent optical communication systems and associated electronics, including local oscillator control, phase-locked loops, and homodyne or heterodyne detection.
Familiarity with CCSDS optical link standards and DoD interoperability requirements for beyond-LEO/GEO communication architectures.
Experience with radiation effects on electronics, including SEE, TID, and displacement damage, and mitigation techniques.
Experience designing electronics for space, aviation, or other high-reliability thermal-vacuum environments.
Familiarity with high-speed Ethernet switch architectures, network processors, and associated PHY technologies such as optical transceivers and SerDes.
Background in precision timing systems such as GPS-disciplined oscillators, atomic clocks, or equivalent deep-space timing systems.
Background in production hardware, including DFM/DFT practices, supply-chain coordination, and yield optimization.
Hands-on environmental qualification testing, including TVAC, vibration, and EMI/EMC.

Responsibilities

Lead electrical architecture for OISL terminal electronics, including transmitter and receiver front ends, laser driver circuits, FPA/Quad detector readout chains, gimbal controls, and FSM controls.
Design and implement FPGA-based signal processing for optical communication functions, including FEC, framing and deframing, CDR, data-frame recovery, LDPC, and modem control logic.
Architect high-speed digital interfaces such as SerDes, JESD204B/C, LVDS, and PCIe between FPGAs, ADCs/DACs, and optical front-end electronics.
Develop timing and synchronization architectures for coherent detection, PAT control loops, and inter-satellite link coordination.
Design high-speed analog and mixed-signal circuits supporting GHz-class data rates, including TIAs, laser drivers, and RF/optical mixing stages.
Support radiation-hardened and radiation-tolerant electronics design for beyond-LEO environments, including GEO, cislunar, and deep space.
Own signal-integrity, power-integrity, and EMI/EMC analysis for high-speed board and system-level designs.
Collaborate with optical, firmware, systems, and flight software teams to ensure end-to-end link performance.
Lead FPGA verification and validation, including simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and on-orbit performance characterization.
Support classified design reviews, including PDR, CDR, and TRR, and interface with government customers and technical authorities.
Mentor junior- and mid-level electrical and FPGA engineers and provide technical leadership across a multidisciplinary hardware team.
Support environmental qualification testing, including vibration, thermal vacuum, and radiation testing, and resolve anomalies during integration and test and on-orbit operations.
Interface with government and commercial customers and partners during technical reviews.
Support anomaly resolution and root-cause analysis for hardware and software issues during integration, test, and on-orbit operations.
Stay current with OISL technologies, standards such as SDA Transport Layer and CCSDS optical communication standards, and industry best practices.

Benefits

Medical insurance.
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
Basic and supplemental life insurance.
Paid parental leave.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
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, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on individual contributions or company results; amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed.