Principal Modem PHY IP Design Engineer - Terawave

Blue Origin•Hutto, TX

23h

About The Position

Blue Origin is seeking a Principal Modem PHY IP Design Engineer to support the design and development of advanced modem physical layer (PHY) IP for the TeraWave program. The role contributes to architecture, modeling, implementation, integration, and validation of modem PHY functions for next-generation, high-performance wireless ASIC solutions. The engineer will apply digital communications and modem-design expertise to translate algorithms into implementation-ready hardware architectures, working with systems, ASIC, RF, verification, FPGA, firmware, validation teams, and external design partners. TeraWave is a satellite communications network intended to provide symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps worldwide. Its multi-orbit constellation will use optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO) to provide enterprise-grade connectivity for critical operations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or a related technical field.
10+ years of experience in wireless communications, modem PHY design, DSP, or ASIC/FPGA-based baseband development.
Strong background in digital communications theory and modem implementation.
Experience in several of the following areas: OFDM and/or single-carrier systems; synchronization algorithms; channel estimation and equalization; adaptive modulation and coding; FEC such as LDPC, Polar, Turbo, or BCH; fixed-point analysis and quantization; MIMO or beamforming techniques.
Proficiency with MATLAB, Python, C/C++, or similar tools for modeling and simulation.
Experience translating algorithms into hardware-oriented architectures for ASIC or FPGA implementation.
Strong analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work across cross-functional teams in a fast-paced development environment.
Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Nice To Haves

Master’s or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Signal Processing, Communications, or a related field.
Experience with modem PHY design for mmWave, sub-THz, or Terahertz systems; satellite or space communications; 5G/6G systems; or high-throughput wireless backhaul or mesh systems.
Familiarity with RTL design and verification flows.
Experience with FPGA prototyping, lab characterization, and silicon bring-up.
Knowledge of RF and mixed-signal impairments such as phase noise, carrier offset, nonlinearities, and calibration effects.
Experience working with external IP vendors or design service partners.
Ability to work effectively in an ambiguous, fast-moving development environment.

Responsibilities

Design and develop modem PHY IP for TeraWave ASIC and prototyping platforms.
Contribute to PHY algorithm development and hardware architecture for modulation and demodulation, synchronization, channel estimation and tracking, equalization, FEC integration, MIMO/beamforming, and impairment mitigation and calibration.
Translate system and link requirements into implementation-ready PHY block specifications.
Develop floating-point, fixed-point, and bit-accurate models for modem PHY functions.
Analyze performance and conduct trade studies across throughput, latency, area, and power.
Work with architecture and RTL teams to partition algorithms into efficient hardware implementations.
Support interface definition and subsystem integration for PHY IP within the broader modem/baseband architecture.
Collaborate with verification teams to define test strategies, reference models, and coverage plans.
Analyze simulation, emulation, FPGA, lab, and silicon data to debug design issues and improve PHY performance.
Support bring-up and validation of modem PHY features in FPGA prototypes and silicon.
Document design assumptions, architecture decisions, performance results, and implementation details.
Work with internal teams and external design partners to help drive execution.

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, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on individual contributions, company results, or other factors; bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed.