Senior Avionics Hardware Technical Design Lead - TeraWave
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. As the Senior Avionics Hardware Technical Design Lead for the TeraWave spacecraft bus Electrical Power Subsystem (EPS), you will lead a team of experienced PCB and circuit design engineers focused on optimizing the TeraWave Power Management and Distribution (PMAD) electronics for cost, mass and producibility. You and your team will be responsible for complex PCB layouts for high/low voltage, and high power applications.
Requirements
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field with 8+ years of electrical/avionics design experience, including demonstrated team leadership experience spanning performance development, technical guidance, and cross-functional coordination
- Experience with analog, digital, or mixed-signal circuit design—including analysis, simulation, test, troubleshooting, and component selection across common parts such as ADCs, DACs, op amps, power supplies (linear, LDO, DC/DC), processors, and MOSFETs
- Experience in power electronics hardware development, including high voltage switching, power regulation, and PCB layout with considerations for creepage, clearance, and thermal management; experience with thermal analysis tools and techniques for high-power designs
- Strong understanding of signal integrity, power integrity, grounding, and EMI/EMC best practices for high-power and mixed-signal PCB designs
- Knowledge of common communication protocols such as RS-232, RS-422, I2C, SPI, LVDS, Ethernet, or CAN
- Proficiency with PCB design tools (Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro, or similar), including layout experience for mixed-signal and high-power designs
- Familiarity with DFM, DFT principles, and IPC standards (IPC-2221, IPC-6012, IPC-A-610)
Nice To Haves
- Experience designing for space or aerospace environments (vacuum, thermal cycling, radiation, vibration)
- Knowledge of power integrity analysis tools (e.g., HyperLynx, Ansys SIwave, Cadence Sigrity)
- Experience performing worst-case analysis, circuit FEA, and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
- Knowledge of conformal coating, potting, and other space-qualification techniques
- Background in fault detection, redundancy strategies, and system-level reliability modeling
- Familiarity with MIL-STD or NASA standards for PCB design
- Desire to work hands-on, both independently and collaboratively, throughout development and production phases
Responsibilities
- Lead the design of a PMAD satellite component, including board architecture, power distribution, connectorization, signal routing, current paths, protection interfaces, serviceability, and manufacturability
- Work closely with mechanical packaging and harness teams to make the TeraWave PMAD scalable and buildable
- Lead and manage electronics requirements definition, trading architecture concepts, and overseeing detailed design development, design verification and test
- Own cost and mass-reduction trades, architecture simplification, modularity, producibility, reduced part count, test simplification, and recurring manufacturing cost reduction
- Follow designs through formal verification, environmental qualification, release, and participate in integration and flight support activities
- Work with PCB fabricators and CM vendors to ensure manufacturability and resolve fabrication issues
- Work with TeraWave supply chain to ensure parts and components on-time availability
- Design for space environment considerations including thermal management, radiation tolerance, and mechanical stress
- As required, support the following design activities: Design of multi-layer PCBs for complex digital, mixed-signal and high voltage/high power systems
- Develop PCB layouts with careful attention to considerations for electromagnetic compatibility, creepage clearance and thermal management
- Conduct power integrity analysis and design power distribution networks (PDN) for low-noise, high-current applications
- Collaborate with electrical engineers on component selection, schematic review, and design optimization
- Generate fabrication and assembly documentation including Gerber files, drill files, and assembly drawings
- Board bring-up activities, debugging hardware issues related to PCB design
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)
- Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
