Senior Software Development Manager - TeraWave

BLUE ORIGIN • Spokane, WA

1d

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! We are seeking a Senior Software Development Manager to lead the engineering efforts for our TeraWave SDN and Beam Planning team, building the central nervous system of our next-generation Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. This role will be instrumental in delivering the software that dynamically manages multi-terabit traffic flows, optimizes RF beam resources, and orchestrates a complex topology of inter-satellite laser links and ground-based gateways across the TeraWave program. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in Software Defined Networking, wireless physics, and large-scale distributed systems, thriving in a high-impact environment where technical excellence meets mission-critical execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field
• 10+ years of experience in software development, with at least 5 years managing managers or leading large engineering organizations
• Proven track record in building and operating large-scale networking systems
• Deep knowledge of L2/L3 protocols (BGP, IS-IS, OSPF, MPLS) and SDN principles
• Direct experience with LEO constellation dynamics, including orbital mechanics, ISL management, and gateway handoff logic
• Understanding of RF network planning, link budgets, interference mitigation, and beam-steering technologies
• Experience designing distributed systems that manage real-time state across geographically and orbitally dispersed nodes

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field
• Experience managing 24/7 Network Operations Centers or building automated NetOps platforms for Tier-1 ISPs or cloud providers
• Familiarity with free-space optical communications and laser terminal topology optimization
• Experience with high-fidelity network simulators used for capacity planning and orbital scenario modeling
• Proven ability to build and scale engineering teams in a fast-paced, high-growth environment

Responsibilities

• Drive the architecture and delivery of a custom SDN controller capable of managing a highly dynamic LEO topology where network links change every few milliseconds
• Oversee the development of sophisticated beam planning algorithms that optimize phased-array antenna resources, frequency reuse, and power constraints to meet global demand
• Design and deliver software to manage complex laser inter-satellite links and gateway handoffs, ensuring seamless connectivity as satellites move at orbital speeds
• Own the software stack for the ground segment, including integration with Points of Presence, core fiber networks, and the orchestration of global gateway stations
• Build the observability, telemetry, and automated remediation tools required to operate a global constellation with five-nines reliability
• Hire, develop, and lead a high-performing engineering organization, fostering a culture of technical excellence, rapid iteration, and operational rigor
• Partner with hardware, RF, and mission-planning teams to define software-hardware interfaces and influence the long-term roadmap of the TeraWave initiative

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.
• 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: Senior