Software Development Engineer III - Network & SDN - TeraWave

Blue Origin•Cupertino, CA

About The Position

Blue Origin is developing TeraWave, a satellite communications network intended to provide symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps for enterprise, data center, and government users. As a Software Engineer for Network Architecture and SDN, you will contribute to the design and implementation of the network operating a multi-orbit constellation of 5,408 optically interconnected satellites. The system must support inter-satellite links moving at 27,000 km/h, seamless user handoffs, and strict power and latency budgets. You will apply networking architecture and software-defined networking expertise to build critical components of the space-based communications system. Working with principal engineers, senior software developers, and technical leaders, you will develop routing, traffic-management, and resilience capabilities and mentor junior engineers on networking best practices. The role brings together advanced communications technology and orbital mechanics.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
Five or more years of experience in software development for networks, distributed systems, or telecommunications.
Experience implementing SDN controllers and programmable data planes such as P4, OpenFlow, or proprietary frameworks.
Experience implementing network solutions for wireless, cloud, or service provider networks.
Experience developing software for mission-critical systems in production environments.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
Experience with satellite communications networks or terrestrial and satellite hybrid networks.
Knowledge of BGP, IS-IS, OSPF, and Segment Routing (SRv6 or SR-MPLS) in production network environments.
Understanding of packet processing, ASIC or FPGA forwarding logic, and high-speed switching.
Background in graph theory or network optimization, with modeling and simulation tools for network performance analysis.
Contributions to networking projects, internally or open-source.
Understanding of regulatory considerations for communications systems.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

Develop routing solutions, topology management, and fast-reroute mechanisms tailored for time-varying LEO satellite constellations.
Implement software-defined networking frameworks that support centralized and distributed control planes across the constellation.
Implement self-healing network logic in which real-time telemetry drives automated congestion management and fault isolation.
Develop observability components using in-band and out-of-band telemetry for packet-level visibility and flow-level tracing.
Implement packet-forwarding solutions that operate reliably in space and optimize latency and throughput under power constraints.
Support cross-layer optimization with RF and Silicon teams to ensure mobility across beams and satellites.
Collaborate with principal engineers, senior software developers, and technical leaders on routing, traffic management, and network resilience.
Mentor junior engineers on networking best practices.

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.
Up to four weeks of paid time off 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 and company results or other factors.