Sr. Photonics Engineer

Blue Origin•Reston, VA

About The Position

The Senior Photonics Engineer leads optical architecture for Optical Inter-Satellite Link (OISL) terminals supporting a classified beyond-LEO mission within Blue National Security. The role is hands-on and focuses on designing and delivering complex optical products for spaceflight, with direct national security impact. It supports Blue Ring, Blue Origin’s hybrid solar-electric and chemical-propelled spacecraft platform. The engineer designs and develops space-grade photonic systems and avionics, analyzes and verifies their performance and reliability, and supports their integration into the Blue Ring avionics suite. The role collaborates with cross-functional engineering teams and suppliers, contributes to technical reviews, mentors junior engineers, and maintains engineering and verification documentation. Relocation is provided, and travel is expected up to 10% of the time.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, or a related technical field.
At least 7 years of hands-on experience in photonics or electro-optical systems engineering.
Demonstrated experience with fiber-optic components, laser systems, photodetectors, or integrated photonic circuits.
Experience designing systems for aerospace or spaceflight environments, including vibration, thermal, and radiation conditions.
Proficiency with optical simulation tools such as Zemax, COMSOL, OptiSystem, or equivalent.
Familiarity with requirements development, verification and validation, and configuration management.
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.
Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with classified national security space programs such as SDA, NRO, SSC, or equivalent.
At least 8 years of relevant experience.
Experience with coherent optical communication systems and associated photonics.
Familiarity with CCSDS optical link standards and DoD interoperability requirements for Beyond LEO/GEO communication architectures.
Experience with radiation effects on electronics (SEE, TID, displacement damage) and mitigation techniques.
Experience designing photonics for space, aviation, or other high-reliability thermal-vacuum environments.
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

Design, develop, and validate fiber-optic and photonic avionics systems, including optical communication links and laser-based systems.
Lead the architecture and integration of photonic components into Blue Ring's avionics suite, ensuring compliance with mission performance and environmental requirements.
Design space-grade photonic subsystems tolerant of radiation, thermal cycling, and vacuum environments.
Perform optical and photonic system modeling, link-budget analysis, and performance trade studies.
Conduct environmental and reliability analysis of photonic components, including radiation, thermal, and mechanical effects.
Develop and execute test plans for photonic hardware qualification and acceptance testing.
Support FMEA/FMECA and fault-tree analysis for photonic avionics subsystems.
Collaborate with navigation, GNC, RF/communications, structures, and systems engineering teams.
Interface with suppliers and vendors to select and qualify photonic components for spaceflight.
Support CDR, PDR, and other milestone reviews with technical documentation and presentations.
Mentor junior engineers and contribute to team technical growth.
Author and maintain engineering documentation, including design specifications, ICDs, test procedures, and verification reports.
Ensure designs comply with applicable NASA, MIL-STD, and Blue Origin standards.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and 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.
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.