Sr. RF Communications Systems Engineer – Ground Segment

BLUE ORIGIN•Huntsville, AL

1d•$144,179 - $219,522

About The Position

This role is part of Blue National Security (BNS), which designs, develops, and delivers launch and spacecraft systems for national security missions. The Sr. RF Communications Systems Engineer works with Ground System, Software, Mission Systems, and Flight Operations Engineers to lead and perform RF and communications development, testing, and deployment across space and ground systems throughout the vehicle lifecycle. The work spans National Security, Civil, and Commercial missions and supports spacecraft operations across varied mission concepts, orbits, and ground station providers. The engineer develops and maintains strategic technical capabilities for space-to-ground operations, defines ground data system and communications architectures, and supports system integration, verification, validation, releases, training, and flight operations. The role requires technical leadership, collaboration, attention to detail, and the ability to contribute in a fast-paced environment. It reports to the Blue National Security Ground Data Systems Manager. Relocation is provided, and travel is expected up to 25% of the time.

Requirements

B.S. in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, physics, or a related technical field.
10+ years of technical experience developing Space-to-Ground Communications systems and their ground systems, including RF Communications, Ground Data Systems Architecture, Software Design and Development, and spacecraft telemetry, commanding, and sequencing.
10+ years of technical experience across the complete CCSDS OSI stack, including communications theory, frequency and bandwidth selection, modulation, encoding, data link and transport protocols, application protocols and packet definitions, encryption, and communications security.
Strong experience developing communications link budgets to predict link closure, link quality, and effective data rates, and identifying and managing system-performance risks.
Strong experience integrating commercial or civil ground stations and networks, including the NASA Deep Space Network (DSN).
Experience in space communication systems, particularly for Lunar, CisLunar, or deep-space missions.
Proficiency with communication standards and protocols, including modulation formats, channel coding, and advanced waveforms such as DVB-S2/X, Ka/S/X bands, and spread spectrum.
Strong experience with radiometric ranging systems (two-way, sequential, PN, regenerative), Doppler, or Delta Differential One-Way Ranging (Delta-DOR).
Ability to create and understand Satellite Tool Kit (STK) simulations with RF link analysis reports.
Extensive experience with instrumentation and hardware- and software-based ground modems, such as Amergint and Kratos, using VNAs, spectrum analyzers, and oscilloscopes.
Experience with a complex system lifecycle, including requirements definition, design solution definition, implementation, integration, verification, validation, qualification, commissioning, and/or operations.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment.
Ability to travel in support of test and flight operations.
Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion.
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

M.S. in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, physics, or a related technical field.
Experience with RF spectrum licensing.
First-principles knowledge of major spacecraft subsystems, including Avionics, TT&C, and/or RF Payloads.
Experience with optical communication and Ground Optical Terminals.
Experience with requirements definition and management, preferably using DOORS Next Generation.
Operational fault management experience, including familiarity with system safety analysis techniques such as Functional Hazard Assessments (FHA), Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA), and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA).
Familiarity with Jira, Confluence, and other project management software tools.
Familiarity with version control, preferably Git.
Experience with configuration and product data management tools, preferably Windchill.
Experience working with and proposing to U.S. Government research agencies such as NASA, AFRL, and DARPA.

Responsibilities

Identify, derive, develop, and maintain Ground Data Systems requirements, including traceability and verification and validation approaches.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams representing flight vehicle systems, ground software, Integration & Test, external vendors, and ground station providers.
Define ground data system and communications architectures across diverse mission and customer requirements.
Define and maintain ground data system interface requirements and control documents, such as Space Vehicle-to-Ground Network and Mission Control-to-Ground Network interfaces.
Plan, perform, and document requirement verification and validation for Ground Data Systems.
Plan and perform Ground Data Systems product update cycles, integration and test activities, and validation exercises leading to production software releases, operations training events, and flight.
Support initiatives to improve Mission Systems and Flight Operations engineering and other functional processes and tools.
Analyze operability across the Space-Ground System and support justified efforts to improve it.
Lead and perform RF and communications development, testing, and deployment tasks across space and ground boundaries throughout the system lifecycle.

Benefits

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
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 or other factors