Sr. RF Communications Systems Engineer – Ground Segment

Blue Origin•Reston, VA

4d•$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. Reporting to the Blue National Security Ground Data Systems Manager, the Sr. RF Communications Systems Engineer works closely with Ground System, Software, Mission Systems, and Flight Operations Engineers. The role leads and performs RF and communications development, testing, and deployment across space and ground boundaries throughout the system lifecycle for vehicles supporting national security, civil, and commercial missions. The engineer builds and maintains technical capabilities needed for spacecraft space-to-ground operations across diverse mission concepts, orbits, and ground station providers. The role defines ground data and communications architectures and interfaces, develops and maintains requirements, and plans and performs verification, validation, integration, testing, product updates, and operational readiness activities. The position contributes to process and tool improvements and analyzes operability across the space-ground system. Relocation is provided, and travel is expected up to 25% of the time.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree 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 definition, 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 communications 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 in 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

Master’s degree 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, including flight vehicle systems, ground software, Integration & Test, external vendors, and ground station providers.
Define ground data system and communications architectures for 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.
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 operability.
Lead and perform RF and communications development, testing, and deployment across space and ground boundaries through the system lifecycle.
Travel in support of testing and flight operations.

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 all 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.