Systems Architect - Payload - TeraWave

BLUE ORIGIN • Los Angeles, WA

9d

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! This role is part of TeraWave, a satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. This network will service tens of thousands of enterprise, data center, and government users who require reliable connectivity for critical operations. ilicon and Spacecraft Systems Architect We are seeking a Silicon and Spacecraft Systems Architect to provide technical leadership for our revolutionary TeraWave satellite communications network. This role will be instrumental in developing integrated silicon and payload architectures for our constellation designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps globally. The ideal candidate brings expertise in ASIC/SoC architecture, spacecraft systems, and payload integration, thriving in a fast-paced environment where innovation meets mission-critical execution.

Requirements

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field, with 10+ years of silicon design or spacecraft systems experience
• Demonstrated experience in ASIC/SoC architecture for communications applications
• Experience in the development of spacecraft payloads or satellite communications systems
• Experience designing and analyzing complex silicon systems integrated with spacecraft subsystems
• Strong understanding of digital and analog circuit design principles for space applications
• Proficiency with architecture modeling tools and methodologies for both silicon and spacecraft systems
• Excellent technical written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with development in mission and safety-critical environments
• 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. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering
• Experience with space-grade semiconductor development and qualification
• Knowledge of radiation effects and mitigation techniques in silicon for LEO and MEO environments
• Experience with high-speed SerDes and interface design for spacecraft applications
• Background in spacecraft power systems and thermal management for high-performance computing
• Experience with advanced packaging technologies optimized for space environments
• Understanding of spacecraft attitude determination and control systems (ADCS) interfaces with communications payloads
• Experience with optical payload integration and silicon photonics for space-based communications

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the silicon and payload architecture for TeraWave's multi-orbit constellation of 5,408 optically interconnected satellites
• Define chip-level requirements and interfaces between digital, analog, and RF subsystems within the spacecraft payload
• Create architectural frameworks that integrate DSP cores, network processors, and RF front-ends with spacecraft bus systems
• Lead technical trade studies to optimize silicon performance, power efficiency, and radiation tolerance within spacecraft constraints
• Develop verification and validation strategies for complex mixed-signal ASICs integrated into satellite payloads
• Collaborate with digital design, analog design, and spacecraft engineering teams to ensure architectural alignment
• Identify and mitigate technical risks across silicon development and payload integration
• Establish technical standards and best practices for ASIC/SoC development in spacecraft applications
• Support technical reviews and ensure compliance with semiconductor and spacecraft design requirements
• Develop models and simulations to validate end-to-end performance from silicon to spacecraft systems
• Define partitioning strategies between ASICs, FPGAs, and discrete components within the payload architecture
• Architect radiation-hardened silicon solutions optimized for spacecraft power, thermal, and mechanical constraints
• Develop interface specifications between custom silicon and spacecraft subsystems including power, thermal, and command & data handling

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.
• Paid Time Off: 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: Mid Level