Systems Engineer III (RF / Microwave Systems)

Blue Origin•Huntsville, WA

1d•Remote

About The Position

The role is part of the Blue National Security business unit, which is focused on delivering advanced space-based capabilities in support of national security missions. Within the Special Programs organization, this team operates at the forefront of mission engineering and architecture, developing next-generation space systems that address the most demanding and consequential challenges in the defense domain. This is an individual contributor role.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline
5+ years of experience in systems engineering within the aerospace, defense, or national security domain
Demonstrated experience with UHF-band antenna design, including analysis of antenna performance parameters (gain, beamwidth, polarization, impedance matching) in space or airborne environments
Experience with phased array antenna systems, including electronically steered arrays (ESAs) at UHF frequencies
Proficiency in RF system performance analysis, including link budgets and system noise figure calculations
Experience developing and managing system-level requirements using requirements management tools (e.g., DOORS, Jama, or equivalent)
Familiarity with systems engineering processes and standards (e.g., NASA/DoD SE frameworks, MIL-STD-499, or equivalent)
Experience with space-based RF sensing or surveillance system architectures
Familiarity with Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) or Airborne Moving Target Indicator (AMTI) signal processing concepts and their implications on system design
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear technical documentation and present to different audiences
Active TS//SCI 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

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field
Experience with radar system performance modeling tools (e.g., MATLAB, STK, or custom simulation environments)
Familiarity with space environment effects on RF systems, including ionospheric propagation, Faraday rotation, and thermal cycling impacts on antenna structures
Prior experience working within a Special Programs or classified program environment
Experience interfacing with DoD or Intelligence Community (IC) customers

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain system-level requirements for advanced space-based sensing systems, ensuring traceability from mission objectives through subsystem specifications
Conduct system architecture trade studies and analyses to evaluate design alternatives, performance margins, and technical feasibility
Author and review key systems engineering artifacts including Concepts of Operations (CONOPs), System Requirements Documents (SRDs), Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and Systems Engineering Management Plans (SEMPs)
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including payload, spacecraft, ground systems, and mission operations to ensure end-to-end system coherence
Support design reviews and provide technical inputs to R&D program milestones
Perform link budget analyses and RF system performance assessments relevant to space-based sensing architectures
Study the design, analyze, and optimize UHF-band antenna systems, including aperture sizing, beam pattern characterization, polarization, and gain/noise performance in the space environment
Evaluate antenna integration trades including deployable structures, phased array configurations, and feed network design at UHF frequencies
Engage with government customers and mission partners to understand operational needs and translate them into actionable system requirements
Support risk identification, mitigation planning, and technical performance measurement (TPM) tracking throughout the program lifecycle