Engineers, Systems Engineer, Aerospace ​/ Aviation ​/ Avionics

Senior System Architect – Optical Communications

The role is part of the In-Space Systems business unit focused on space infrastructure and on-orbit mobility.

As the Senior System Architect for our next-generation optical communications program, you will define the end-to-end technical vision for a system designed to set new standards in space-based connectivity. You will own the architecture for an optical communications system, translating mission objectives into a resilient, high-performance system ready for the space environment.

• Define the end-to-end mission architecture, including wavelength selection, link geometry, autonomy, redundancy strategies, and initial SWaP–T allocations.
• Drive system-level trades for the terminal's aperture, balancing link margin, pointing accuracy, throughput, structural stiffness, and thermal management.
• Flow down performance budgets to all subsystems (optics, PAT, modem, electronics) with rigorous ICDs and calibration strategies.
• Integrate STOP analysis into system budgets and define acceptance criteria for hardware verification and vendor SOWs.
• Define PAT concept of operations and control architecture, model and simulate key performance parameters.
• Develop validation strategy for PAT algorithms from simulation to advanced mirror materials.
• Define modem and electronics development plan, ensuring deterministic latency, fault tolerance, and radiation resilience.
• Author and manage core systems engineering documents, identify technical risks, lead architecture reviews, and serve as primary technical authority.
• Lead rapid prototyping efforts, create feedback loops, and coordinate cross‑functional teams.

Travel:
Up to 15 % to supplier facilities, test sites, and Blue Origin locations.

Relocation assistance may be available.

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or related field; 7+ years relevant experience (M.S./Ph.D. preferred).
• End-to-end system design experience in high-throughput optical communications (free-space or fiber).
• Mastery of optical link budget analysis, including pointing loss, atmospheric/diffraction effects, jitter coupling, and capture probability.
• Experience designing and analyzing control systems (filters, scan strategies, beacon processing).
• Familiarity with FPGA/ASIC architectures, Ser Des interfaces, deterministic memory/DMA, high-speed data paths.
• Proven systems engineering rigor in authoring ICDs, decomposing requirements, and developing verification plans.
• Experience with radiation-hardened design principles, SEU mitigation, and radiation-tolerant components.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or lawfully admitted U.S. resident.

• Experience with optical systems, stray light, and contamination control.
• Familiarity with space hardware development life cycles and standards (DO-254, ECSS).
• Experience designing built-in-test, telemetry, and fault management systems.
• Hands-on hardware-in-the-loop validation.
• Knowledge of coherent and incoherent detection methods and advanced modulation formats.

The role is part of the In-Space Systems business unit focused on space infrastructure and on-orbit mobility.

As a Senior Opto-Mechanical Engineer, you will lead the mechanical design for the optical heart of a communications terminal. You will own the physical system from concept and material selection through final assembly and validation.

• Lead mechanical design of the telescope structure, incorporating precision alignment features, kinematic mounts, and athermal principles.
• Develop comprehensive tolerance budgets for WFE and alignment stability, informed by STOP analysis.
• Engineer solutions for stray light and ghost suppression, including baffle design and scatter control.
• Author and manage contamination control plans and cleanliness procedures.
• Ensure designs are optimized for manufacturability, assembly, and alignment (DFMA), defining necessary tooling and GSE.
• Provide technical mentorship to junior engineers.
• Lead development path and trade studies for mirror materials, evaluating CTE stability, stiffness, polishability, and thermal performance.
• Dra…