Principal Engineer – TeraWave RF and Optical Systems

Application close date:
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed. 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!

Blue Origin is pioneering the future of space-based connectivity with Tera Wave, a revolutionary 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. 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 diverse team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight! This role is part of the Emerging Systems business unit, which is focused on developing cutting-edge space technologies including Tera Wave, Blue Origin's revolutionary space-based networking system.

Tera Wave is designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps, providing connectivity to locations unreachable by traditional methods and adding a space-based layer to existing network infrastructure. As a Principal Engineer for RF and Optical System Integration & Verification, you will own the end-to-end integration, bring-up, and verification strategy for Tera Wave's RF and optical communications payloads, user/gateway terminals, and ground segment.

You will be the technical authority who proves that the constellation's links work — from first light in an anechoic chamber and Compact Antenna Test Range (CATR), through hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) emulation of orbital dynamics, to on-orbit commissioning and steady-state flight operations. This is a Principal-level individual contributor and technical leadership role. You will oversee systems and projects across a broad domain, directing system owners across multiple teams on the design, delivery, and planning of integration and verification capability with no day-to-day oversight.

You will set the technical direction for how Blue Origin verifies space-based RF and optical links, drive operational excellence across organizational boundaries, and serve as an advisor to leadership and customers on advanced technical studies. Success in this role means not only closing verification against complex requirements, but proactively identifying problems no one has yet identified and proposing novel, cutting-edge solutions where the path forward is not clear.

This role will be onsite in one of these locations – Greater Seattle Area, WA, Cupertino CA. It is approved for temporary remote work exception while our local site is developed Relocation assistance available Travel may be required up to 25% of the time (test ranges, ground station sites, vendor facilities, mission operations centers, and standards bodies).

Technical Ownership & Architecture Own the integration and verification (I&V) architecture and test automation framework for the Tera Wave RF and optical system areas (payload, terminals, ground stations, links). Conduct trade studies, build prototypes, and provide early feasibility analysis to identify I&V architectural options across low-, medium-, and high-performance/high-cost test approaches, and propose the best path forward. Define and own the…