Sr Principal Architect, Space Safety and Sustainability

Application Close Date

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

Blue Origin is pioneering the future of space‑based communications with Tera Wave, a satellite communications network that will deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps worldwide. The Senior Principal Architect for Space Safety & Sustainability will lead the development and implementation of Tera Wave’s Space Sustainability Strategy, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and embedding space‑safety requirements into every stage of system design.

• Relocation provided
• Travel expected up to 10% of the time

• Own the Tera Wave Space Sustainability Strategy and related regulatory documents, ensuring they remain compliant with NASA‑STD‑8719.14C and the ODMSP.
• Lead Tera Wave’s technical engagement with the FCC and other regulatory bodies on orbital debris and space‑traffic coordination, providing compliance assessments and shaping technical positions.
• Lead technical interchanges with other satellite operators and advocacy organizations, establishing cooperative frameworks and representing Tera Wave’s positions in industry forums.
• Architect the space‑traffic coordination strategy and systems—including orbit selection philosophy, inter‑operator coordination methodology, and ephemeris data management—ensuring a reliable conjunction assessment capability across the fleet.
• Define the end‑to‑end collision‑risk mitigation architecture, from automated conjunction data ingestion to spacecraft hardware and operational designs, maintaining stringent minimum collision‑probability thresholds.
• Establish engineering standards, analysis methods, and tools for debris minimization across the satellite lifecycle, including passivization strategies and mitigation of MMOD‑driven failures.
• Define Tera Wave’s post‑mission disposal approach, evaluating disposal reliability, natural decay timelines, and readiness for emerging regulatory requirements.
• Assess and recommend mitigation of the constellation’s impact on astronomical observations, identifying design and operational strategies.
• Collaborate with spacecraft, GNC, propulsion, power, and operations teams to embed space‑safety requirements early in system design.
• Contribute to the Tera Wave design reference mission, identify technology gaps, and drive critical analyses needed to advance compliance.
• Serve as the senior technical authority on space safety and sustainability, providing guidance across engineering teams and representing Tera Wave’s technical positions externally.

• Master’s degree in aerospace engineering, astrodynamics, systems engineering, or an equivalent technical field.
• 12+ years of experience in spacecraft systems, orbital mechanics, or space operations, with direct experience in at least two of the following: space traffic management, collision‑avoidance system design, orbital debris analysis, or satellite regulatory compliance.
• Deep working knowledge of orbital mechanics—including orbit propagation, conjunction assessment, maneuver planning, and debris‑environment modeling—and proficiency in tools such as STK, Python, or MATLAB.
• Familiarity with NASA‑STD‑8719.14C and the ODMSP, and experience engaging regulatory processes and contributing technical documentation.
• Ability to translate space‑safety requirements into engineering design standards and system‑architecture specifications.
• Excellent verbal, written, and graphical communication skills, with experience representing technical positions to external stakeholders.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment.

• 15+ years spanning orbital mechanics, space traffic management, and large‑scale constellation development, with experience on LEO constellation programs and regulatory advocacy.
• Knowledge of conjunction data message (CDM) formats, space‑surveillance network products, and SSA data sources, and experience in designing automated conjunction screening and collision‑avoidance systems.
• Familiarity with emerging space‑traffic coordination frameworks, inter‑operator agreements,…