Sr. RF Communications Systems Engineer, TT&C Lead, Project Sunrise

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! 

This role is part of Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin’s mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design.

Join Blue Origin as we build infrastructure in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re developing a satellite constellation of orbital data centers, Sunrise, designed to transform how compute infrastructure is deployed and leveraged.

Job Summary: As the Senior RF Communications Systems Engineer and TT&C Technical Lead, you will have primary technical responsibility for the architecture, design, development, integration, verification, and operation of the spacecraft Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TT&C) communications subsystem.

You will lead the development of the end-to-end TT&C architecture, translate mission and spacecraft requirements into subsystem requirements and interfaces, and lead the RF communications engineering team responsible for delivering the subsystem. This role requires a combination of strong RF/microwave technical expertise, spacecraft communications systems engineering, architectural thinking, and technical leadership.

The successful candidate will work closely with spacecraft systems, avionics, GNC, flight software, power, thermal, ground systems, and mission operations teams to develop a robust, reliable, and scalable TT&C solution from concept through on-orbit operations for a large scale constellation.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead the TT&C subsystem architecture, including RF communications, antennas, transceivers, amplifiers, filters, frequency conversion, interfaces, and ground-system connectivity.
• Define the end-to-end TT&C communications architecture based on mission requirements, spacecraft operational concepts, link availability, data rates, coverage, reliability, Swap-C, and risk.
• Lead development and allocation of TT&C subsystem requirements, including performance, interface, environmental, reliability, and verification requirements.
• Develop TT&C CONOPS and communication scenarios, including command, telemetry, tracking, acquisition, safe modes, nominal operations, contingencies, and ground-station interactions.
• Lead RF communications architecture and technology trade studies, evaluating alternative architectures and technologies against mission requirements and system-level constraints.
• Lead end-to-end RF link budget and communications performance analysis, including transmit power, antenna gain, path loss, atmospheric losses, noise temperature, receiver sensitivity, link margin, data rate, and availability.
• Lead RF cascade analysis, including gain, noise figure, dynamic range, compression, phase noise, spurious performance, and intermodulation products.
• Define and manage RF and TT&C interfaces with the spacecraft bus, avionics, flight software, GNC, power, thermal, and ground systems.
• Lead and mentor the RF communications engineering team, establishing technical direction, priorities, development plans, and engineering processes.
• Provide technical direction for the design and development of RF/microwave hardware, including amplifiers, filters, frequency converters, receivers, transmitters.
• Review and approve RF designs, analyses, simulations, test plans, and verification results.
• Lead the development and execution of TT&C integration and verification plans, including component, subsystem, spacecraft-level, and end-to-end testing.
• Support spacecraft integration, test, troubleshooting, launch readiness, commissioning, and on-orbit TT&C operations.
• Lead resolution of complex RF and communications system issues and coordinate technical decisions across engineering disciplines.
• Establish and maintain TT&C architecture documentation, requirements, interface control documents, link budgets, CONOPS, trade studies, test plans, and verification matrices.
• Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies throughout the TT&C development lifecycle.
• Work with program and systems engineering leadership to establish team staffing, technical capabilities, and resource requirements for the RF/TT&C organization.
• Mentor engineers and develop the technical capabilities of the RF communications team.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, RF/Microwave Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of professional experience in RF communications systems engineering, RF/microwave engineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading or owning the architecture of RF communications or TT&C systems.
• Demonstrated experience developing end-to-end RF communications architectures and link budgets.
• Experience defining, allocating, and verifying system and subsystem requirements.
• Strong experience with RF/microwave systems, including antennas, transmitters, receivers, amplifiers, filters, frequency conversion, and analog signal chains.
• Strong understanding of antennas, RF propagation, microwave engineering, and communications systems.
• Experience with RF simulation and analysis tools such as Keysight ADS, AWR Microwave Office, or similar.
• Experience with RF test equipment, including VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and power meters.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional technical teams and make system-level engineering decisions.
• Excellent technical communication and documentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, RF/Microwave Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience serving as a TT&C subsystem lead, RF communications lead, or communications systems architect.
• Experience developing spacecraft communications architectures and mission/constellation CONOPS.
• Experience with satellite-to-ground and/or inter-satellite communications systems.
• Experience designing and testing RF communications systems for space or aerospace applications.
• Experience with spacecraft antennas, antenna characterization, and RF link performance.
• Familiarity with digital communications, including modulation, coding, synchronization, and data-link protocols.
• Experience with spacecraft environmental qualification and acceptance testing.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or similar tools for engineering analysis and test automation.
• Experience with PCB schematic capture and RF/microwave PCB design.
• Experience building and leading RF engineering teams.
• Experience using generative AI tools to improve engineering analysis, automation, documentation, and engineering workflows.

Base Pay Range for:

CO applicants is $181,626.00 - $254,275.35
WA applicants is $197,529.00 - $276,539.55

Other site ranges may differ

Culture Statement

Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blue’s Standard Background Check
• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation
• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing, vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.
• Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

Benefits

• Benefits include: 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.
• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.
• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.