MK1-Avionics Sr Communications Engineer - Lunar Permanence Verified today

About the Role

This position is part of Blue Origin's Lunar Permanence business unit, which develops Blue Moon landers and related products for sustainable crew and cargo transport from Earth to the lunar surface. You will lead the communication system design for the MK-1 lunar lander as part of the MK-1 Avionics team.

Responsibilities

• Develop communication system design for one or more in-space architectures
• Allocate and decompose higher level functions and requirements to Communications Subsystems
• Support alignment, documentation, and implementation of Lunar Permanence system engineering practices
• Support system and lower-level requirements management, including change control, audits, and cross-team coordination
• Support the development and creation of Concept of Operations (ConOps)
• Develop, track, and maintain analyses and simulations including link analysis, signal distortion, system capacity, coverage analysis and performance
• Develop subsystem verification and validation activity definitions including verification methods, expectations, and compliance criteria
• Coordinate with Integration and Test teams to ensure test facilities have required capabilities
• Track verification and validation activities to successful completion, including reviewing subsystem test plans and possible travel to test facilities
• Support definition of vehicle-level interfaces between systems and elements
• Support authoring of safety artifacts, including functional hazard assessments and hazard mitigations
• Mentor early career systems engineers

Required Qualifications

• Minimum B.S. degree in electrical engineering
• 10+ years of experience in communication systems or RF testing
• Working knowledge of major RF components: SSPA, LNAs, transceivers, waveguides, antennas, filters, etc.
• Strong communication fundamentals including digital modulation schemes (QPSK, OQPSK, UQPSK, spread spectrum), FEC encoding (Reed Solomon, LDCP codes), and relationship between information rates and RF requirements
• Experience delivering communications systems for spacecraft applications including radiation effects, hardware/software integration, and thermal management
• Experience integrating communication systems into larger systems using protocols like RS-422, Ethernet, SpaceWire, HDLC
• Experience developing static and dynamic RF simulations (link budgets, coverage analyses, line of sight simulation) with tools like HFSS, STK, MATLAB, and/or Python
• Working knowledge of space environments and process to space qualify a communication flight unit
• Ability to work from incomplete specifications to drive to completion
• Proven ability to interpret and apply high-level system requirements to practical design solutions for complex physical assemblies
• In depth knowledge of systems engineering practices including requirements development, standard verification methods, functional decomposition, standard diagramming techniques, and risk and opportunity management
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of satellite communication systems experience and familiarity with all phases of an RF product lifecycle from concept, design, manufacture, test, and integration
• Working knowledge of simulation software like HFSS for antenna placement studies, coverage analysis, antenna pattern simulations, ray tracing simulations, and other RF studies
• Full-life cycle engineering for a communication system from clean-sheet architecture definition through to operations planning and support
• Experience writing RF test procedures and performing subsystem level functional tests

Compensation and Benefits

Base pay range for WA applicants: $156,802.00 - $219,522.45. Other site ranges may differ.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with company match up to 5%, and Education Support Program. Stock options for all regular employees (20+ hours/week). Paid time off up to four weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.

Employment Requirements

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin 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. Background checks required for all positions.