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Principal Comms System and Modem Engineer- Terawave Verified today

Blue Origin · 4 Locations · RF & Comms · first seen 2026-09-24
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About TeraWave

Blue Origin is pioneering space-based communications with TeraWave, a satellite constellation combining optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO) to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth.

Your Role

As a senior engineer, you will develop and optimize communications systems and modem algorithms for the TeraWave system. This is a hands-on role working closely with modem architecture, ASIC, firmware, RF, and system engineering teams from algorithm development and simulation through implementation and system validation.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and optimize PHY, modem, and DSP algorithms for high-throughput satellite communication systems.
  • Develop algorithms for synchronization, carrier and sampling frequency offset estimation and compensation, channel estimation, equalization, SNR estimation, modulation/demodulation, and other modem signal-processing functions.
  • Develop MATLAB, C/C++, Python, or equivalent system-level models to evaluate modem algorithms and end-to-end communication-system performance.
  • Model and analyze communication channels and impairments, including noise, fading, interference, frequency and phase errors, nonlinearities, and RF impairments.
  • Evaluate modem architecture and algorithm tradeoffs across performance, complexity, throughput, latency, and implementation.
  • Work closely with ASIC, RF, firmware, and system engineering teams to translate modem algorithms into TeraWave implementation.
  • Support pre-silicon verification, prototyping, system integration, and post-silicon validation of modem algorithms.
  • Analyze end-to-end system performance and identify opportunities to improve modem and link performance.
  • Provide technical guidance and contribute to key modem and communications-system architecture decisions.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
  • 10+ years of experience in communications systems, modem design, signal processing, or DSP algorithm development.
  • Strong understanding of digital communications and signal processing fundamentals.
  • Strong hands-on experience developing and simulating communications and DSP algorithms using MATLAB, Python, C/C++, or similar tools.
  • Strong understanding of OFDM-based communication systems, including synchronization, channel estimation, equalization, modulation/demodulation, and frequency-domain signal processing.
  • Experience developing and evaluating modem/PHY algorithms in end-to-end communication-system simulations.
  • Understanding of practical RF and channel impairments and their impact on modem performance.
  • Ability to work across modem, RF, ASIC, firmware, and system engineering teams.
  • 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.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master's degree or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Communications, Signal Processing, or a related field.
  • Deep experience with modem PHY and DSP algorithm development for wireless, cellular, satellite, or broadband communication systems.
  • Experience with carrier/timing synchronization, CFO/SFO estimation and compensation, channel estimation, equalization, SNR estimation, and impairment compensation.
  • Experience with FEC, framing, OFDM waveform design, and adaptive modulation and coding.
  • Experience with fixed-point modeling and implementation of DSP algorithms for FPGA or ASIC systems.
  • Experience with RF and mixed-signal impairments, including phase noise, frequency offset, IQ imbalance, PA nonlinearities, ADC/DAC effects, and quantization.
  • Experience with satellite or non-terrestrial communication systems.
  • Familiarity with 3GPP PHY specifications and modern broadband wireless communication systems.
  • Experience with pre-silicon simulation, FPGA prototyping, or post-silicon modem bring-up and validation.

Compensation

Base Pay Range for CA and WA applicants: $269,175.00 - $376,843.95. Other site ranges may differ.

Work Location

Onsite in Cupertino, CA; San Diego, CA; Kent, WA; or Austin, TX. A temporary remote work exception is approved while San Diego and Austin sites are being developed. Relocation provided.

Special Notes

Interviews will include a technical assessment.