Principal Engineer - Position, Navigation, Timing (PNT) - TeraWave Verified today

About the Role

Blue Origin is pioneering space-based communications with TeraWave, a revolutionary satellite network delivering up to 6 Tbps symmetrical data speeds. The constellation will consist of optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO).

As Principal Engineer for Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT), you own two closely related mandates. First, you will define and maintain the timing and synchronization architecture: how satellites establish and distribute precise time across RF and optical links, how clock errors are managed and corrected, and how timing performance requirements flow from constellation-level coordination down to subsystem design. Second, you will spearhead resilient PNT methods for constellation operations, developing algorithms, conducting architectural trades, and designing the execution plan to ensure accurate and robust satellite position, velocity, and timing determination.

This is the first dedicated PNT hire within the Chief Systems Architecture office. You will be hands-on: writing estimation algorithms, building simulation frameworks, and running trade studies while defining the architectural approach and building the case for the focused team that follows. Your job is to establish the technical foundation, prove critical approaches, and define what the team builds. You will own system outcome through hardware and software development, production, and deployment at scale.

This role sits within the Chief Systems Architecture office and works closely with payload, flight software, ground systems, and network engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the timing and synchronization architecture for the TeraWave constellation: time transfer methods, clock management and steering, synchronization performance budgets, and allocation of timing requirements across space and ground segments. Immediate priority is architecting onboard satellite timing synchronization using established methods before evaluating alternative or augmented approaches.
• Develop and validate PNT estimation algorithms: orbit determination, clock estimation, and sensor fusion approaches using inter-satellite link measurements, GNSS observables, and ground-based tracking data.
• Build simulation frameworks to characterize estimation filter performance, timing stability, and sensitivity to degraded or denied external references.
• Conduct architectural trades across PNT approaches: evaluate methods, quantify performance and robustness, and document trade outcomes as the basis for design decisions.
• Define the PNT resilience posture for constellation operations: accuracy and availability requirements, denial or degradation conditions, and architectural features that provide assurance.
• Develop execution plan and build the technical case for a focused PNT team: scope skills, sequence work, and define what must be proven before committing to implementation.
• Work across payload, flight software, ground, and network teams to ensure PNT and timing requirements are understood, allocated, and verifiable at interfaces.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or related field; MS or PhD preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in PNT systems, navigation algorithm development, or timing and synchronization engineering for satellite or distributed systems.
• Hands-on experience developing estimation algorithms for orbit determination, clock estimation, or sensor fusion.
• Working knowledge of time transfer methods and clock characterization.
• Experience with GNSS-based navigation and understanding of performance under degraded or denied conditions.
• Proficiency in MATLAB and/or Python for algorithm development, simulation, and analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to frame and close architectural trades: scope the question, identify binding constraints, and document defensible outcomes.
• Strong technical communication skills: present PNT architecture and trade results clearly to domain specialists and program leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with inter-satellite link ranging or navigation using optical or RF crosslinks.
• Background in LEO constellation operations, orbit maintenance, or flight dynamics.
• Familiarity with satellite timing architectures: PTP/NTP adaptation for space, TWSTFT, onboard clock steering.
• Experience building or leading a small technical team from inception.
• Experience with simulation tools and frameworks for Monte Carlo analysis of estimation performance.
• Familiarity with astrodynamics tools.

Compensation and Location

Base pay range for WA applicants: $169,624.00 - $237,473.25. Other site ranges may differ. Relocation provided.

Employment Type

Full-time position in Greater Seattle Area.

Requirements

Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted as a refugee or granted asylum.

Blue's Standard Background Check required for all positions.