Senior Director, Optical Communication - TeraWave Verified today

About TeraWave

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

About the Role

The Senior Director, Optical Communications Terminals leads the multidisciplinary engineering organization responsible for the architecture, development, qualification, production, and deployment of TeraWave optical communications terminals. You own end-to-end technical and execution performance across optical, opto-mechanical, electro-optical, electronics, firmware, software, controls, systems engineering, test, and supplier engineering disciplines.

This role reports to the VP, Payloads and Terminals and partners closely with spacecraft, ground systems, mission operations, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and program management.

Technical Leadership

• Own the technical architecture and product definition for TeraWave optical communications terminals
• Drive architecture decisions across all engineering disciplines and establish system-level performance, reliability, scalability, and manufacturability objectives
• Define and control interfaces between the optical terminal, spacecraft, ground infrastructure, and network
• Lead resolution of complex technical issues and cross-disciplinary tradeoffs
• Maintain the technical roadmap for future terminal generations

Program Execution

• Own engineering execution from concept through development, qualification, production, and deployment
• Establish clear technical milestones, identify critical-path activities, and surface schedule risks early
• Ensure technical risks have clear owners, mitigation plans, and escalation paths
• Drive disciplined design reviews, verification, validation, and qualification activities
• Partner with program management to establish realistic commitments and maintain execution accountability

Organizational Leadership

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary organization of engineering managers, senior technical leaders, and individual contributors
• Build an effective leadership structure with clear ownership and decision rights
• Establish engineering standards, processes, and operating mechanisms that provide timely visibility into organizational health
• Build a culture of technical rigor, accountability, early risk identification, and constructive escalation
• Recruit and retain exceptional engineering talent

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with spacecraft, ground systems, manufacturing, supply chain, mission operations, and network engineering to ensure effective integration and producible designs
• Represent optical terminal engineering in senior leadership and program reviews
• Resolve cross-organizational issues at the appropriate level

Supplier and Industrialization Leadership

• Establish technical relationships with strategic optical, photonic, electronic, mechanical, and semiconductor suppliers
• Define supplier technical performance requirements and qualification criteria
• Partner with manufacturing engineering to transition development designs into repeatable production processes
• Drive design-for-manufacturing, design-for-test, and design-for-reliability practices

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, computer science, or related technical field
• 12+ years of engineering experience, with substantial experience leading complex multidisciplinary engineering organizations
• Experience developing sophisticated electro-optical, optical communications, aerospace, semiconductor, or similarly complex products
• Demonstrated ability to take products from architecture through development, qualification, production, and deployment
• Strong record of recruiting, developing, and retaining engineering talent
• Experience with suppliers, manufacturing, qualification, and production environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant technical discipline
• Experience with optical and laser systems
• Experience in space systems or high-reliability communications products

Compensation and Benefits

Base pay range for Washington applicants: $317,388.00 to $444,342.15. 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%, education support program, stock options for regular employees, and up to four weeks paid time off plus up to 14 company-paid holidays annually.

Employment Requirements

Applicants 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 check required for all positions.