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Blue Origin · 2 days ago

Senior RF Communications Engineer - New Glenn

Merritt Island, FL

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$157K/yr - $220K/yr

10+ years exp

Blue Origin is focused on developing reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems. The Senior RF Communications Engineer will design and implement ground RF communication systems for the New Glenn launch program, ensuring reliable communication for spaceflight operations.

AerospaceManufacturingNational SecurityRenewable Energy

No H1B

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

Design, install, and checkout mission-critical RF communications systems supporting real-time telemetry data, video, and voice in rocket launch, spaceflight, and maritime recovery environments to support reusable spacecraft operations

Establish communications systems hardware design specifications and requirements through system analysis, link budget calculation, and cross-organizational coordination for ground launch vehicle systems in support of launch and recovery operations

Establish procedures for verification of requirements and specifications against selected communications hardware through bench, integrated systems, and field testing to ensure interoperability and functionality

Create hardware designs that promote high launch rates and automation of the RF systems

Work with internal stakeholders to define software requirements, dependencies, and schedule needs associated with delivering software defined radio based modems, data encoder/decoder systems, and embedded software

Define and develop verifiable requirements and software designs

Write code to implement designs

Design and write tests to assure code meets safety critical standards and functions

Design and implement system automation software for test and operational use

Understand and integrate production (Ground and Marine) RF systems into a fast and changing hardware integration lab test environment

Design and integrate hardware/software to interface with cross-functional systems (Networking, Avionics etc.) and Ground Command and Control software

Troubleshoot end-to-end data flows and identify sections of failure

Design, execute, and record tests of the RF systems for requirements verification

Manage and troubleshoot RF communication systems in land-based, space, and maritime environments in support of all phases of launch, spaceflight, and landing operations, ensuring systems readiness and mission capabilities

Develop and maintain configuration control of RF communications assets and their associated Software components

Create detailed design documentation, including drawings, functional and logical diagrams, for new mission communications systems

Qualification

RF CommunicationsSpace-to-Ground SystemsSoftware DesignTelemetry SystemsPythonEmbedded C/C++LinuxNetworkingConfiguration ManagementCommunication SkillsTeam Collaboration

Required

Minimum of a bachelor's degree in a related field (electrical engineering, software engineering, physics, etc.)

10+ years of Technical Experience developing Space-to-Ground Communications systems and their ground systems including RF Communications, Ground Data Systems Architecture, Software Design and Development, and Spacecraft telemetry, commanding and sequencing

Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills

Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team

Ability to travel in support of design integrations, test, and flight operations

Preferred

M.S. in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, software engineering, physics, or related technical field

Experience developing software in: Python, embedded C/C++, Linux, real-time operating systems

Hands-on Networking experience with Layer‑2 Ethernet multicast, including MAC‑level multicast addressing, VLANs, switch multicast forwarding behavior, and end‑to‑end debugging via packet captures (wireshark, tcpdump, etc)

Familiarity with the following preferred tools: DOORS or DNG, Makefiles, Linker Scripts, GitLab, Bash, and JIRA/Confluence

Experience with configuration and product data management tools, preferably ProE, Windchill

Experience with design, buildout, and operations of 2.4m to 13m (and larger) dish size ground antennas

Experience working with remote satellite teleport operators including deep understanding of how they do business