Principal Electro-Optics Engineer – Optical Inter-Satellite Link

Application close date:

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!  

This role supports Blue National Security, which is pioneering the development, manufacturing, and operation of Blue Ring— a groundbreaking space-mobility platform that unlocks unparalleled access to any orbit and the freedom to maneuver between orbits at will. With Blue Ring, our customers are empowered to go anywhere in cislunar or Earth orbit domains, redefine mission flexibility, and pursue bold new concepts that were once beyond reach. If you’re energized by the idea of working with a platform capable of enabling missions without compromise, this is your moment to make history with us.

As a Principal Electro-Optics Engineer, you lead electrical architecture and high-speed digital/analog design for Optical Inter-Satellite Link (OISL) terminals supporting a classified beyond LEO mission. This role focuses on the electronics backbone of laser communication systems, including FPGA-based signal processing, high-speed serial interfaces, laser driver and detector readout circuits, pointing-and-tracking (PAT) and timing/synchronization architectures, enabling robust, long-range optical links in deep space environments.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role for an engineer who can bridge RF/digital design expertise with optical communication system requirements and embedded management controllers to high-speed PCB layout and Layer 2 device integration. This is a hands-on role for an engineer who has designed and shipped complex electronic products in fast-moving environments and wants to apply that experience to hardware operating at orbital scale, operating within a highly classified program with direct national security impact.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead electrical architecture for OISL terminal electronics, including transmitter/receiver front-ends, laser driver circuits, FPA/Quad detector readout chains, gimbal and FSM controls.
• Design and implement FPGA-based signal processing for optical communication functions: forward error correction (FEC), framing/deframing, clock and data recovery (CDR), data frame recovery, LDPC, and modem control logic
• Architect high-speed digital interfaces (SerDes, JESD204B/C, LVDS, PCIe) between FPGAs, ADCs/DACs, and optical front-end electronics
• Develop timing and synchronization architectures critical for coherent detection, PAT (pointing/acquisition/tracking) control loops, and inter-satellite link coordination
• Design high-speed analog and mixed-signal circuits supporting GHz-class data rates, including transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs), laser drivers, and RF/optical mixing stages
• Support radiation-hardened/rad-tolerant electronics design appropriate for beyond LEO radiation environments (GEO, cislunar, deep space)
• Own signal integrity, power integrity, and EMI/EMC analysis for high-speed board and system-level designs
• Collaborate with optical engineers, firmware engineers, systems engineers, and flight software teams to ensure end-to-end link performance
• Lead FPGA verification and validation, including simulation (MATLAB/ModelSim/Vivado), hardware-in-the-loop testing, and on-orbit performance characterization
• Support classified design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR) and interface directly with government customers and technical authorities
• Mentor junior/mid-level electrical and FPGA engineers; provide technical leadership across a multi-disciplinary hardware team
• Support environmental qualification (vibration, thermal vacuum, radiation testing) and anomaly resolution during I&T and on-orbit ops
• Interface with government and commercial customers/partners on technical reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR)
• Support anomaly resolution and root-cause analysis for hardware/software issues during integration, test, and on-orbit operations
• Stay current with emerging OISL technologies, standards (e.g., SDA Transport Layer, CCSDS optical communication standards), and industry best practices

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field (Master's or PhD preferred)
• 10+ years of experience in high-speed electrical design, FPGA development, or mixed-signal circuit design — ideally within optical/RF communication systems
• Strong hands-on experience with FPGA design (VHDL or Verilog) — Xilinx/AMD or equivalent radiation-tolerant FPGA platforms
• Demonstrated expertise in high-speed digital design: SerDes, high-speed ADC/DAC interfaces, clock distribution, and signal integrity analysis
• Experience designing transimpedance amplifiers, laser driver circuits, or high-speed photodetector readout electronics
• Strong understanding of link-level communication concepts: modulation, FEC, timing recovery, synchronization
• Proficiency with PCB design tools, simulation environments (e.g., HSPICE, ADS, Vivado, ModelSim)
• Experience with space-qualified electronics design, including radiation effects mitigation (SEE, TID) — particularly relevant for Beyond LEO/deep space environments
• Active TS/SCI clearance or ability to obtain one (U.S. citizenship required)
• Strong communication skills and experience leading technical efforts within classified program environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with classified national security space programs (SDA, NRO, SSC, or equivalent)
• 15+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience with coherent optical communication systems and associated electronics (local oscillator control, phase-locked loops, homodyne/heterodyne detection)
• Familiarity with CCSDS optical link standards and DoD interoperability requirements for Beyond LEO/GEO communication architectures
• Experience with radiation effects on electronics (SEE, TID, displacement damage) and mitigation techniques.
• Experience designing electronics for space, aviation, or other high-reliability thermal-vacuum environments.
• Familiarity with high-speed Ethernet switch architectures, network processors, and associated PHY technologies (optical transceivers, SerDes).
• Background in precision timing systems (GPS-disciplined oscillators, atomic clocks, or equivalent for deep-space timing)
• Background in production hardware including DFM/DFT practices, supply chain coordination, and yield optimization.
• Hands-on environmental qualification testing (TVAC, vibration, EMI/EMC).

Base Pay Range for:

Other site ranges may differ

Culture Statement

Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blue’s Standard Background Check
• Required for Certain Job Profiles:  Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation
• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing, vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.
• Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

Benefits

• Benefits include:  Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%, and an Education Support Program.
• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
• Paid Time Off:  Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.
• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at [email protected]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.