Satellite Flight Software Developer III

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!  

Special Mentions:

This position is part of Blue Origin's TeraWave business unit, a newly announced satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. TeraWave consists of 5,408 optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO), providing enterprise-grade connectivity for critical operations.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of the core flight software architecture for the TeraWave satellite constellation
• Architect and develop robust, scalable software solutions for the 5,408 optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO)
• Architect and develop platform-independent, reusable software frameworks to expedite flight software development across the TeraWave constellation
• Design and implement command and data handling systems that enable the high-throughput capabilities of the TeraWave network (up to 6 Tbps)
• Develop and maintain critical flight software components for satellite operations, including command processing, telemetry, fault detection, isolation, and recovery
• Create and implement software interfaces between various satellite subsystems (power, communications, attitude control, thermal management)
• Establish software development standards, best practices, and architectural patterns for the TeraWave flight software team
• Collaborate with systems engineers to define software requirements and system interfaces
• Perform code reviews on flight software best practices
• Design and implement real-time embedded software solutions for satellite operations
• Develop and execute comprehensive test plans to validate flight software functionality
• Troubleshoot complex software issues in simulated and operational environments
• Support integration and testing activities to verify software functionality in simulated and hardware-in-the-loop environments
• Contribute to technical documentation including software design documents, interface control documents, and test procedures

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field
• 7+ years of experience in developing embedded software for space systems or similar mission-critical applications
• Demonstrated experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and embedded programming
• Proficiency in C/C++ programming languages
• Experience with flight software architecture design and implementation
• Knowledge of software development lifecycle processes for mission-critical systems
• Experience with version control systems (Git) and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines
• Familiarity with communication protocols used in spacecraft (CAN, I2C, SPI, RS-422/485)
• Experience with software testing methodologies for embedded systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or Aerospace Engineering
• Experience with NASA's Core Flight System (cFS) or similar flight software frameworks
• Knowledge of satellite communications systems and protocols
• Experience with high-throughput data processing systems
• Familiarity with optical inter-satellite link technologies
• Experience with Rust programming language for embedded systems
• Background in developing software for satellite constellations or distributed space systems
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing for spacecraft systems
• Knowledge of radiation-hardened computing environments and associated software considerations
• Experience with fault-tolerant computing and redundancy management
• Previous work on communication satellite systems or networks

Why Blue Origin

At Blue Origin, we're not just building the future of space exploration—we're revolutionizing global connectivity through our TeraWave satellite network. As a Satellite Software Developer III, you'll play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity and performance of our constellation of 5,408 satellites designed to deliver unmatched speeds up to 6 Tbps with symmetrical upload and download capabilities. Join us in our mission to provide enterprise-grade connectivity to locations unreachable by traditional methods, enabling critical operations for enterprise, data center, and government customers worldwide.

Join our team and be part of building a space-based network designed for tomorrow, where your expertise will directly contribute to creating a system that provides connectivity anywhere on Earth.

Compensation 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 (CDL drivers only), 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.

• 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.

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