Chief Systems Architect - TeraWave

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! 

We are a mission-driven team of collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers relentlessly committed to a culture of safety. As part of a passionate and accomplished team of engineers, you will directly impact the future of space flight and help us make progress towards our mission of building advanced optical communications for space. Join us in advancing our vision of revolutionizing space-based communications to benefit Earth!

As a Chief Systems Architect, you will provide independent oversight across our Laser Communications & Optical Systems Program to ensure overall technical compliance across the development and operational lifecycle. The selected candidate requires strong engineering and collaboration skills that will be applied across all technical aspects of the program to help generate optimal solutions that support the imposed requirements and architecture. In a fast-paced exciting environment, you will contribute to innovative solutions, while demonstrating personal leadership, technical judgement and competence, and a passion for the highest technical standards partnering with the business unit and engineering leadership to achieve program goals.

In this role, you will act as the independent technical authority for the TeraWave Constellation Program, providing architectural assessments of requirements, design, risks, budget, and schedule with the Program Manager and product owners. Identify gaps between requirements, design, manufacturing, operations and facility solutions with project teams on practical solutions across the life-cycle. Assess and disposition aggregate technical risks across optical communication systems and components. Assess and approve technical completion and compliance at major program and element technical reviews.

Provide engineering leadership and mentoring to coordinate design, analysis, and systems engineering processes throughout development, verification, delivery and operation of laser communication systems. Provide independent review of corrective actions for major failures at the program/product level and work with functional managers in addressing systemic issues. Facilitate technical trades and advise teams on solutions for optical communications architectures. Collaborate with other members to assess and implement engineering process health and compliance with standards for products and programs. Represent the Company and project with key customers and partners. We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and dedication to quality to positively impact advanced space communications systems. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

• B.S. in an engineering-related field, with 15+ years of design, development or analysis experience
• Demonstrated experience in full life-cycle development of aerospace optical systems and photonics
• Experience in the development of laser communications, optical systems, or satellite communications
• Experience designing, deploying and supporting one or more complete optical communication systems or systems of similar complexity
• Highly organized teammate with excellent technical written and verbal communication skills
• Proven track record of operating with cohesive and effective teams and drive decision making within those teams
• Experience with development in mission and safety-critical environments
• Ability to travel and/or temporary duty in support of growing tempos of production and operations

• Proven experience as a Chief Engineer in aerospace or optical communications development programs
• Leadership experience in photonics, laser systems, or fiber optics development environments
• Knowledge of free-space optical principles and space-based communication systems
• Experience with optical measurement, testing, and performance characterization
• Security clearance SSBI (Single Scope Background Investigation) is desired but not required

Compensation Range for:

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.