Reflector/Feed Antenna Engineer - 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! 

You will lead the design and development of high‑frequency reflector antenna systems that form the core of Blue Origin’s in‑space communication architecture. This role owns the antenna system end‑to‑end—from concept and architecture through analysis, simulation, fabrication, and flight qualification. You will make decisions that directly determine deep‑space and LEO constellation communication performance.

• Reflector Architecture — Lead design and trade studies for high‑gain reflector systems (Cassegrain, Gregorian, Offset‑fed) meeting strict gain, beamwidth, and sidelobe requirements at E‑band.

• Feed System Development — Own the mm‑Wave feed chain, including corrugated horns, OMTs, and diplexers supporting dual‑circular polarization for 71–76 GHz (downlink) and 81–86 GHz (uplink).

• EM Simulation — Model large‑aperture performance using PO/GTD tools (GRASP/TICRA) and full‑wave solvers (HFSS/CST), optimizing spillover, illumination, and aperture efficiency.

• Tolerance & Sensitivity — Perform mechanical and thermal sensitivity analyses on surface RMS error, feed alignment, vertex offsets, and structural deformation.

• Cross‑Functional Integration — Work with Mechanical and Thermal teams to select low‑CTE materials and manufacturing processes that preserve RF performance in space environments.

• Test & Verification — Define test plans and lead anechoic‑chamber characterization of flight hardware, focusing on axial ratio, isolation, and high‑frequency gain patterns.

• Vendor & Build Management — Interface with specialized E‑band fabrication vendors, ensuring manufacturability and guiding hardware from EM concept to flight‑ready configuration.

• Education — B.S. in Electrical Engineering with 5+ years RF antenna experience, or M.S./Ph.D. with 3+ years.

• Electromagnetics — Deep understanding of EM theory applied to reflector geometries and aperture efficiency optimization.

• Design Leadership — Demonstrated ownership of a reflector or complex feed‑system program from concept through hardware delivery.

• Simulation Tools — Proficiency with PO/GTD tools (TICRA/GRASP) and 3D full‑wave solvers (HFSS, CST).

• Feed Chain Expertise — Experience designing dual‑CP feed systems with strong axial‑ratio and isolation performance.

• mm‑Wave Testing — Familiarity with 70+ GHz measurement techniques, including far‑field/near‑field testing and waveguide‑band VNA calibration.

• Advanced Degree — Ph.D. in EE with focus on mm‑Wave EM, antennas, or quasi‑optics.

• E‑Band Flight Heritage — Experience designing hardware for 71–76 / 81–86 GHz space systems, including thermal‑stability considerations.

• Component‑Level Specialization — Expertise with OMTs, septum polarizers, corrugated horns, and high‑rejection diplexers.

• Tolerance & POGO Analysis — Demonstrated ability to analyze reflector surface RMS and feed alignment sensitivities.

• Advanced Manufacturing — Experience with CNC micro‑milling, diffusion bonding, or additive manufacturing for E‑band components.

• Material Science — Knowledge of low‑CTE materials (Invar, graphite‑cyanate ester) and their RF behavior across extreme thermal gradients.

Base Pay 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.