Principal Communications Architect (R39893)

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 diverse team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!  

The role is part of the In-Space Systems business unit, which is focused on the development, manufacturing, and operation of satellite systems to address one of the most compelling challenges in spaceflight today: space mobility. As part of a hardworking team of diverse specialists, technicians, and engineers, you provide leadership across organizations, working end-to-end across payload, vehicle, and ground elements to define advanced secure communications solutions.

The Principal Communications Architect is responsible for end-to-end system design from a communications perspective and cradle-to-grave oversight of the solution lifecycle. You will be the primary interface to stakeholders for all communications-related topics, including coordination of capability roadmaps, development of system-level requirements, definition of interfaces between space elements, ground elements, and external systems, and fostering implementation, integration, and test activities. 

We’re looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality; to join our team and positively impact the future of space. Passion for our mission and vision is required. Successful candidates will have a technical background, be detail-driven, and have excellent problem-solving abilities. You should be passionate about delivering extensible, timely solutions while contributing to the development of high-performance teams through meticulous goal-setting, disciplined attention to performance metrics, and continuous process improvement. 

If you’re excited about providing near-term value, solving novel problems, learning about exciting topics, and completing challenging activities, please apply! 

Special Mentions 

• Relocation provided  

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:  

• Collaborate with customers, team members, systems engineering, architecture, hardware, and software teams to ensure cross-functional deliverables are identified and tracked 

• Design and develop an end-to-end communication system architecture that details how architectural elements are developed, constructed, deployed, and maintained across Space and Ground elements 

• Coordinate and provide direction across diverse engineering teams to successful project execution by offering solutions that are imaginative, thorough, predictable, and consistent with organizational objectives 

• Develop and implement security policies and procedures for spacecraft systems 

• Establish goals and metrics to find opportunities to deliver customer solutions to cost, performance, and schedule requirements 

• Serve as a communication system focal throughout the program lifecycle as systems are developed, championing the conceptual vision and adapting it to reality 

• Mentor and train across the program to ensure approach, philosophy, and technology are understood and implemented, so they provide required capabilities and value to our customers 

Minimum Qualifications  

• B.S. in Aerospace, Software, Electrical, Mechanical, Physics, Systems Engineering, or related technical subject area  

• 10+ years of Technical Experience developing Space Communications systems and their ground systems 

• 10+ years of Technical Experience in the Communications domain, spanning the complete OSI stack. Including but not limited to communications theory, frequency and bandwidth selection, modulation, encoding, transport protocols and standards (including CCSDS), application protocol and packet definition (file transfer, commanding, telemetry, command assurance), and communications security. 

• Proficient with communication standards and protocols including modulation formats, channel coding, and advanced waveforms (e.g. DVB-S2, 5G NR, spread sprectrum, etc.) 

• Experience leveraging government communications standards and technologies (e.g. SCN) 

• Strong skills with tools used in communications access modeling and contact analysis (experience using STK or similar tools to support site selection, mission satisfaction, etc.) 

• Strong background developing communication system CONOPs, requirements, and interface description documents to flow to element level teams 

• Strong experience developing communications link budgets to predict link closure, link quality, and effective data rates. Ability to identify and manage risks against