Payload Software Engineer - TeraWave

BLUE ORIGIN • Seattle, WA

1d

About The Position

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 is part of TeraWave, a satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. This network will service tens of thousands of enterprise, data center, and government users who require reliable connectivity for critical operations. We are seeking a Payload Software Engineer to develop network automation software for our revolutionary TeraWave satellite communications network. This role will be instrumental in creating the software systems that enable our constellation to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps globally. The ideal candidate brings expertise in embedded systems, network protocols, and distributed systems, thriving in a fast-paced environment where innovation meets mission-critical execution.

Requirements

• B.S. degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in embedded software development for space or telecommunications systems
• Proficiency in C/C++, Python, or other languages relevant to embedded and network systems
• Experience with real-time operating systems and embedded software development
• Understanding of networking protocols and distributed systems
• Knowledge of software development lifecycle and configuration management
• Experience with software testing methodologies and tools

Nice To Haves

• Experience with satellite communications systems or payload software
• Knowledge of software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV)
• Familiarity with optical communications and related protocols
• Experience with high-throughput data processing systems
• Background in developing fault-tolerant, radiation-hardened software
• Understanding of cybersecurity principles for space systems
• Experience with FPGA programming or hardware acceleration techniques
• Knowledge of machine learning applications for network optimization

Responsibilities

• Design and develop flight software for satellite payload systems, focusing on network automation and communication protocols
• Create robust software solutions for Q/V-band RF and optical communication payloads across LEO and MEO satellites
• Implement algorithms for autonomous network routing, load balancing, and fault recovery across the constellation
• Develop software interfaces between payload subsystems and the satellite bus
• Design and implement software for real-time data processing and transmission at speeds up to 6 Tbps
• Create simulation environments to validate payload software functionality prior to deployment
• Collaborate with hardware engineers to optimize software-hardware integration
• Develop and maintain software documentation, including requirements, design specifications, and test procedures
• Implement software security measures to protect communication integrity across the network
• Participate in code reviews, software integration testing, and anomaly resolution
• Support on-orbit software updates and maintenance operations

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level