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 system performance
• Experience developing high-level plans for end-to-end integrated system tests occurring throughout a program's lifecycle
• Familiarity with NIST Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability (CIA Triad) standards to maintain Moderate to High information security
• Familiarity with data framing and space-to-ground security data protocols (i.e. CCSDS) to support security data link layer and routing capabilities
• Outstanding customer relationship skills including the ability to discover the requirements underlying feature requests, recommend alternative technical and business approaches, and lead engineering efforts to meet ambitious timelines with optimal solutions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience developing in-space network planning and scheduling tools and on-board routing algorithms.
• Experience modeling, simulating, and analyzing networks to assess utilization, latency, and capacity statistics and identify bottlenecks
• Experience designing space vehicle and terrestrial network architecture, including IP routing, gateways, VPNs, NAT, and other critical networking concepts
• Experience designing and characterizing gimballed communications systems
• Experience implementing IP protocols over conventional Space to Ground (ex. CCSDS, IPSec) links
• Ability to define command and telemetry database processes capturing space to ground interfaces and exchanges, and lead element level teams in implementation and management of critical space to ground interfaces

Inclusivity 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 a diverse, inclusive, and 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.
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.
Discretionary bonus: Bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results.
Eligibility for benefits varies by role type, please check with your recruiter for a comprehensive list of the benefits available for this role.
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, diverse, 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, in which all employees recognize and appreciate the diversity of individual team members. 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, gender, 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 "EEO Is the Law," 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 EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com .
California Applicant Privacy Notice
If you are a California resident, please reference the CA Applicant Privacy Notice here .