Digital Hardware Design Engineer III - 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!  

As a Digital Hardware Design Engineer III at Blue Origin, you will be responsible for the electrical design and development of complex mixed-signal printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) for our next-generation space communication systems. You will own the complete board-level design process from architecture and component selection through schematic capture and signal integrity analysis, ensuring that our beamforming ASICs, digital front-ends, and software-defined radio systems meet stringent performance requirements for space applications.

This is a hands-on hardware engineering role focused on translating system requirements into robust, manufacturable circuit designs. You will work at the intersection of high-speed digital design, RF/microwave engineering, and power systems, selecting components and creating schematics for boards that must operate reliably in the harsh space environment. This position offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge hardware that will enable revolutionary space communication capabilities aboard Blue Origin spacecraft.

Responsibilities:

• Design complete board-level electrical systems including power distribution, high-speed digital interfaces, clock generation/distribution, and analog signal conditioning
• Perform component research, evaluation, and selection with consideration for performance, availability, qualification status, radiation tolerance, and cost
• Create detailed electrical schematics using industry-standard ECAD tools, ensuring design for manufacturability, testability, and reliability
• Conduct signal integrity analysis for high-speed interfaces (PCIe Gen3/4, JESD204B/C, DDR4, 10/25/100/200GbE) using simulation tools
• Perform power integrity analysis and design robust power distribution networks (PDNs) for FPGAs, ASICs, and high-speed data converters
• Design clock distribution networks with careful attention to jitter, phase noise, and timing margins
• Specify and design impedance-controlled transmission lines for digital and RF signals
• Analyze crosstalk, EMI/EMC, and grounding/shielding strategies for mixed-signal boards
• Collaborate with PCB designers on stack up definition, routing constraints, and layout guidance
• Generate and maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs), managing component lifecycle and obsolescence
• Support board bring-up, debugging hardware issues, and conducting design validation testing
• Create test plans and procedures for board-level functional verification
• Interface with DSP engineers, FPGA designers, and systems engineers to translate requirements into hardware specifications
• Conduct design reviews and generate technical documentation

Minimum Qualifications:

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field with 5+ years of PCB design experience
• Proficiency with PCB design tools (Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro, or similar)
• Strong understanding of signal integrity principles for high-speed digital design (transmission lines, termination, crosstalk)
• Experience with controlled impedance design and working with PCB stackup optimization
• Knowledge of EMI/EMC best practices and design guidelines
• Familiarity with IPC standards (IPC-2221, IPC-6012, IPC-A-610)
• Experience with PCB layout for FPGAs, high-speed ADCs/DACs, or mixed-signal designs

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with RF/microwave PCB design using high-frequency laminates (Rogers, Taconic, etc.)
• Knowledge of power integrity analysis tools (e.g., Ansys SIwave, Cadence Sigrity)
• Familiarity with thermal analysis tools and thermal management techniques for high-power electronics
• Experience designing for space environment (vacuum, thermal cycling, radiation, vibration)
• Understanding of design for manufacturing (DFM) and design for test (DFT) principles
• Knowledge of conformal coating, potting, and other space-qualification techniques
• Previous experience with aerospace or satellite PCB designs
• Familiarity with MIL-STD or NASA standards for PCB design

Compensation Range for:

Other site ranges may differ

Culture 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 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.

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.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blue’s Standard Background Check

• Required for Certain Job Profiles:  Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation

• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing (CDL drivers only), vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.

• Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

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.

• 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. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

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 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. 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, sex, 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 “Know Your Rights,” 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 [email protected]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.

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