Principal Optical Communications Architect

🕒 May 29

🏢🏡 null – Hybrid

💵 $160.6k - $237.5k / year

⏰ Full Time

🔴 Lead

🗣️ Communications

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BLUE ORIGIN

WebsiteLinkedInAll Job Openings

10,000+ employees

💰 Grant on 2021-12

Blue Origin was founded by Jeff Bezos with the vision of enabling a future where millions of people are living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. In order to preserve Earth, Blue Origin believes that humanity will need to expand, explore, find new energy and material resources, and move industries that stress Earth into space. Blue is working on this today by developing partially and fully reusable launch vehicles that are safe, low cost and serve the needs of all civil, commercial and defense customers.

📋 Description

• Serve as the principal technical authority for space-based optical communications (lasercomm) architecture within the Blue National Security Business Unit. • Lead the architectural design and development of free-space optical (FSO) communications systems, conducting comprehensive analysis of alternatives to determine optimal design choices and system configurations. • Perform detailed trade studies, simulations, and prototyping efforts to verify design approaches and de-risk key technology items across the full system lifecycle — from formulation and development through AI&T and on-orbit operations. • Define and develop end-to-end optical communications system architectures, including space-to-space (OISL), space-to-ground, and ground-to-space link configurations across LEO, MEO, GEO, and cislunar regimes. • Develop deep, subsystem-level expertise in optical communications terminal (OCT) design, including pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) systems, optical telescopes, laser sources, and high-rate modems. • Define spacecraft accommodation requirements for optical terminals, including field-of-regard analysis, thermal management, structural integration, power, and EMI/EMC interface requirements. • Establish and maintain link budgets, error analyses, and end-to-end performance models to validate system designs and support mission planning. • Evaluate civil, commercial, and national security optical communications architectures to inform Blue Origin's strategic positioning and technology roadmap. • Work closely with internal and external customers to define capabilities needed to meet mission objectives, and support related strategy development, including go-to-market planning for optical communications systems. • Identify and mitigate "make or break" technical risks through rigorous analysis and validation of flight-like hardware, and evaluate manufacturability and producibility of novel components such as low-cost telescopes and lasercomm terminals. • Collaborate with program managers, systems engineers, and business development teams to translate technical capabilities into compelling proposals and customer solutions. • Engage with government customers, program offices, and industry partners to understand mission requirements and shape future optical communications programs. • Author and review technical documents, white papers, trade studies, and proposals related to optical communications systems. • Provide technical mentorship and guidance to engineers across the organization, and represent Blue Origin at technical conferences, industry forums, and government engagements.

🎯 Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline • 12+ years of progressive, hands-on experience in space-based optical communications systems, with demonstrated expertise in lasercomm terminal design and end-to-end system architecture • Deep, subsystem-level knowledge of free-space optical (FSO) communications terminal design, including PAT systems, optical apertures, laser sources, and high-rate modems • Demonstrated experience defining spacecraft accommodation requirements for optical terminals, including field-of-regard, thermal, structural, and interface constraints • Proficiency in optical link budget analysis and end-to-end performance modeling across multiple orbital regimes • Experience across multiple lifecycle phases of space systems development, including formulation, prototyping, manufacturing, AI&T, and on-orbit operations • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to conduct detailed trade studies and risk assessments • Familiarity with civil, commercial, and national security optical communications architectures and programs • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts clearly and persuasively to both technical and non-technical audiences • 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.

🏖️ 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% • Education Support Program • Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week) • Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.