Principal Satellite Flight Software Lead - 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!

Job Description:

This position is part of Blue Origin's TeraWave business unit, a newly announced satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. TeraWave consists of 5,408 optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO), providing enterprise-grade connectivity for critical operations.

We are seeking a Principal Satellite Flight Software Lead to provide technical leadership for TeraWave's Satellite Flight Software Subsystem. This role will be instrumental in developing robust, scalable flight software to support the growth of TeraWave into a 5,408-vehicle constellation. The ideal candidate is a hands-on flight software architect and technical lead who will shape software architecture, guide technical execution, drive cross-functional integration, and establish high standards for software quality, verification, security, and maintainability across the full flight software lifecycle.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead the architecture, design, development, and integration of core flight software for a next-generation satellite platform
• Serve as the technical lead for flight software development, driving implementation quality, engineering rigor, and execution across the software lifecycle
• Define scalable, reusable, and platform-independent flight software frameworks, services, and design patterns to support multiple spacecraft configurations and future growth
• Architect, develop, and evolve key flight software components including core services, command and data handling (C&DH), telemetry, health monitoring, and fault-management infrastructure
• Establish software architecture standards, coding guidelines, design patterns, and review practices to ensure maintainability, reliability, and mission readiness
• Partner closely with systems, avionics, GNC, communications, power, propulsion, thermal, payload and autonomy leads to translate vehicle and subsystem-level requirements into robust software implementations
• Lead software design reviews, code reviews, and technical trade studies related to performance, fault tolerance, redundancy, scalability, and portability
• Drive software integration, verification, and validation in software-in-the-loop (SIL), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and other mission-representative test environments
• Develop and improve software engineering infrastructure including build systems, CI/CD pipelines, automated test frameworks, and debugging/diagnostic tools
• Mentor software engineers and contribute to technical documentation including software architecture descriptions, interface control documents, verification plans, and test procedures
• Design and implement secure OTA software update capabilities for spacecraft, including validation, authenticated delivery, rollback, version control, and safe deployment in mission-critical on-orbit environments
• Ensure flight software architecture and implementation incorporate cybersecurity principles such as secure communications, access control, interface hardening, and resilient software design

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field
• 10+ years of experience developing embedded software for spacecraft or other mission-critical real-time systems
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ and Python
• Experience with RTOS-based embedded software development with Embedded Linux, VxWorks, or QNX
• Experience architecting and implementing complex flight software or mission-critical embedded software systems
• Demonstrated technical leadership across software design, implementation, and cross-functional integration
• Experience with software lifecycle, configuration management, CI/CD, and verification/validation practices for mission-critical systems
• Familiarity with communication protocols such as TCP/IP, UDP, CAN, I2C, SPI, and RS-422/485
• Experience applying secure software development and cybersecurity best practices in embedded or mission-critical systems
• Experience with embedded software testing methodologies

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field
• Experience with flight software frameworks such as core Flight System (cFS), F Prime, or similar
• Experience developing software for satellite constellations, distributed space systems, or networked embedded platforms
• Knowledge of satellite communications systems, spacecraft networking, and high-throughput data handling
• Experience with software-in-the-loop (SIL), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and integrated spacecraft test environments
• Experience with fault-tolerant computing, redundancy management, and resilient software architectures
• Knowledge of radiation-hardened computing environments and software considerations for spaceflight
• Experience with communication satellite systems, optical inter-satellite links, or related networking technologies
• Experience designing secure over-the-air (OTA) software update mechanisms for embedded or mission-critical systems
• Experience with software build systems, static analysis, code quality tooling, or automated verification frameworks for embedded systems

Why Blue Origin

At Blue Origin, we're building the future of space-based connectivity through the TeraWave satellite communications network. As a Principal Satellite Flight Software Developer, you will help define the software architecture, engineering rigor, and technical foundation for a large-scale satellite constellation delivering high-performance, resilient global communications. Join a team solving complex, mission-critical problems at the intersection of spacecraft, software, networking, and system integration.

Join our team and be part of building a space-based network designed for tomorrow, where your expertise will directly contribute to creating a system that provides connectivity anywhere on Earth.

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 atEEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.

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