Senior Optical Systems Design Engineer – Optical Ground Terminals - TeraWave

Overview

We are seeking a Lead Optical Systems Architect to join our Optical Ground Terminal team. You will shape the future of laser communication systems from concept through operational activities. This role encompasses the comprehensive development of the product line, from initial prototyping to production, ensuring technical rigor and operational success. Your leadership will set the standard for new capabilities and a growing range of customer missions.

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. This role is part of Tera Wave, a satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth, servicing tens of thousands of enterprise, data center, and government users who require reliable connectivity for critical operations.

The Emerging Systems business unit is pioneering the future of space-based communications with Tera Wave, a multi-orbit constellation of 5,408 optically interconnected satellites in LEO and MEO providing enterprise-grade connectivity for critical operations worldwide.

Special Mentions:
Relocation assistance may be available;
Travel up to 20% for field testing, customer meetings, and technical reviews.

• Optical System Architecture & Design:
  Lead the architectural design and technical direction for ground optical communications systems including large telescope and gimbal assemblies, high-power and low-noise optical fiber amplifiers, pointing, acquisition, and tracking systems, adaptive optics, and atmospheric turbulence mitigation. Conduct trade studies and lead modeling, analysis, and performance simulations with tolerance and stray light analysis. Collaborate on end-to-end characterization from architecture to field testing.

• Contribute to technology roadmap planning and provide technical oversight for subsystem development and integration
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, software, and thermal engineers on interdisciplinary design challenges
• Develop system requirements, specifications, performance budgets, error budgets, and interface control documents balancing performance, cost, and schedule
• Develop Con Ops, calibration/alignment procedures and commissioning plans
• Support design for assembly and manufacturability; help develop automation strategies for optical system alignment, calibration, and operational procedures

• MS or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field
• 10+ years of experience in optical systems engineering with progressive responsibilities
• Demonstrated expertise in free-space optical communication ground systems
• Proficiency with optical design tools (Zemax, Code V, etc.)
• Experience with large-aperture telescope systems and pointing requirements
• Advanced knowledge of mode-matching techniques and optimization of free-space to/from single-mode fiber coupling efficiency
• Adaptive optics, wavefront sensing, and wavefront correction techniques
• Atmospheric absorption and scattering impacts on optical space-to-ground and ground-to-space links
• Familiarity with fiber optic coupling challenges and solutions
• Experience with infrared cameras and sensors for tracking
• Experience with optical loss and throughput budgets, STOP analysis, and precision pointing
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams

• 15+ years of experience with progressive leadership
• Space-to-ground optical communications experience
• Lead engineer on similar programs
• Experience with CAD platforms (Solid Works, CREO, etc.)
• Atmospheric optical turbulence theory and compensation; AO control systems experience
• Experience taking a laser communication system from lab to field with link performance analysis and hardware validation
• Knowledge of optical amplifier technologies (EDFA, EYDFA, Raman)
• Adaptive optics techniques such as multi-plane light conversion and photonic lanterns
• Coherent optical communications principles; optical metrology and testing
• Publications on atmospheric effects for space-to-ground links
• Optical coatings and high power fiber lasers experience
• Program management experience for large optical system development

We are driven by Gradatim Ferociter, meaning "Step by Step, Ferociously." You will contribute to advanced laser communication systems enabling high-speed data transfer between Earth and space.

This position balances theoretical optical principles with practical engineering and system integration challenges. If your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification, we encourage you to apply.

CA applicants: $ - $; WA applicants: $ - $

May differ by site.

Blue Origin is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We hire based on qualifications, performance, and abilities and…