Blue Origin

Principal Modem PHY IP Design Verification Engineer - Terawave

Blue Origin$269K — $376K *
Telecommunications & Hardware
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field.
  • 10+ years of experience in digital design verification, ASIC/SoC verification, or modem/baseband verification.
  • Strong experience with SystemVerilog and modern verification methodologies such as UVM.
  • Experience developing verification environments for complex DSP, modem, or communications IP.
  • Familiarity with multiple modem PHY areas like OFDM, synchronization, and MIMO/beamforming.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute verification strategies and plans for modem PHY IP.
  • Build and maintain verification environments for PHY IP using industry-standard methodologies.
  • Create testbenches, stimulus, checkers, and coverage models for modem PHY verification.
  • Verify key PHY IP functions, including modulation, synchronization, and FEC integration.
  • Collaborate with PHY teams to correlate RTL behavior against reference models.
  • Define and track coverage metrics to ensure verification completeness.
  • Support verification of performance-sensitive designs and document verification processes.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options.
  • Paid parental leave and short/long-term disability coverage.
  • 401(k) with up to 5% company match and education support.
  • Stock options available for regular employees working 20+ hours/week.
  • Up to four weeks of paid time off annually, plus company holidays.
Full Job Description
Application close date:
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

Blue Origin is pioneering the future of space-based communications with TeraWave, a revolutionary satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. This multi-orbit constellation will consist of optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO), providing enterprise-grade connectivity for critical operations worldwide.

We are seeking a Principal Modem PHY IP Design Verification Engineer to lead and execute verification of advanced modem PHY IP for the Terawave program. This role is responsible for developing robust verification strategies, building scalable verification environments, and ensuring high-quality modem PHY IP delivery for next-generation wireless ASIC platforms.

The ideal candidate combines strong digital design verification skills with a solid understanding of modem PHY and DSP systems. This engineer will work closely with PHY architects, RTL designers, systems engineers, firmware, FPGA, and validation teams to verify functionality, performance, and integration of modem PHY IP across simulation, emulation, prototyping, and silicon bring-up phases.

Responsibilities
• Develop and execute verification strategy and plans for modem PHY IP and subsystem-level integration.
• Build and maintain block-level and subsystem-level verification environments for PHY IP using industry-standard methodologies.
• Create testbenches, stimulus, checkers, scoreboards, assertions, and coverage models to verify modem PHY functionality and corner cases.
• Verify key PHY IP functions such as:

o modulation and demodulation

o timing and frequency synchronization

o channel estimation and equalization

o MIMO / beamforming support

o FEC integration

o control, configuration, and status interfaces

o impairment handling and recovery behavior
• Collaborate with PHY algorithm and architecture teams to correlate RTL behavior against floating-point, fixed-point, or bit-accurate reference models.
• Define and track functional, code, assertion, and scenario coverage to ensure verification completeness.
• Develop constrained-random and directed test strategies for feature, stress, and corner-case validation.
• Identify, debug, and root-cause design and integration issues in collaboration with RTL and architecture teams.
• Support verification of performance-sensitive designs with attention to throughput, latency, buffering, and protocol timing behavior.
• Contribute to regression automation, CI flows, and verification infrastructure improvements.
• Support subsystem integration, FPGA prototyping, emulation, and post-silicon debug as needed.
• Document verification plans, test results, coverage status, and quality metrics.
• Work effectively with internal engineering teams and external design service partners to drive verification closure.

Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in digital design verification, ASIC/SoC verification, or modem/baseband verification.
• Strong experience with SystemVerilog and modern verification methodologies such as UVM.
• Experience developing verification environments for complex DSP, modem, or communications IP.
• Familiarity with one or more of the following modem PHY areas:

o OFDM and/or single-carrier systems

o synchronization

o channel estimation and equalization

o FEC such as LDPC, Polar, Turbo, or BCH

o MIMO / beamforming

o fixed-point and quantized signal processing
• Experience with scripting and automation using Python, Perl, shell, or similar tools.
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills across RTL, testbench, and model correlation issues.
• Ability to work closely with design, architecture, and systems teams in a fast-paced development environment.

Preferred Qualifications
• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Signal Processing, Communications, or related field.
• Experience verifying modem PHY or baseband IP for:

o mmWave / sub-THz / Terahertz systems

o satellite or space communications

o 5G/6G systems

o high-throughput wireless backhaul or mesh systems
• Experience with MATLAB, C/C++, or Python-based reference models for algorithm correlation.
• Familiarity with assertions, formal verification, lint, CDC, RDC, and low-power verification methodologies.
• Experience with emulation, FPGA prototyping, and post-silicon validation/debug.
• Knowledge of RF/system impairments and their impact on modem PHY behavior, including phase noise, frequency offset, nonlinearities, and channel effects.
• Experience working with external IP vendors or design service partners.

Ability to operate effectively in an ambiguous, fast-moving development environment.

Base Pay Range for:
CA applicants is $269,175.00 - $376,843.95

Other site ranges may differ

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.
  • 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.
  • 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.


About Blue Origin

Blue Origin is an aerospace company that develops rockets and spacecraft for commercial and government customers. The company's products include the New Shepard suborbital vehicle and the New Glenn orbital rocket. Blue Origin was founded in 2000 by Jeff Bezos and is headquartered in Kent, Washington.
Learn more about Blue Origin
Size
3,000 employees
Industry
Founded
2000

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