Blue Origin

Senior Director - TeraWave RF Payloads

Blue Origin$253K — $355K *
Aerospace & Defense
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 12+ years in hardware and embedded systems development, with 8+ years in leadership roles.
  • Demonstrated success in moving complex connected hardware from prototyping to mass production.
  • Strong expertise in RF design, system integration, and production testing.
  • Experience collaborating with contract manufacturers for design transfer.
  • Proficient in Linux-based embedded platforms and firmware update mechanics.

Responsibilities

  • Lead teams in creating compact, rugged communications terminals.
  • Define product structure across multiple domains including RF and firmware.
  • Drive transitions from prototype development to high-volume production.
  • Collaborate with supply chain for component selection and design transfers.
  • Establish plans and milestones for risk management and cross-functional coordination.
  • Oversee system integration and validation for hardware and firmware.
  • Mentor a team of engineers while managing external partnerships.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and insurance coverage.
  • Paid parental leave and short/long-term disability support.
  • 401(k) plan with up to 5% company match.
  • Education Support Program available for professional growth.
  • Stock Options offered to all regular part-time and full-time employees.
  • Generous paid time off including up to four weeks plus 14 holidays.
Full Job Description

Application close date:

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

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We are seeking a Senior Director to lead the development of a next-generation satellite communications payload including the Phase Array Antenna and RF gateways, from concept through manufacturing transfer. This leader will own a multidisciplinary team responsible for hardware architecture and design development, embedded software development, systems integration, validation, and production readiness.

Responsibilities:

  • Lead hardware, embedded software, and systems engineering teams developing compact, rugged, high-performance communications terminals.
  • Define product architecture across RF, digital, power, thermal, mechanical, firmware, and manufacturing domains.
  • Drive execution from prototype to high-volume production, including design for manufacturability, testability, reliability, and cost.
  • Partner with manufacturing and supply chain teams to select components, qualify suppliers, and transfer designs to a contract manufacturer or develop assembly processes.
  • Establish program plans, technical milestones, risk management, and cross-functional coordination with operations, quality, and product management.
  • Own system-level integration, bring-up, debugging, and validation strategy for hardware and firmware.
  • Ensure embedded software supports secure boot, device provisioning, field updates, telemetry, diagnostics, and factory test.
  • Build and mentor a high-performing team of engineers and technical leads.
  • Manage external partners, including contract manufacturers, test labs, and specialist consultants.
  • Create and maintain engineering processes for requirements management, change control, verification, and release readiness.

Qualifications:

  • 12+ years of experience in hardware and embedded systems development, with at least 8 years leading technical teams.
  • Proven success bringing complex connected hardware products from prototype to mass production.
  • Strong background in RF design, embedded systems, board design, system integration, and production test.
  • Experience working with contract manufacturers and driving design transfer to manufacturing.
  • Experience with RF-enabled products, high-speed digital design, power electronics, thermal design, and ruggedized consumer or industrial hardware.
  • Experience with Linux-based embedded platforms, real-time constraints, boot flows, device provisioning, and firmware update mechanisms.
  • Strong understanding of reliability engineering, root cause analysis, and failure analysis.
  • Ability to lead across hardware, firmware, operations, and quality functions in a fast-paced environment.
  • Excellent communication and organizational skills, with a track record of delivering on aggressive timelines.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree in electrical, mechanical or software engineering, or related field.
  • Experience with satellite communications, antenna systems, phased arrays, or wireless networking hardware.
  • Background in secure hardware, cryptography, anti-tamper, or device identity systems.
  • Familiarity with regulatory and compliance requirements for consumer electronics and radio products.
  • Experience scaling production from low-volume engineering builds to millions of units.
  • Hands-on experience with manufacturing test development and factory yield improvement.

Compensation Range for:

CA applicants is $253,878.00 - $355,429.20 WA applicants is $253,878.00 - $355,429.20

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.

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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