Blue Origin

Senior Satellite Simulation & Test Software Engineer - TeraWave

Blue Origin$197K — $276K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
  • 10+ years of experience in spacecraft software or embedded software development
  • Proven experience in simulation environment architecture for flight or embedded systems
  • Skills in leading complex software system technical architecture
  • Understanding of deterministic lockstep simulation design
  • Strong programming skills in C, C++, and Python
  • Experience with software lifecycle and CI/CD practices

Responsibilities

  • Design, develop, and implement simulation software for flight software verification
  • Collaborate with teams to create a versatile simulation environment for various tests
  • Engage with engineers to clarify software requirements and subsystem interfaces
  • Develop simulation models for diverse operational scenarios
  • Participate in software integration and verification testing
  • Support on-orbit operations and troubleshooting of spacecraft
  • Mentor junior engineers and aid in their technical development

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work on pioneering satellite communications technology
  • Collaborative environment with experienced engineers
  • Mentorship opportunities
  • Engagement in varied testing environments including hardware-in-the-loop
  • Contribution to significant projects impacting space-based communications
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 Satellite Simulation and Test Software Engineer IV/Sr to design, develop, and verify simulation environments and models for testing TeraWave’s satellite flight software subsystem. This role will be instrumental in software validation to support the expansion of TeraWave into a 5,408-vehicle constellation. The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer who can think independently and work in collaboration with subject matter experts to build a practical, scalable, flexible simulation environment.  This person will have experience with spacecraft command and data handling (C&DH), telecommand and telemetry processing, hardware I/O interfaces, and the physics of spacecraft systems.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

  • Design, develop, and implement simulation software for testing and verifying TeraWave's flight software.
  • Collaboration with test team leads to develop a simulation environment that can be deployed on multiple platforms to support software-only test, HWIL test, real-time environment tests, and spacecraft AI&T
  • Collaborate with hardware, systems, and autonomy engineers to understand software requirements, interfaces, and behavioral boundaries across subsystems
  • Develop and integrate simulation environments and models to test FSW across a range of nominal and off-nominal operational scenarios
  • Participate in software integration, verification, and validation testing including software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environments
  • Background support of on-orbit operations and troubleshooting of deployed spacecraft
  • Mentor junior engineers and contribute to team technical development

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field
  • 10+ years of experience in spacecraft software, simulation software, or embedded software development
  • Proven experience with architecture and development of simulation environments for flight or embedded systems
  • Demonstrated ability to lead the technical architecture of a complex software system
  • Understanding of deterministic lockstep simulation design coupling algorithms with representative models, with consideration of synchronization and repeatability
  • Some knowledge of GN&C sensor and actuator suite modeling (e.g. IMU, star tracker, magnetometer, reaction wheel assembly, magnetic torque rods)
  • Strong programming skills in C, C++, and Python
  • Solid understanding of Object-Oriented problem solving and software layering to facilitate modularity and reuse
  • Experience with software unit testing frameworks such as Google Test or equivalent for embedded C/C++ environments
  • Experience with inter-process communication (IPC) mechanisms including sockets, shared memory, message queues, or publish-subscribe middleware
  • Experience with software lifecycle, configuration management (Git), CI/CD, and containerized environments
  • Experience with verification/validation practices for mission-critical embedded software systems
  • Understanding of flight software/hardware interfaces including discrete I/O, TCP/IP, UDP, CAN, I2C, SPI, and RS-422/485
  • Familiarity with static analysis tools and flight software coding standards such as MISRA C/C++
  • 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.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field
  • Experience with simulation environments such as NASA’s Trick
  • Knowledge of orbital mechanics and propagation models
  • Familiarity with CCSDS standards for spacecraft telecommand and telemetry processing
  • Some experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS) such as Linux, QNX, VxWorks, RTEMS or equivalent
  • Experience with onboard time management, precision timing interfaces, or GPS-disciplined time synchronization
  • Familiarity with NASA cFS software architecture
  • Familiarity with spacecraft FDIR (Fault Detection, Isolation, and Response) concepts

Base Pay Range for:

CA applicants is $197,529.00 - $276,539.55 CO applicants is $181,626.00 - $254,275.35 WA applicants is $197,529.00 - $276,539.55

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.

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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