Senior Director, Optical Communication - TeraWave

Application close date:

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

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! 

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.

About the Role

The Senior Director, Optical Communications Terminals leads the multidisciplinary engineering organization responsible for the architecture, development, qualification, production, and deployment of TeraWave optical communications terminals. This leader owns end-to-end technical and execution performance across optical, opto-mechanical, electro-optical, electronics, firmware, software, controls, systems engineering, test, and supplier engineering disciplines.

This role reports to the VP, Payloads and Terminals and partners closely with spacecraft, ground systems, mission operations, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and program management.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Own the technical architecture and product definition for TeraWave optical communications terminals
• Drive architecture decisions across all engineering disciplines and establish system-level performance, reliability, scalability, and manufacturability objectives
• Define and control interfaces between the optical terminal, spacecraft, ground infrastructure, and network
• Lead resolution of complex technical issues and cross-disciplinary tradeoffs
• Maintain the technical roadmap for future terminal generations

Program Execution

• Own engineering execution from concept through development, qualification, production, and deployment
• Establish clear technical milestones, identify critical-path activities, and surface schedule risks early
• Ensure technical risks have clear owners, mitigation plans, and escalation paths
• Drive disciplined design reviews, verification, validation, and qualification activities
• Partner with program management to establish realistic commitments and maintain execution accountability

Organizational Leadership

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary organization of engineering managers, senior technical leaders, and individual contributors
• Build an effective leadership structure with clear ownership and decision rights
• Establish engineering standards, processes, and operating mechanisms that provide timely visibility into organizational health
• Build a culture of technical rigor, accountability, early risk identification, and constructive escalation
• Recruit and retain exceptional engineering talent

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with spacecraft, ground systems, manufacturing, supply chain, mission operations, and network engineering to ensure effective integration and producible designs
• Represent optical terminal engineering in senior leadership and program reviews
• Resolve cross-organizational issues at the appropriate level

Supplier and Industrialization Leadership

• Establish technical relationships with strategic optical, photonic, electronic, mechanical, and semiconductor suppliers
• Define supplier technical performance requirements and qualification criteria
• Partner with manufacturing engineering to transition development designs into repeatable production processes
• Drive design-for-manufacturing, design-for-test, and design-for-reliability practices

Qualifications

Minimum

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, computer science, or related technical field
• 12+ years of engineering experience, with substantial experience leading complex multidisciplinary engineering organizations
• Experience developing sophisticated electro-optical, optical communications, aerospace, semiconductor, or similarly complex products
• Demonstrated ability to take products from architecture through development, qualification, production, and deployment
• Strong record of recruiting, developing, and retaining engineering talent
• Experience with suppliers, manufacturing, qualification, and production environments

Preferred

• Advanced degree in a relevant technical discipline
• Experience with optical and laser systems.
• Experience in space systems or high-reliability communications products

Blue Origin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite you to join a team of dedicated professionals committed to building a future where millions of people live and work in space.

Base Pay Range for:

WA applicants is $317,388.00 - $444,342.15

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, 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.
• 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.

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