Senior Wireless Software Engineer - MAC Layer - TeraWave - Blue Origin

Application close date:

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!

As a Senior Wireless Software Engineer for Spacecraft Systems, you will lead the design and implementation of a custom Media Access Control (MAC) layer for Blue Origin's groundbreaking TeraWave initiative.

You will build the logic that governs how satellites communicate with each other and with the ground, creating a system that matches or exceeds the custom protocols seen in leading commercial constellations. This is not a standard wireless implementation role—in the TeraWave network, the MAC layer is the core intelligence of the system.

This role requires close collaboration with PHY layer engineers and network architects to ensure the custom wireless stack delivers wire-like performance over space-based links, while addressing the unique challenges of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) environments.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Architect and implement high-performance, low-overhead MAC protocols tailored for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint satellite links within the TeraWave constellation

Develop sophisticated TDMA and demand-assigned multiple access (DAMA) schedulers to manage bandwidth across thousands of beams with microsecond precision

Implement robust error control, retransmission (ARQ), and adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) logic capable of reacting instantly to fading conditions and orbital transitions

Build software logic for seamless make-before-break handovers between satellites and ground stations operating in high-velocity orbital environments

Optimize the interface between the wireless MAC layer and high-speed packet processing engines such as DPDK and VPP, ensuring zero-copy data paths and minimal jitter

Design MAC layer architectures for constellation-scale deployments, ensuring efficient performance as the TeraWave network grows to thousands of satellites

Collaborate with PHY layer engineers and network architects to align custom wireless stack design with system-level TeraWave performance requirements

Drive technical decision-making related to MAC layer architecture, including framing strategies, contention versus scheduled access models, flow control, and QoS prioritization frameworks

Lead MAC protocol development through the full lifecycle, from custom state machine design and simulation through hardware integration and field testing

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field

7+ years of professional software development experience in wireless networking or embedded systems