Digital PCB Layout Engineer III - TeraWave

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 PCB Design Engineer III at Blue Origin, you will be responsible for designing high-performance printed circuit boards for our advanced communication systems, including beamforming ASICs, high-speed digital front-ends, and RF/microwave interfaces. Your designs will be the physical foundation that brings our digital communication systems to life, operating reliably in the extreme environment of space.

This role requires expertise in both high-speed digital design and RF/microwave PCB layout. You will work closely with digital designers, RF engineers, and mechanical engineers to create boards that meet stringent signal integrity, EMI/EMC, thermal, and space-qualification requirements. This is an opportunity to work on cutting-edge hardware that will enable the future of space communications.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Design multi-layer PCBs for complex digital and mixed-signal systems including FPGAs, ASICs, high-speed ADCs/DACs, and power management
• Develop PCB layouts for RF/microwave circuits with careful attention to impedance control, loss tangent, and electromagnetic compatibility
• Perform signal integrity analysis for high-speed digital interfaces (PCIe, JESD204B/C, DDR, Ethernet)
• Conduct power integrity analysis and design power distribution networks (PDN) for low-noise, high-current applications
• Create component libraries, design rule checks (DRCs), and maintain design standards
• Collaborate with electrical engineers on component selection, schematic review, and design optimization
• Generate fabrication and assembly documentation including Gerber files, drill files, and assembly drawings
• Work with PCB fabricators and CM vendors to ensure manufacturability and resolve fabrication issues
• Support board bring-up activities, debugging hardware issues related to PCB design
• Design for space environment considerations including thermal management, radiation tolerance, and mechanical stress

Minimum Qualifications:

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field with 5+ years of PCB design experience
• Proficiency with PCB design tools (Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro, or similar)
• Strong understanding of signal integrity principles for high-speed digital design (transmission lines, termination, crosstalk)
• Experience with controlled impedance design and working with PCB stackup optimization
• Knowledge of EMI/EMC best practices and design guidelines
• Familiarity with IPC standards (IPC-2221, IPC-6012, IPC-A-610)
• Experience with PCB layout for FPGAs, high-speed ADCs/DACs, or mixed-signal designs

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with RF/microwave PCB design using high-frequency laminates (Rogers, Taconic, etc.)
• Knowledge of power integrity analysis tools (e.g., Ansys SIwave, Cadence Sigrity)
• Familiarity with thermal analysis tools and thermal management techniques for high-power electronics
• Experience designing for space environment (vacuum, thermal cycling, radiation, vibration)
• Understanding of design for manufacturing (DFM) and design for test (DFT) principles
• Knowledge of conformal coating, potting, and other space-qualification techniques
• Previous experience with aerospace or satellite PCB designs
• Familiarity with MIL-STD or NASA standards for PCB design

Compensation Range for:

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 (CDL drivers only), 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.

• 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 [email protected]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.

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