Senior Solar Array Regulator Responsible Engineer – 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.As part of theTeraWaveSpacecraft Bus Electrical Power Subsystem team, you will serve as the Responsible Engineer (RE) for the Solar Array Regulator (SAR). You will own the full product lifecycle from requirements definition through qualification and production release, delivering flight-quality hardware at constellation scale. The SAR is a critical EPScomponentresponsible for regulating solar array power input to the spacecraft bus, and must be designed for high efficiency, thermal robustness, and reliable operation across the full range of on-orbit illumination conditions.TeraWave'sproduction rate of thousands of units demands designsoptimizedfor manufacturability, testability, and cost — not just performance. You will balance traditional space-grade reliability with aggressive cost and schedule targets that differ fundamentally from flagship mission approaches.
- Ability to travel to and work at remote sites supporting test integration, commissioning, and training (~20% travel)
- Own the full design, development, qualification, and production release of the Solar Array Regulator, including requirements derivation, circuit design, schematic capture, layout oversight, and design verification
- Define andmaintainhardware requirements, interface control documents (ICDs), and design specifications in coordination with systems engineering and adjacent subsystems (thermal, structures, harness, avionics, and solar array)
- Lead solar array regulation circuit design — including sequential switching shunt regulators (S3R), peak power tracking (PPT) or maximum power point tracking (MPPT) topologies, bus voltage regulation, and protection circuits — for a high-voltage spacecraft power bus
- Characterize solar array electrical performance across illumination angles, temperature ranges, and eclipse/sun transition scenarios to inform SAR design margins and control algorithms
- Design for constellation-scale production:optimizefor manufacturability, testability,componentavailability, and unit cost while meeting reliability and performance requirements
- Define thermal dissipation requirements for shunt elements and work with thermal engineering to ensure adequate heat rejection across all operating modes
- Own qualification testing per applicable standards (MIL-STD-1540, SMC-S-016, or equivalent), including test plan development, execution oversight, and anomaly resolution
- Guide and transition Automated Test Equipment from development to production, ensuring adequate fault coverage and solar array simulation capability for rate manufacturing
- Serve as the technical authority for the SAR during vehicle integration, troubleshooting anomalies and supporting flight acceptance testing
- Manage andmaintainfull design documentation including schematics, PCB layouts, BOMs, drawings, and analysis reports within the PLM system
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Computer Engineeringor related field with 7+ years of direct experience in electronics hardware development
- Demonstrated design experience with solar array regulation topologies (shunt regulation, S3R, MPPT/PPT), spacecraft power bus architectures (regulated, unregulated, or semi-regulated), and high-voltage electronics (>50V)
- Experience with solar array electrical modeling, I-V curve characterization, and interface definition between solar array panels/strings and power regulation hardware
- Experience designing to EMI/EMC requirements (MIL-STD-461 or equivalent) including conducted emissions, radiated emissions, and susceptibility
- Experience designing fault-tolerant power electronics for high-reliability applications, including FMEA/FMECA participation and single-point failure elimination
- Experience leading or significantly contributing to hardware qualification campaigns per MIL-STD-1540, SMC-S-016, ECSS-E-ST-10-03, or equivalent
- Experience with radiation-tolerant or radiation-hardened design techniques for space environments, includingcomponentselection, shielding analysis, and total ionizing dose (TID) considerations
- Demonstrated ability to own a hardware product end-to-end with minimal oversight — from requirements through qualification and production release
- Hands-on experience with the understanding of full product development lifecycle of electronics hardware
- 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.
- Graduate degree in electrical or aerospace engineering or a related field
- 9+ years of recent electronics or power systems development for hardware used in harsh or space environments
- Experience with solar array simulators and associated test equipment for qualification and production acceptance testing
- Experience with high-rate production electronics manufacturing — DFM/DFT optimization, production test development, yield improvement
- Familiarity with eclipse/sun transition power management, battery charge integration, and interaction between SAR and downstream power management hardware
- Strong understanding of electronics design and integration with mechanical systems for structural and thermal support, particularly for high-dissipation shunt elements
- Experience using Altium (or similar tools) for schematic capture and layout
- Experience usingLTspice(or similar tools) for circuit simulations
- Experience with Windchill PLM or equivalent configuration management systems
- Experience with safety-critical systems development (automotive, aerospace, medical, etc.)
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team on rapid development programs
- Highly organized team player with excellent technical communication skills (written and verbal)
Base Pay Range for:
WA applicants is $156,802.00 - $219,522.45Don’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.
Description
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering or related field with 7+ years of direct experience in electronics hardware development
- Demonstrated design experience with solar array regulation topologies (shunt regulation, S3R, MPPT/PPT), spacecraft power bus architectures (regulated, unregulated, or semi-regulated), and high-voltage electronics (>50V)
- Experience with solar array electrical modeling, I-V curve characterization, and interface definition between solar array panels/strings and power regulation hardware
- Experience designing to EMI/EMC requirements (MIL-STD-461 or equivalent) including conducted emissions, radiated emissions, and susceptibility
- Experience designing fault-tolerant power electronics for high-reliability applications, including FMEA/FMECA participation and single-point failure elimination
- Experience leading or significantly contributing to hardware qualification campaigns per MIL-STD-1540, SMC-S-016, ECSS-E-ST-10-03, or equivalent
- Experience with radiation-tolerant or radiation-hardened design techniques for space environments, including component selection, shielding analysis, and total ionizing dose (TID) considerations
- Demonstrated ability to own a hardware product end-to-end with minimal oversight — from requirements through qualification and production release
- Hands-on experience with the understanding of full product development lifecycle of electronics hardware
- 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.
Base Pay Range for
WA applicants is $156,802.00 - $219,522.45
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.
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