Senior Solid-State Power Amplifier (SSPA) Engineer – Lunar Permanence

BLUE ORIGIN

. Serve as Box Responsible Engineer for solid-state power amplifier assemblies .

Posted 9/29/2026full-timeUnited StatesSenior💰 $144,179 - $219,522 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in RF/microwave hardware development, including box-level architecture, integration, and testing. Proficient in leading cross-functional teams and managing complex hardware projects while ensuring compliance with industry standards.

Highest-signal resume keywords

RF/Microwave Hardware DevelopmentBox-Level ArchitecturePower Supply DesignEmbedded Software DevelopmentTechnical Leadership

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Power Conditioning DesignControl/Digital Card DesignSSPA IntegrationValidation and VerificationEMI/EMC DesignFMEARadiation-Hardened Component SelectionNetwork AnalyzersSignal GeneratorsTest Automation

Soft Skills

Problem-SolvingEffective CommunicationInterdisciplinary CollaborationMentoring

Tools & Technologies

ADSHFSSCSTMicrowave OfficeSPICEPLECSSimulink

Industry Keywords

Space-Grade HardwareHigh-Reliability RF HardwareLunar Communication StandardsConfiguration ManagementRequirements Management

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

AssemblyDAC

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serve as Box Responsible Engineer for solid-state power amplifier assemblies
Own box-level architecture, requirements decomposition, interfaces, power/thermal/mass/RF-performance budgets, and verification
Lead card-level Responsible Engineers across RF/power amplifier, power conditioning/supply, and control/digital domains, plus embedded software developers
Drive schedules, technical decisions, design maturity, and cross-card technical trades
Flow down system-level communication requirements to card-level specifications
Negotiate and control internal and external interface control documents and resolve technical trades
Lead box-level design reviews, trade studies, risk management, and architecture decisions
Own SSPA integration and test campaigns, including test plans, bench bring-up, debugging, environmental and qualification testing, and anomaly disposition
Define and execute box-level validation and verification for RF performance, power supply behavior, grounding, thermal performance, multipaction, EMI/EMC, and command/telemetry functions
Partition functionality across RF, analog, digital, and software domains
Collaborate with systems engineering, mission planning, thermal, mechanical, structures, harness, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams
Support supplier and vendor technical management
Mentor junior engineers and help build a multidisciplinary hardware team
Prepare and present technical reports, design review packages, and project status updates

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related discipline
Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience developing RF/microwave hardware
Working knowledge of power supply and power conditioning design, including DC-DC converter topologies, EMI filtering, regulation, protection, load transients, and efficiency
Working knowledge of control/digital card design, including microcontroller- or FPGA-based control, telemetry and command interfaces, ADC/DAC, and serial buses such as SPI, I2C, and RS-422/485
Embedded software/firmware development and hardware-software interface experience
Experience as a box, assembly, or product-level Responsible Engineer or equivalent technical lead for an integrated multi-card unit through integration and test
Experience with space-grade or high-reliability RF hardware, radiation-tolerant and radiation-hardened component selection, and derating practices
Hands-on experience with network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, power meters, oscilloscopes, electronic loads, and box-level test automation
Ability to lead complex hardware development projects from concept through production
Excellent problem-solving skills
Effective communication and interpersonal skills with interdisciplinary leadership and collaboration experience
Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident/current Green Card holder, or lawfully admitted refugee or asylee
Preferred: advanced degree in electrical engineering or related discipline
Preferred: SSPA experience for space, aviation, defense, or satellite communications, including EPC integration
Preferred: familiarity with ADS, HFSS, CST, Microwave Office, SPICE, PLECS, or Simulink
Preferred: knowledge of digital communication systems, spread spectrum, carrier techniques, PSK, APSK, and QAM
Preferred: understanding of thermal and radiation effects on RF and power electronics in space environments
Preferred: familiarity with lunar/deep-space communication standards such as CCSDS and DSN/LunaNet
Preferred: reliability analysis experience, including FMEA, worst-case circuit analysis, derating, and parts stress analysis
Preferred: EMI/EMC design and qualification to standards such as MIL-STD-461
Preferred: familiarity with configuration management, requirements management, and PLM tools

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Basic and supplemental life insurance
Paid parental leave
Short- and long-term disability
401(k) with company match of up to 5%
Education Support Program
Stock options for all regular employees working at least 20 hours/week
Up to four weeks of paid time off per year based on weekly scheduled hours
Up to 14 company-paid holidays
Potential benefits and bonuses based on role type, job level, individual contributions, and company results; not guaranteed