RF Systems FPGA Engineer II - Lunar Permanence

Job Title

RF Systems FPGA Engineer II - Lunar Permanence

Role Summary

Design and implement FPGA-based digital signal processing and control for radio and radar subsystems used on lunar landers. Work on requirements, RTL implementation, simulation, hardware bring-up, and testing as part of a multi-discipline team (RF, antenna, DSP, embedded software, hardware).

Experience Level

Mid-level (Engineer II). The posting specifies 3+ years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

Own digital design from algorithm concept through flight-ready implementation and verification.

• Design and simulate end-to-end systems to meet performance targets (range, SNR, link budgets).
• Translate DSP and RF requirements into synthesizable RTL and FPGA architectures.
• Model and simulate waveforms and detection algorithms in MATLAB/Simulink and support code generation.
• Analyze computational complexity and hardware resource needs (FPGA fabric, memory, I/O).
• Optimize FPGA DSP architectures for sensitivity, SNR/clutter performance, and RF calibration.
• Perform RTL implementation, FPGA prototyping, and hardware bring-up alongside hardware engineers.
• Execute hardware-in-the-loop, bench-level, and integrated RF testing.
• Participate in requirements, design, test-readiness, qualification, and acceptance reviews.
• Collaborate cross-functionally on device selection (FPGA, ADC/DAC, memory, flash) and system integration.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills, tools, and eligibility criteria derived from the posting.

• Minimum 3+ years relevant experience in FPGA design and/or DSP implementation.
• Experience implementing DSP algorithms on FPGAs and/or embedded processors.
• Proficient with MATLAB/Simulink or an equivalent modeling environment.
• Proficient in RTL (SystemVerilog preferred; Verilog/VHDL acceptable) and FPGA development flows.
• Strong understanding of FPGA concepts: CDC, constraints, STA, and timing closure.
• Familiarity with high-speed interfaces: IEEE 802.3, XAUI, PCIe, JESD204B/C, I2C, SPI.
• Experience with FPGA toolchains (Xilinx Vivado, Microchip Libero, Synopsys Synplify Pro, Intel Quartus) and simulators (ModelSim/QuestaSim).
• Experience writing testbenches and using verification techniques (UVM/OVM, SV assertions, coverage).
• Hands-on experience with lab test equipment (oscilloscopes, logic/protocol analyzers, signal generators, power supplies, multimeters).
• Experience with Git or another modern version-control system and CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong technical communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Eligibility requirement: U.S. person (U.S. citizen, permanent resident/Green Card holder, refugee, or asylee) due to export-control regulations.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical field is required. A Master of Science in electrical/computer engineering, digital signal processing, mathematics, or a related field is preferred. (The posting lists degrees and related technical fields as the education baseline.)

About the Company

Company: Blue Origin

Headquarters: Kent, Washington, United States

Blue Origin is an American aerospace company developing technologies for spaceflight, including reusable launch vehicles, orbital and suborbital systems, and space infrastructure for commercial and government customers.