Director - TeraWave PoP Infrastructure

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. We are seeking a Director, TeraWave PoP (Point of Presence) Infrastructure to lead the strategic design, delivery, and operational success of our next-generation networking infrastructure. You will not just manage software; you will architect a high-performance organization capable of engineering systems that handle terabits of traffic with surgical precision. This role requires a leader who understands the mechanics of ultra-low-latency networking at a deep, kernel-level depth but operates primarily by scaling teams, fostering technical excellence, and aligning complex engineering workstreams with the broader TeraWave mission. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership: Define and own the multi-year technical roadmap for our PoP infrastructure. Translate high-level mission goals into actionable architectural strategies, balancing performance, reliability, and cost. Organizational Scaling: Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of engineers and managers. Foster a culture of technical rigor, continuous learning, and "infrastructure as code" principles. Architectural Oversight: Partner with Principal Engineers to ensure the underlying networking architecture (including DPDK/VPP-based fast paths and IP networking stacks like BGP/OSPF) meets our performance requirements. Make high-level trade-off decisions that span cross-functional domains. Operational Excellence: Drive the operational strategy for five-nines reliability. Implement observability, automated remediation, and testing frameworks that ensure our infrastructure can scale globally. Cross-Functional Partnership: Act as the primary liaison between the PoP team and partner organizations (e.g., RF, satellite systems, and ground stations). Define clear interfaces and align engineering timelines across the program. Performance Advocacy: Instill a culture where performance bottlenecks are treated as systemic challenges to be systematically solved, influencing hardware-software interface decisions for the entire TeraWave program. Minimum Qualifications: Leadership Experience: 10+ years of experience in software engineering, with at least 5 years managing managers or leading large, complex engineering organizations. Networking Expertise: Deep technical foundation in high-performance networking, Software Defined Networking (SDN), and L2/L3 protocols (BGP, OSPF, MPLS). Technical Vision: Demonstrated ability to lead the design and implementation of large-scale, distributed infrastructure projects that require sub-millisecond precision. Strategic Mindset: Proven ability to manage budgets, set organizational goals, and align technical work with business and program objectives. Collaborative Spirit: Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional executives, Principal Engineers, and non-technical stakeholders. Desired Qualifications: Direct experience with DPDK, VPP, or Linux kernel networking stack optimizations. Experience building and operating critical infrastructure for Tier-1 ISPs, cloud providers, or massive-scale distributed constellations. Understanding of hardware-software co-design and performance engineering. A strong passion for the Blue Origin mission and the future of space exploration. Compensation Range for: WA applicants is $233,934.00 - $327,506.55 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. Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week) 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 View email address on click.appcast.io. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request. We’re committed to building the road to space so our children can build the future. We are a mission-driven company focused on ideas and innovation, and encourage fresh perspectives from bold voices. At Blue, our team is building the future as their unique selves. Thank you for your interest in working at Blue Origin! Blue Origin was founded with a vision to enable a future where millions of people are living and working in space to benefit Earth. In order to preserve Earth, Blue Origin believes in the need to enable humanity to expand, explore, find new energy and material resources, and move industries that stress Earth into space. Blue Origin believes it has an important role in building a road to space and lowering the cost of getting there. At Blue Origin, we’re working on this today by developing fully reusable launch vehicles and systems that are safe, reliable and affordable. Every launch vehicle is designed for human spaceflight from the beginning and able to ferry payloads to space. California Applicant Privacy Notice