Senior Wireless Software Engineer – MAC Layer

BLUE ORIGIN

Senior Wireless Software Engineer leading MAC layer design for TeraWave initiative. Building protocols for satellite communication in an innovative satellite network across Earth.

Posted 7/24/2026full-timeGreater Seattle Area • California, Washington • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $248,830 - $348,361 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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

Expertise in architecting and implementing high-performance MAC protocols for satellite communications, with a strong focus on TDMA, DAMA, and robust error control mechanisms. Proven ability to optimize wireless MAC layer interfaces and lead protocol development through the full lifecycle.

Highest-signal resume keywords

C ProgrammingC++ ProgrammingWireless MAC FundamentalsEmbedded Systems DevelopmentLinux Real-Time Operating Systems

ATS Keywords

Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills

MAC Protocol ArchitectureTDMA Scheduler DevelopmentError Control ImplementationAdaptive Modulation and CodingBandwidth ManagementState Machine DesignHardware IntegrationField TestingQoS PrioritizationFlow Control

Soft Skills

Technical Decision-MakingCollaboration

Tools & Technologies

DPDKVPP

Industry Keywords

Wireless NetworkingSatellite CommunicationsPoint-to-Point LinksPoint-to-Multipoint LinksConstellation-Scale Deployments

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

LinuxRTOS

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Architect and implement high-performance, low-overhead MAC protocols tailored for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint satellite links within the TeraWave constellation
Develop sophisticated TDMA and demand-assigned multiple access (DAMA) schedulers to manage bandwidth across thousands of beams with microsecond precision
Implement robust error control, retransmission (ARQ), and adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) logic capable of reacting instantly to fading conditions and orbital transitions
Build software logic for seamless make-before-break handovers between satellites and ground stations operating in high-velocity orbital environments
Optimize the interface between the wireless MAC layer and high-speed packet processing engines such as DPDK and VPP, ensuring zero-copy data paths and minimal jitter
Design MAC layer architectures for constellation-scale deployments, ensuring efficient performance as the TeraWave network grows to thousands of satellites
Collaborate with PHY layer engineers and network architects to align custom wireless stack design with system-level TeraWave performance requirements
Drive technical decision-making related to MAC layer architecture, including framing strategies, contention versus scheduled access models, flow control, and QoS prioritization frameworks
Lead MAC protocol development through the full lifecycle, from custom state machine design and simulation through hardware integration and field testing.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field
7+ years of professional software development experience in wireless networking or embedded systems
Mastery of C and C++ in Linux real-time (RTOS) or high-performance user-space environments
Deep understanding of wireless MAC fundamentals, including framing, contention versus scheduled access, flow control, and QoS prioritization
Demonstrated experience with the full lifecycle of a wireless protocol stack, from architectural design through hardware integration and field testing.

Benefits

Comp & perks

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%
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.