Application close date:
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.
Blue Origin is pioneering the future of space-basedconnectivitywithTeraWave, a revolutionary satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6Tbpsanywhere on Earth.This network will service tens of thousands of enterprise, data center, and government users who require reliable connectivity for critical operations.
Job Description
This role is part of TeraWave, Blue Origin's satellite communications network. TeraWave optical payloads include the Optical Inter-Satellite Link (OISL) terminals that carry data across the constellation. These terminals must meet tight pointing, jitter, and optical performance requirements on orbit, and they must be built and tested at constellation scale.
As Optical Test Manager, you will lead the development test team in Development Labs. Development owns test engineering and test definition, and this team builds the v0 test stations that Ops can use as delivered or adapt for the production flow at Hutto. You will own the development test architecture, the v0 stations, the qualification test plans, and the data that shows new designs meet their requirements before release to production. This is a hands-on technical leadership role. You will manage people, and you will also be expected to understand PAT, jitter, wavefront, and environmental test well enough to make good calls on test strategy, station design, and priorities.
This position requires on-site work at Redmond, WA, with occasional travel to Hutto, TX to support station handoff.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Manage the team of test engineers, including recruiting, hiring, onboarding, mentoring, performance evaluation, and career development.
- Own development test architecture and test definition for TeraWave optical payloads, from component and subsystem test through terminal-level assembly and verification.
- Lead development of automated v0 test stations integrating wavefront sensing, imaging, reflectometry, and in-house electronics and software, and hand them off to Ops with the documentation and requirements traceability needed to adapt them for production.
- Define and execute qualification test plans for new components and design changes: test flows, data processing and review, cross-functional approvals, and release to production.
- Lead PAT performance and jitter test, including space-simulation and disturbance-rejection testing to characterize residual jitter under simulated on-orbit conditions.
- Own environmental and thermal screening strategy, including powered thermal cycling and TVAC test development, with a focus on screening strength and cycle time.
- Plan development test capacity across benches and stations so qualification and design-change testing stays ahead of program need; identify constraints early and resolve them.
- Design test methods and requirements with testability and production transfer in mind, and support Ops when production adapts development stations or methods.
- Work with design, PAT, Ops, and program leadership to align test strategy and qualification priorities with program objectives.
- Scope, assign, and track work across the team so each team member has a clear, prioritized workload and milestones are met.
- Drive a culture of safety and rigor in the lab, including laser safety, configuration management of test systems, and traceable test data.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent experience.
- 6+ years of hands-on experience in optical or electro-optical test, integration, or qualification of precision hardware.
- 2+ years of experience leading engineering teams, including hiring and directing the work of engineers, either as a people manager or as the technical lead accountable for a team's delivery.
- Experience developing automated optical test stations, including instrument control, data processing, and transfer to production.
- Experience planning and executing qualification test campaigns, including test plans, data review, and release to production.
- Experience with environmental test of optical hardware, such as thermal cycling, TVAC, or vibration.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to align test strategy with senior technical and program leadership.
- 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.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree or PhD in Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience with free-space laser communication terminals or inter-satellite links.
- Experience with pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) systems, fast steering mirrors, and jitter characterization.
- Experience transferring development test stations or methods to a production team.
- Experience with wavefront sensing, interferometry, and optical metrology.
- Experience using test data to drive supplier corrective actions.
- Familiarity with laser safety program requirements (ANSI Z136) and cleanroom and contamination control standards.
- Demonstrated experience with or strong interest in using automation or AI tools to improve test productivity.
Base Pay Range for:
WA applicants is $188,453.00 - $263,833.50
Other site ranges may differ
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.
