Blue Origin

Sr. Test Engineer - Spacecraft Integration (Space Resources)

Blue Origin$145K — $203K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field.
  • 8+ years of relevant experience in test engineering or systems verification, ideally in aerospace or aviation.
  • Proven experience in developing and executing test plans for flight or high-reliability hardware.
  • Hands-on experience with thermal vacuum and environmental test equipment.
  • Strong understanding of electrical and mechanical assembly, testing, and measurement instrumentation.
  • Competence in reading and interpreting engineering documents like blueprints and schematics.
  • Experience with root-cause analysis and failure investigation methodologies.

Responsibilities

  • Define and develop test plans, procedures, and verification criteria for satellite hardware.
  • Lead environmental test campaigns, overseeing execution and data analysis.
  • Translate system requirements into verifiable test parameters and ensure comprehensive test coverage.
  • Guide AIT technicians in test setup and execution while maintaining quality oversight.
  • Conduct hands-on troubleshooting and root cause analysis of spacecraft systems.
  • Drive corrective actions with hands-on involvement in test re-runs.
  • Review and approve test procedures in line with aerospace best practices.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options.
  • Paid parental leave and short/long-term disability coverage.
  • 401(k) plan with company match up to 5%.
  • Education support program to further professional development.
  • Stock options available for all regular employees (20+ hours/week).
  • Generous paid time off, including up to four weeks per year and up to 14 company-paid holidays.
Full Job Description

Application close date:

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

We invite you to be a part of our Space Resources Program. This initiative is at the forefront of developing In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) technologies, destined for the Moon and beyond to prospect, extract, and manufacture infrastructure from in-situ space resources. If you're passionate about our mission and are looking to make a meaningful contribution, you might just be the ideal candidate to join our innovative and forward-thinking team.

In this hands-on role, you will be based entirely on-site, working directly in the lab alongside our interdisciplinary design and integration teams. We are looking for a highly skilled and experienced Sr. Test Engineer to own test planning, execution, and verification for satellite and subsystem integration campaigns with a hands-on attitude. You will define test requirements and procedures, lead qualification and acceptance testing, drive root-cause investigations on test anomalies and failures, and partner closely with AIT technicians, design engineers, and program leadership to rapidly converge on flight-ready hardware. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment and is comfortable making credible technical calls with incomplete data while balancing technical risk, schedule pressure, and evolving program needs.

Responsibilities

  • Define, develop, and own test plans, procedures, and verification criteria for development, integration, qualification, protoflight, and acceptance testing of satellite and space flight hardware.
  • Lead thermal vacuum (TVAC), vibration, and other environmental test campaigns, including hands-on test setup review, execution oversight, real-time monitoring, and data analysis.
  • Translate system and subsystem requirements into verifiable test requirements and ensure full test coverage and traceability.
  • Direct and support AIT technicians during test setup, execution, and troubleshooting, providing hands-on technical guidance and quality oversight on the lab floor.
  • Perform hands-on troubleshooting, failure investigation, and root cause analysis of complex mechanical, electrical, and integrated spacecraft systems.
  • Drive corrective and preventive actions to closure, with hands-on involvement in test re-runs and verification.
  • Review and approve work instructions, test procedures, and non-conformance dispositions in alignment with aerospace test and integration best practices.
  • Develop and maintain automation scripts, data acquisition procedures, and analysis tools (using Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or similar) to streamline test execution, data reduction, and anomaly detection.
  • Analyze test data and generate test reports, summarizing results, anomalies, and recommendations for program stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with design, thermal, and subsystem leads to resolve integration issues and ensure producible, testable designs.
  • Support development and production activities on space systems and satellites with a pragmatic, right-sized documentation approach appropriate for a rapid-development program.
  • Partner with the area supervisor and program leads to align on weekly testing priorities, schedule risks, and resource needs.
  • Generate and review job hazard assessments; establish safety controls and ensure adherence to safety and quality standards throughout test operations.
  • Identify and remove technical or process blockers impacting daily and weekly testing goals, escalating as needed to keep the program on schedule.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement of test infrastructure, tooling, and processes to reduce cycle time and increase test throughput.
  • Maintain full familiarity with flight hardware deployment procedures and support hands-on integration of flight hardware, including fluid and propulsion systems, star trackers, radios, instrumentation, flight computers, harnesses, and solar array panels.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 8+ years of relevant experience in test engineering, integration and test (I&T), or systems verification, preferably in aerospace, aviation, or a related field.
  • Demonstrated experience developing and executing test plans and procedures for flight or high-reliability hardware.
  • Hands-on experience with thermal vacuum chambers and environmental test equipment.
  • Strong understanding of electrical and mechanical assembly, bench testing, and measurement instrumentation.
  • Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, schematics, and wiring diagrams.
  • Experience with root-cause analysis and failure investigation methodologies.
  • Ability to lead test execution and technician teams with minimal oversight, exercising sound engineering judgment under schedule pressure.
  • Comfortable operating with reduced process rigor and documentation typical of rapid-development missions, while maintaining core safety and quality standards.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience generating test reports and presenting results to technical stakeholders.
  • Experience scheduling work and coordinating competing priorities using Jira or similar tools.
  • Willingness to work overtime and weekends as needed; comfort spending significant time on the lab floor hands-on with hardware and test systems.
  • Able to lift 30 lbs, stand for long periods, bend, grasp, sit, pull, push, stoop, and stretch as required for the position.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master's degree in a relevant engineering field.
  • Prior experience supporting small-sat, or rapid-prototype satellite programs where speed and resourcefulness outweigh heavy process overhead.
  • Experience with requirements management and verification tools (e.g. Jama).
  • Familiarity with MRP systems and inventory planning.
  • Experience writing automation scripts or test software using Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or similar languages/tools to automate test execution, data logging, or anomaly detection.
  • Familiarity with data acquisition (DAQ) systems, instrumentation automation, and test control software.
  • Experience with high thermal condition testing and complex electro-mechanical systems.
  • Experience mentoring or training AIT technicians.

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.


Base Pay Range for:

CA applicants is $145,188.00 - $203,263.20

Other site ranges may differ

About Blue Origin

Blue Origin is an aerospace company that develops rockets and spacecraft for commercial and government customers. The company's products include the New Shepard suborbital vehicle and the New Glenn orbital rocket. Blue Origin was founded in 2000 by Jeff Bezos and is headquartered in Kent, Washington.
Learn more about Blue Origin
Size
3,000 employees
Industry
Founded
2000

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