Test Engineer III (Early Product life cycle Development Testing)

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!  

This role is part of Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin’s mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design.

You will own the design and execution of first-principles-driven experiments and tests that validate critical technologies before they are integrated into flight systems. This is a hands-on, lab-centric role for someone who enjoys solving open-ended physics and engineering problems, building novel test rigs, and rapidly learning from data.

We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead early-life-cycle technology de-risking:

  • Translate ambiguous performance and reliability questions into testable hypotheses and structured test plans.
  • Identify key physics and engineering risks (thermal, electrical, materials, vacuum, contamination) and design experiments to de-risk them early.
  • Apply first-principles reasoning to bound expected behavior and define success criteria.

• Design and operate tests in extreme environments:

  • Own the setup, operation, and maintenance of test systems for high-voltage, high-current, high-temperature hardware in vacuum and inert gas environments.
  • Develop and execute tests involving high-power electrical components, high-temperature materials, joints, and coatings, including thermal cycling and long-duration high-temperature exposure.
  • Implement and validate safety interlocks, grounding, shielding, and safe operating envelopes for high-energy systems.

• Develop test architecture, procedures, and safety documentation:

  • Lead the development, documentation, and continuous improvement of test plans, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), and test readiness checklists.
  • Conduct and lead Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs), ensuring all systems and subsystems satisfy technical and safety requirements.
  • Champion Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) best practices for high-voltage and high-temperature testing in vacuum and inert gas environments.

• Design and build hardware and test fixtures:

  • Design, analyze at appropriate fidelity, and assemble custom test fixtures and experimental hardware to support unique R&D test campaigns.
  • Select materials and processes suitable for high temperature and vacuum/argon exposure (e.g., refractory metals, ceramics, seals, feedthroughs, insulators, brazes, welds, adhesives).
  • Create and review CAD models and drawings and coordinate fabrication with internal or external machine shops.

• Manage instrumentation, controls, and data acquisition:

  • Specify and integrate sensors and instrumentation (such as thermocouples, RTDs, pyrometers, pressure gauges, flow meters, voltage and current probes).
  • Configure and operate data acquisition (DAQ) and basic control systems for automated or semi-automated testing.
  • Modify existing DAQ/control scripts (e.g., LabVIEW, Python, or similar) to support new test needs, custom sequences, or safety logic.

• Troubleshoot and perform failure analysis:

  • Diagnose issues in custom and commercial test systems (hardware, wiring, software, vacuum, thermal performance) using a methodical, physics-based approach.
  • Perform root cause and failure analysis on test anomalies, including post-test and post-flight inspection and data review.
  • Translate findings into design updates, test improvements, or new requirements for flight-like systems.

• Collaborate and communicate across disciplines:

  • Work closely with mechanical, electrical, materials, and systems engineers to align test objectives with product requirements.
  • Clearly communicate test methods, limitations, and results to a broad engineering audience, including uncertainty quantification and comparison to models.
  • Mentor and guide team members in test operations, safety practices, and first-principles problem solving.

• Support laboratory operations:

  • Oversee the installation, operation, and maintenance of vacuum chambers, furnaces, high-current power supplies, and associated test infrastructure.
  • Manage laboratory chemical and material waste, coordinating proper disposal procedures with EHS.
  • Maintain a clean, organized, and safe lab environment suitable for frequent R&D iteration.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science/Engineering, Metallurgy, Physics, or a closely related field.
• 5 years of hands-on laboratory or test experience in one or more of the following:
  • High-temperature testing (furnaces, heaters, thermal cycling, or thermal vacuum).
  • Vacuum chamber or inert gas (e.g., argon) test operations.
  • High-voltage and/or high-current power systems and associated safety practices.
• Demonstrated experience designing and executing first-principles-driven experiments or tests (e.g., defining hypotheses, sizing hardware from physics, estimating margins).
• Experience planning and executing assembly/disassembly and commissioning sequences for complex test setups or rigs.
• Advanced proficiency in drafting and updating SOPs, JHAs, and detailed test documentation.
• Hands-on experience with:
  • Data acquisition systems and sensors (temperature, pressure, voltage, current, etc.).
  • Troubleshooting and maintaining lab instruments and equipment.
• Basic proficiency with CAD tools for designing test fixtures and experimental setups.
• Familiarity with safety standards for high-voltage/high-current systems, vacuum operations, and high-temperature equipment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to present data and tradeoffs clearly.
• Proven, self-directed problem solver with attention to detail and a strong bias for safe, high-quality execution.
• Ability to lift or move lab equipment up to 40 lbs as needed.
• Ability to work on extended hours and late shifts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Materials Science/Engineering, metallurgy, or Physics.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in early product development, R&D testing, or advanced technology maturation in aerospace or similar high-consequence industries.
• Experience with In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) technologies, power/thermal systems, or other aerospace subsystems.
• Hands-on experience with:
  • High-temperature materials (refractory metals, ceramics, composites) and thermal analysis (steady-state and transient).
  • Materials and process selection for vacuum and inert gas environments (outgassing, contamination, insulation, sealing, joining).
  • High-voltage test setups including interlocks, creepage/clearance, and arc/flash mitigation.
• Ability to write or modify control/DAQ scripts in Python, LabVIEW, or C/C++.
• Experience designing mechanical and/or electromechanical systems and mechanisms for test or flight.
• Demonstrated experience with environmental testing (thermal vacuum, vibration, thermal cycling) for space missions, including applicable standards or best practices.
• Experience conducting formal root cause analyses (e.g., 5-Whys, fishbone diagrams, FMEA) for test anomalies.
• Proven ability to lead complex test campaigns and work effectively across multiple disciplines (mechanical, electrical, materials, systems, operations).

 

Compensation Range for:

CA applicants is $121,023.00 - $169,432.20

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 [email protected]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.