Mechanical Integration Technician III Hardware

Front Door Defense; Town of Texas, Northern (WI, KY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Blue Origin in Van Horn, TX seeks a Mechanical Integration Technician III to lead hands-on assembly, testing, and integration of propulsion test stands with engineers. You will operate test facilities, perform maintenance, and support readiness activities in a fast-paced, highly technical environment.

Relocation assistance is provided for eligible candidates. The role requires safety-focused work with heavy equipment and high-consequence systems; flexibility for overtime and shift work is

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 3+ years hands-on experience in industrial facilities, test ops, aerospace or similar high-consequence environments.
• OR 2+ years with technical trade school / associate degree.
• Experience with fluid/pneumatic or propellant systems and basic troubleshooting.
• Proficiency with common mechanical tools and equipment.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, schematics, and P&IDs.
• Comfort around heavy equipment (cranes, forklifts).
• Strong commitment to safety around high pressure and hazardous materials.
• Lift up to 50 pounds; work in confined spaces; overtime possible.
• US citizen or permanent resident for export control requirements.

Responsibilities

• Operate test facility systems under procedures and supervision.
• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on valves, piping, pumps, regulators and actuators.
• Inspect and repair facility components to maintain readiness.
• Update maintenance records and configuration documentation.
• Assist installation, alignment and removal of test articles and fixtures.
• Support mechanical, fluid and electrical connections between test articles and systems.
• Participate in test readiness activities and inspections.
• Collaborate with engineers on design changes and upgrades.
• Install, calibrate and troubleshoot instrumentation like pressure transducers and thermocouples.
• Assist with sensor wiring and basic electrical diagnostics.
• Support integration and verification of control and data acquisition systems.
• Read engineering drawings and P&IDs to ensure correct build.
• Follow safety procedures, lockout/tagout and hazard controls.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of procedures and workflows.
• Plan and execute builds with engineers and operators; provide status updates.

Skills

Hands-on experience

2+ years technical training

Fluid/pneumatic systems

Mechanical tools

Engineering drawings read

Heavy equipment safety

Overtime flexibility

Education

High school diploma or GED

Technical trade school / Associate degree

Tools

Torque wrenches

Tube benders

Flare fittings

Pipe threading

Hand and power tools

SolidWorks

Inventor

Job description

Mechanical Integration Technician III

Lead hands-on assembly, testing, and integration of propulsion test stands with engineers

Location: Van Horn, Texas

About The Role

Technician

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 Blue Origin Operations, which is comprised of Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance. This includes Manufacturing and Supply Chain support across all Blue Origin facilities.

As a Technician on this team of a new program with Engines, you will play a direct, hands-on role in building and operating complex test infrastructure, executing integration activities, and maintaining safe, reliable facility performance. Your work will directly influence test readiness, schedule execution, and the success of development milestones in a fast-paced, highly technical environment.

Special Mentions:

• Relocation provided
• Work Schedule: 16 days on / 12 days off rotational schedule. Flexibility to work weekends, holidays, and varying shift days is required.
• Interviews will include a technical assessment

Van Horn Specific Information

Being at the heart of Blue Origin operations, the West Texas Site in Van Horn, TX offers eligible employees additional attractive financial incentives to supplement their competitive base earnings, including a living allowance and relocation assistance. Eligibility for these additional benefits is based on the employee's ability to permanently relocate to Van Horn, TX, or travel to Van Horn from another Blue location a minimum of 50% of the time.

Responsibilities:

• Operate test facility systems, including pneumatic, hydraulic, and propellant distribution systems, under established procedures and supervision.
• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on valves, piping, pumps, regulators, actuators, and related support equipment.
• Inspect, troubleshoot, and repair facility components to maintain readiness and reliability.
• Update maintenance records, logs, and configuration documentation accurately and in a timely manner.
• Assist in the installation, alignment, and removal of component test articles, fixtures, and support hardware.
• Support mechanical, fluid, and electrical connections between test articles and facility systems (e.g., propellant lines, pneumatics, instrumentation harnesses).
• Participate in test readiness activities, including leak checks, functional checks, and pre-/post-test inspections.
• Collaborate with engineers to implement design changes, upgrades, and improvements to test stands and support systems.
• Install, calibrate, and troubleshoot instrumentation such as pressure transducers, thermocouples, flow meters, and strain gauges.
• Assist with sensor wiring, routing, and termination, including connector assembly and basic electrical diagnostics (continuity checks, voltage checks).
• Support the integration and verification of control and data acquisition systems per engineering instructions.
• Assist with layout, fabrication, and installation of piping, structural supports, brackets, and test fixtures.
• Perform basic machining and fabrication tasks (cutting, grinding, drilling, threading, fitting) using common shop tools.
• Support welding activities (e.g., preparation, fit-up, post-weld clean-up); candidates with welding certifications may perform structural or process piping welds as appropriate.
• Read and interpret engineering drawings, P&IDs, and work instructions to ensure correct build and installation.
• Follow all safety procedures, lockout/tagout practices, and hazard controls for high-pressure, cryogenic, and hazardous fluid systems.
• Participate in safety walkdowns, hazard assessments, and incident/near-miss reviews; proactively identify and report unsafe conditions.
• Adhere to configuration control, quality standards, and documentation requirements for all work performed.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of procedures, tooling, and workflows to enhance safety, efficiency, and reliability.
• Work closely with engineers, operators, and other technicians to plan and execute builds, maintenance, and test operations.
• Provide clear status updates, communicate issues promptly, and contribute to problem-solving discussions.
• Support occasional cross-site activities, special projects, and facility upgrades as program needs evolve.

Requirements (Minimum Qualifications)

• High school diploma or GED.
• 3+ years of relevant hands-on experience in one or more of the following: industrial facilities, test operations, aerospace/aviation maintenance, petrochemical, power generation, or similar high-consequence environments.
• OR 2+ years of relevant experience with completion of a technical trade school, military technical training, or associate degree in a related field (e.g., industrial maintenance, welding, machining, mechatronics).
• Demonstrated experience working with fluid/pneumatic or propellant-like systems (e.g., high-pressure gas, fuel, cryogenic, or hydraulic systems), including basic troubleshooting and maintenance.
• Proficiency with common mechanical tools and equipment (e.g., torque wrenches, tube benders, flaring tools, pipe threading, hand and power tools).
• Ability to read and interpret basic engineering drawings, schematics, and P&IDs.
• Comfort working around and supporting operation of heavy equipment (overhead cranes, forklifts, rigging) under established procedures and training.
• Strong commitment to working safely in environments involving high pressure, high energy, and hazardous materials.
• Ability to:
• Lift and carry up to 50 pounds regularly.
• Work on ladders, scaffolding, and elevated platforms.
• Stand, bend, kneel, or work in confined spaces for extended periods as required by tasks.
• Ability to work overtime, off-shifts, weekends, and on-call support as needed to meet test and build schedules.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident (lawful permanent resident/green card holder) and able to satisfy applicable export control and access requirements.

Desired Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in test facilities, test operations, or similar high-performance test environments.
• Experience with cryogenic fluids, propellants, or other hazardous/pressurized media, including leak detection and safe handling practices.
• Hands-on experience with:
• TIG welding (stainless steel, aluminum, or nickel alloys) and/or structural welding with relevant certifications.
• Precision tube fabrication (stainless tubing, orbital welding, flare fittings).
• Basic machining (manual mill/lathe) and custom fixture fabrication.
• Familiarity with CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Inventor) sufficient to review models and drawings for build and integration tasks.
• Experience installing and troubleshooting industrial instrumentation and controls, including data acquisition or PLC/SCADA systems.

Certifications & Additional Experience

• Certifications or documented training in one or more of the following:
• Welding (AWS, ASME, or equivalent).
• Industrial maintenance/mechatronics.
• Instrumentation and controls.
• Rigging, crane operation, or forklift operation.
• Prior experience in a highly regulated or high-reliability environment (e.g., aerospace, defense, nuclear, oil & gas, or chemical processing).
• Demonstrated participation in continuous improvement initiatives (e.g., 5S, lean, root cause analysis).
• Experience collaborating with engineering teams to provide design-for-maintainability or design-for-test feedback.

Work Environment & Culture

• Hands-On, Collaborative Team: You will join a small, passionate group that works side-by-side with engineers, operators, and other technicians on complex builds and test operations. Communication, mutual respect, and shared ownership of outcomes are central to how we work.
• High-Impact, High-Responsibility: The facilities and systems you maintain enable critical development testing. Your craftsmanship, attention to detail, and operational discipline will have a direct impact on program schedule and success.
• Safety-First Mindset: Safety is our highest priority. We operate in environments involving high pressure, cryogenic fluids, heavy equipment, and complex systems. We emphasize thorough training, clear procedures, peer checks, and continual improvement of our safety practices.
• Learning & Growth: You will have opportunities to broaden your skills across disciplines—mechanical, fluid, instrumentation, and controls—with on-the-job training.