Principal Test Engineer (Electrical) | TeraWave

Blue Origin; Hutto (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking an experienced Electrical Test Lead to oversee high-rate production of satellite vehicles on the Terawave program. You will own the production electrical test strategy, execution, and continuous improvement for a multi-vehicle production line.

You will lead a team of test technicians and engineers, coordinate with Manufacturing, Systems, and Mission Assurance, and drive improvements while ensuring test coverage and quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field.
• 8–10+ years in electrical test with at least 3 years in a lead role.
• Experience leading electrical test in high-rate production (aerospace/defense/industrial).
• Proficient with schematics, wiring diagrams, interface control documents.
• Hands-on with standard test equipment (oscilloscopes, DMMs, power supplies).

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day electrical test operations across production vehicles, including harness continuity and functional testing.
• Own and maintain test procedures, calibration plans, and test scripts for all production test phases.
• Drive test flow improvements to reduce cycle time and increase rate without compromising coverage.
• Manage a team of test technicians and test engineers; mentor and assign work.
• Coordinate with Manufacturing Engineering, Systems Engineering, and Mission Assurance on test anomalies and nonconformances.
• Maintain real-time test status visibility and report production metrics (first-pass yield, defect escapes, throughput).
• Identify and implement test automation opportunities to reduce manual testing.
• Own the electrical Ground Support Equipment (GSE) suite; coordinate maintenance and calibration.
• Support root cause analysis and corrective action for test failures and escaped defects.
• Interface with design engineering for test coverage and feedback for design-for-test.
• Participate in design reviews representing the test organization.
• Ensure compliance with ESD controls, torque verification, and workmanship standards.

Skills

Electrical test

Team mentorship

Test strategy

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Oscilloscopes

DMMs

Power supplies

Data acquisition systems

Job description

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 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.This position is part of Blue Origin’s TeraWave business unit, a newly announced satellite ″communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. ″TeraWave consists of 5,408 optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth ″orbit (MEO), providing enterprise-grade connectivity for critical operations.Blue Origin is seeking an experienced Electrical Test Lead to support high-rate production of satellite vehicles on the Terawave program. In this role you will own the production electrical test strategy, execution, and continuous improvement for a production line delivering multiple spacecraft per year. You will lead a team of technicians and test engineers, drive test throughput while maintaining quality, and serve as the primary interface between test and design, manufacturing, and mission assurance.Responsibilities include but are not limited to:Lead day-to-day electrical test operations across production vehicles, including harness continuity, subsystem functional testing, integrated vehicle verification, and pre-ship acceptance testing.Own and maintain test procedures, test equipment calibration plans, and test scripts for all production test phases.Drive test flow improvements to reduce cycle time and support rate increases without compromising test coverage.Manage a team of test technicians and test engineers; provide mentorship, assign work, and maintain team readiness.Coordinate with Manufacturing Engineering, Systems Engineering, and Mission Assurance to disposition test anomalies, nonconformances, and open items.Maintain real-time test status visibility and report production metrics including first-pass yield, defect escapes, and test throughput.Identify and implement test automation opportunities to reduce manual test burden at rate.Own the electrical Ground Support Equipment (GSE) suite — coordinate maintenance, calibration, and configuration control.Support root cause analysis and corrective action for test failures and escaped defects.Interface with the design engineering team to ensure test coverage of critical parameters and provide feedback for design-for-test improvements.Participate in design reviews representing the test organization.Ensure compliance with applicable standards (e.g., ESD controls, torque verification, workmanship standards).Minimum QualificationsBachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a closely related field.8 -10+ years of experience in electrical test, with at least 3 years in a lead or supervisory capacity.Experience leading electrical test in a high-rate, high-complexity production environment — aerospace, automotive, defense electronics, industrial systems, or similar.Proficiency in reading and interpreting electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and interface control documents.Hands-on experience with standard electrical test equipment (oscilloscopes, DMMs, power supplies, data acquisition systems).Demonstrated ability to manage test schedules, prioritize competing demands, and drive decisions in a fast-paced production environment.Experience with nonconformance management, anomaly disposition, and corrective action processes.Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to brief anomalies and status to program leadership.Preferred QualificationsExperience on programs with production rates of 6+ vehicles or units per year.Background in spacecraft, launch vehicle, EV/automotive electronics, medical devices, or defense systems — any domain where test escapes have significant downstream consequences.Experience developing or executing automated test systems (Python, LabVIEW, CANoe, or similar).Familiarity with harness/wiring test methods (continuity, isolation, dielectric withstand).Background in RF testing, power system testing, or embedded electronics verification.Familiarity with quality management systems (AS9100, IATF 16949, ISO 9001) and production quality metrics.Experience supporting customer witness tests or acceptance test reviews.ESD handling and workmanship standards experience (IPC/WHMA-A-620 or equivalent).Why Blue OriginAt Blue Origin, we’re not just building the future of space exploration—we’re revolutionizing global ″connectivity through our TeraWave satellite network. As a Test Operations Lead, you’ll play a crucial role ″in ensuringCulture StatementDon’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 RegulationsApplicants 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 CheckRequired for all positions: Blue’s Standard Background CheckRequired for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installationRequired 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, 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 physicalBenefitsBenefits 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 OpportunityBlue 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.Affirmative Action and Disability AccommodationApplicants 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 [e-mail] . Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.