Test Operations Engineer III - TeraWave

Blue Origin; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 111,000 - 169,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Stock options

Paid time off

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking an experienced Test Operations Engineer III to join the AI&T team on the Terawave program in Seattle, WA. You will plan and execute space vehicle-level development and qualification test campaigns, including TVAC, vibration, acoustic, and EMI/EMC tests, while serving as production transition lead.

You will mentor junior engineers, develop training and procedures for production test engineers, and interface with systems engineering, safety and quality to ensure readiness

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace/EE/systems engineering or related field.
• 5+ years in spacecraft or vehicle-level test environments.
• Experience planning environmental tests (TVAC, vibration, acoustic, thermal cycling).
• Experience leading end-to-end test campaigns and reporting.
• Experience with nonconformance management and corrective actions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute space vehicle-level development and qualification tests.
• Lead environmental test campaigns and oversee test readiness through report closeout.
• Operate HIL bench and monitor telemetry.
• Capture data, write formal test reports, support anomaly analysis.
• Mentor junior engineers; develop training for production test engineers.
• Interface with systems engineering, safety, quality on test requirements.

Skills

Spacecraft test experience

Test campaign planning

End-to-end test leadership

Anomaly disposition

Strong communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field

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!

Blue Origin is pioneering the future of space-based communications with TeraWave, a revolutionary satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth.

This multi-orbit constellation will consist of optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO), providing enterprise-grade connectivity for critical operations worldwide.

Blue Origin is seeking an experienced Test Operations Engineer III to join the AI&T team on the Terawave program. In this role you will plan and execute space vehicle-level development and qualification test campaigns - including TVAC, vibration, acoustic, shock, and EMI/EMC - and serve as a production transition lead, developing the training and process documentation that enables the production line test team to stand up efficiently and execute at rate.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Plan and execute space vehicle-level development and formal qualification test campaigns per approved test plans; oversee execution from test readiness through report closeout.
• Execute and lead environmental test campaigns: TVAC, random vibration, sine survey, acoustic, pyroshock, humidity/altitude, and thermal cycling; monitor test article health and call holds per test rules.
• Execute EMI/EMC tests (radiated/conducted emissions and susceptibility); operate test instrumentation and capture compliance data against acceptance limits.
• Operate the HIL bench during integration and functional test campaigns; monitor real-time telemetry and identify off-nominal conditions.
• Capture and reduce test data; author formal test reports and support anomaly root cause analysis.
• Own and maintain test procedures; incorporate red-line mark-ups and drive procedure improvement for vehicle and production applicability.
• Serve as a designated production transition lead: develop and deliver training curriculum for production test engineers and technicians covering bench operation, EMI awareness, data interpretation, and anomaly response.
• Support production line test readiness reviews, first-article test campaigns, and acceptance test execution.
• Mentor Test Operations Engineer I and II team members; review their procedures and test reports.
• Interface with systems engineering, safety, and quality on test requirements, anomaly disposition, and readiness gate criteria.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a closely related field.
• 5+ years of experience in spacecraft or vehicle-level test, environmental test operations, or system integration and test in aerospace or defense.
• Experience planning and executing environmental qualification test campaigns (TVAC, vibration, acoustic, shock, or thermal cycling).
• Experience leading test campaigns end-to-end: procedure development, execution, anomaly disposition, and formal test reporting.
• Experience with nonconformance management, anomaly disposition, and corrective action processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to brief test status and anomalies to program leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience on a satellite, launch vehicle, or complex defense electronics program at the vehicle or system level.
• Background with EMI/EMC test execution per MIL-STD-461 or ECSS-E-ST-20-07.
• Experience with HIL bench operation and real-time telemetry monitoring.
• Background developing or delivering training for production test personnel.
• Familiarity with automated test execution (Python, LabVIEW, GSEOS, or similar).
• Experience supporting customer witness tests or formal acceptance test reviews.
• Familiarity with configuration management and nonconformance systems (Windchill, MES, or equivalent).

Base Pay Range for:

• CO applicants is $110,938.00 - $155,312.85
• WA 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, 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