Test Operations Engineer III - TeraWave

Blue Origin; United States; On-site; USD 111,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision coverage

401(k) with company match up to 5%

Stock options for regular employees

Paid time off and holidays

Education Support Program

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking an experienced Test Operations Engineer III to lead space vehicle test campaigns on the Terawave program. You will plan, execute, and report on complex environmental and EMI/EMC tests, oversee production transition, and mentor junior engineers.

Strong collaboration with systems engineering, safety, and quality is required. You will develop training for production test engineers, maintain procedures, and ensure readiness for production ramps, supporting a culture of safety

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 or environmental test operations.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute space vehicle-level development and formal qualification test campaigns; oversee execution from readiness through closeout.
• Lead environmental test campaigns: TVAC, vibration, acoustic, shock, humidity/altitude, and thermal cycling; monitor health and holds.
• Execute EMI/EMC tests; operate instrumentation and capture data against limits.
• Operate the HIL bench during integration and functional test campaigns; monitor telemetry.
• Capture and reduce test data; author formal test reports; support anomaly root cause analysis.
• Own and maintain test procedures; drive improvements for vehicle and production use.
• Serve as production transition lead: develop and deliver training curriculum for production test engineers.
• Support production line test readiness reviews, first-article tests, and acceptance tests.
• Mentor Test Operations Engineer I/II; review procedures and reports.
• Interface with systems engineering, safety, and quality on test requirements and readiness.

Skills

Test operations leadership

Strong communication

Production transition leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field

Tools

Python

LabVIEW

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 6Tbps 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

• 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

• 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 LosAngeles 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 [e-mail]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request. We’re committed to building the road to space so our children can build the future. We are a mission-driven company focused on ideas and innovation, and encourage fresh perspectives from bold voices. At Blue, our team is building the future as their unique selves. Thank you for your interest in working at Blue Origin! Blue Origin was founded with a vision to enable a future where millions of people are living and working in space to benefit Earth. In order to preserve Earth, Blue Origin believes in the need to enable humanity to expand, explore, find new energy and material resources, and move industries that stress Earth into space. Blue Origin believes it has an important role in building a road to space and lowering the cost of getting there. At Blue Origin, we’re working on this today by developing fully reusable launch vehicles and systems that are safe, reliable and affordable. Every launch vehicle is designed for human spaceflight from the beginning and able to ferry payloads to space.

U.S. Applicant Privacy Notice EU Applicant Privacy Notice