Test Engineer - Sr

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 the Blue Origin Engines business unit, where our focus is the design, development, manufacturing, and testing of engines and propulsion systems. Built for multiple uses, our family of engines is powering the next generation of rockets for commercial, civil, national security, and human spaceflight.

We are collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers who are relentlessly committed to a culture of safety. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable space flight. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space and enabling Blue Origin’s vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth.  

Special Mentions

• Relocation provided
• Normal work week or rotation schedule shifts available
   

Van Horn Specific information

Being at the heart of Blue Origin operations, the West Texas Site in Van Horn, TX offers eligible employee’s 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 include but are not limited to:

- Serve as the technical lead and responsible engineer for test operations across multiple test articles, components, and concurrent campaigns, ensuring execution in accordance with program requirements and safety protocols
- Own the development, review, and approval of complex test procedures; establish procedure standards and review the work of junior engineers to ensure thorough, accurate, and repeatable test execution
- Define and lead test facility planning, build-up, and major upgrade efforts; develop requirements and drive design decisions for new test capabilities to meet evolving program needs
- Direct preventive and corrective maintenance strategies for test facilities and launch pad infrastructure, including spares planning, obsolescence management, and reliability improvements
- Lead analysis and interpretation of test data to identify anomalies, validate performance against models and predictions, and author authoritative test reports for program and customer review
- Partner with and influence cross-functional engineering teams to define test objectives, acceptance criteria, and test campaign architecture; represent the test organization in design reviews and readiness reviews
- Architect and oversee data acquisition system and instrumentation configurations; define measurement requirements, uncertainty budgets, and redline/abort criteria for test campaigns
- Lead troubleshooting of test article integration issues and drive formal root cause analysis (e.g., fault trees, 8D) for anomalies, including corrective and preventive action closure
- Establish and enforce standards for test logs, reports, and documentation; ensure organization-wide compliance with engineering and configuration management standards
- Champion continuous improvement of test processes, procedures, and facility capabilities; identify and implement initiatives that improve safety, throughput, data quality, and cost
- Serve as a lead for hazardous operations involving cryogenic propellants and high-pressure systems; develop hazard analyses, operating procedures, and controls, and act as a test conductor/operations lead during critical tests
- Mentor and provide technical direction to junior and mid-level test engineers and technicians; contribute to hiring, training, and development of the test team
 

Minimum Qualifications

- B.S. Degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Computer, or Electrical Engineering
- 8+ years of experience in a testing environment (or M.S. + 6 years / Ph.D. + 3 years)
- Demonstrated experience developing, approving, and leading execution of complex test procedures
- Proven experience leading test campaigns from planning through data delivery
- Strong data analysis skills, including anomaly investigation, performance validation, and measurement uncertainty
- Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary projects, set technical direction, and work independently with minimal oversight
- Strong technical fundamentals in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics, with the ability to apply them to test design and anomaly resolution
- Proficiency reading and interpreting engineering standards, technical requirements, and engineering drawings (P&IDs, schematics, assembly drawings)
- Demonstrated experience leading or serving as test conductor for hazardous operations (cryogenics, high-pressure systems)
 

Preferred Qualifications

- M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechanical, Aerospace, Computer, or Electrical Engineering with experimental lab experience
- Rocket engine or propulsion test experience in a professional environment
- Extensive cryogenic and high-pressure system test experience
- Demonstrated experience designing, fabricating, and operating complex fluid systems
- Deep knowledge of instrumentation including pressure transducers, thermocouples, silicon diodes, resistance temperature detectors, and accelerometers, including selection, calibration, and installation
- Strong operational understanding of engines and engine sub-components, such as turbopumps, combustion devices, valves, and other fluid components
- Extensive hands-on experience integrating test articles and sub-assemblies for test
- Advanced proficiency with LabVIEW, MATLAB, Winplot, or other control/data acquisition and reduction software, including custom tool or automation development
- Proficiency with CAD applications (Creo preferred)
- Experience developing hazard analyses, test safety documentation, and operating procedures for hazardous test operations
- Demonstrated experience mentoring engineers and leading test teams

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 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.