Principal Test Engineer (Electrical) | TeraWave

BLUE ORIGIN•Seattle, WA

5d•$169,624 - $237,473

About The Position

Blue Origin is seeking an experienced Electrical Test Lead for its TeraWave business unit to support high-rate production of satellite vehicles. The role owns production electrical test strategy, execution, and continuous improvement for a production line delivering multiple spacecraft per year. It leads test technicians and test engineers, drives throughput while maintaining quality, and serves as the primary interface between test and design, manufacturing, and mission assurance. The position is part of Blue Origin Operations, which includes Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance, as well as manufacturing and supply chain support across Blue Origin facilities. TeraWave is a satellite communications network designed to provide symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps globally through 5,408 optically interconnected satellites in low Earth and medium Earth orbit.

Requirements

Bachelor'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, such as aerospace, automotive, defense electronics, or industrial systems.
Proficiency in reading and interpreting electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and interface control documents.
Hands-on experience with standard electrical test equipment, including oscilloscopes, DMMs, power supplies, and data acquisition systems.
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, including the ability to brief anomalies and status to program leadership.
Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Nice To Haves

Experience on programs with production rates of 6 or more vehicles or units per year.
Background in spacecraft, launch vehicle, EV/automotive electronics, medical devices, or defense systems, where test escapes have significant downstream consequences.
Experience developing or executing automated test systems using Python, LabVIEW, CANoe, or similar tools.
Familiarity with harness and wiring test methods, including continuity, isolation, and dielectric withstand.
Background in RF testing, power system testing, or embedded electronics verification.
Familiarity with quality management systems such as AS9100, IATF 16949, or ISO 9001 and with production quality metrics.
Experience supporting customer witness tests or acceptance test reviews.
Experience with ESD handling and workmanship standards such as IPC/WHMA-A-620 or equivalent.

Responsibilities

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.
Improve test flow to reduce cycle time and support production-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 production rate.
Own the electrical Ground Support Equipment (GSE) suite and coordinate its maintenance, calibration, and configuration control.
Support root cause analysis and corrective action for test failures and escaped defects.
Interface with design engineering to ensure test coverage of critical parameters and provide feedback for design-for-test improvements.
Participate in design reviews as the representative of the test organization.
Ensure compliance with applicable standards, including ESD controls, torque verification, and workmanship standards.

Benefits

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Basic and supplemental life insurance
Paid parental leave
Short- and long-term disability
401(k) with company match of up to 5%
Education Support Program
Stock options for regular employees working at least 20 hours per week
Paid time off of up to four weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours
Up to 14 company-paid holidays
Potential eligibility for bonuses, depending on role type and job level; amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed