Test Engineer III (Early Product life cycle Development Testing)

BLUE ORIGIN•Los Angeles, CA

23h•Onsite

About The Position

This role is part of Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin’s mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design. We are seeking a highly skilled Test Engineer III to join the Space Resources Program at our Los Angeles facility. This role focuses on early product life cycle development and technology de-risking for flight-like and high-TRL systems operating at high voltage, high current, and high temperature in vacuum and inert gas (e.g., argon) environments. You will own the design and execution of first-principles-driven experiments and tests that validate critical technologies before they are integrated into flight systems. This is a hands-on, lab-centric role for someone who enjoys solving open-ended physics and engineering problems, building novel test rigs, and rapidly learning from data. We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science/Engineering, Metallurgy, Physics, or a closely related field.
5 years of hands-on laboratory or test experience in one or more of the following: High-temperature testing (furnaces, heaters, thermal cycling, or thermal vacuum). Vacuum chamber or inert gas (e.g., argon) test operations. High-voltage and/or high-current power systems and associated safety practices.
Demonstrated experience designing and executing first-principles-driven experiments or tests (e.g., defining hypotheses, sizing hardware from physics, estimating margins).
Experience planning and executing assembly/disassembly and commissioning sequences for complex test setups or rigs.
Advanced proficiency in drafting and updating SOPs, JHAs, and detailed test documentation.
Hands-on experience with: Data acquisition systems and sensors (temperature, pressure, voltage, current, etc.). Troubleshooting and maintaining lab instruments and equipment.
Basic proficiency with CAD tools for designing test fixtures and experimental setups.
Familiarity with safety standards for high-voltage/high-current systems, vacuum operations, and high-temperature equipment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to present data and tradeoffs clearly.
Proven, self-directed problem solver with attention to detail and a strong bias for safe, high-quality execution.
Ability to lift or move lab equipment up to 40 lbs as needed.
Ability to work on extended hours and late shifts.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Materials Science/Engineering, metallurgy, or Physics.
5+ years of relevant experience in early product development, R&D testing, or advanced technology maturation in aerospace or similar high-consequence industries.
Experience with In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) technologies, power/thermal systems, or other aerospace subsystems.
Hands-on experience with: High-temperature materials (refractory metals, ceramics, composites) and thermal analysis (steady-state and transient).
Materials and process selection for vacuum and inert gas environments (outgassing, contamination, insulation, sealing, joining).
High-voltage test setups including interlocks, creepage/clearance, and arc/flash mitigation.
Ability to write or modify control/DAQ scripts in Python, LabVIEW, or C/C++.
Experience designing mechanical and/or electromechanical systems and mechanisms for test or flight.
Demonstrated experience with environmental testing (thermal vacuum, vibration, thermal cycling) for space missions, including applicable standards or best practices.
Experience conducting formal root cause analyses (e.g., 5-Whys, fishbone diagrams, FMEA) for test anomalies.
Proven ability to lead complex test campaigns and work effectively across multiple disciplines (mechanical, electrical, materials, systems, operations).

Responsibilities

Lead early-life-cycle technology de-risking: Translate ambiguous performance and reliability questions into testable hypotheses and structured test plans.
Identify key physics and engineering risks (thermal, electrical, materials, vacuum, contamination) and design experiments to de-risk them early.
Apply first-principles reasoning to bound expected behavior and define success criteria.
Design and operate tests in extreme environments: Own the setup, operation, and maintenance of test systems for high-voltage, high-current, high-temperature hardware in vacuum and inert gas environments.
Develop and execute tests involving high-power electrical components, high-temperature materials, joints, and coatings, including thermal cycling and long-duration high-temperature exposure.
Implement and validate safety interlocks, grounding, shielding, and safe operating envelopes for high-energy systems.
Develop test architecture, procedures, and safety documentation: Lead the development, documentation, and continuous improvement of test plans, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), and test readiness checklists.
Conduct and lead Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs), ensuring all systems and subsystems satisfy technical and safety requirements.
Champion Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) best practices for high-voltage and high-temperature testing in vacuum and inert gas environments.
Design and build hardware and test fixtures: Design, analyze at appropriate fidelity, and assemble custom test fixtures and experimental hardware to support unique R&D test campaigns.
Select materials and processes suitable for high temperature and vacuum/argon exposure (e.g., refractory metals, ceramics, seals, feedthroughs, insulators, brazes, welds, adhesives).
Create and review CAD models and drawings and coordinate fabrication with internal or external machine shops.
Manage instrumentation, controls, and data acquisition: Specify and integrate sensors and instrumentation (such as thermocouples, RTDs, pyrometers, pressure gauges, flow meters, voltage and current probes).
Configure and operate data acquisition (DAQ) and basic control systems for automated or semi-automated testing.
Modify existing DAQ/control scripts (e.g., LabVIEW, Python, or similar) to support new test needs, custom sequences, or safety logic.
Troubleshoot and perform failure analysis: Diagnose issues in custom and commercial test systems (hardware, wiring, software, vacuum, thermal performance) using a methodical, physics-based approach.
Perform root cause and failure analysis on test anomalies, including post-test and post-flight inspection and data review.
Translate findings into design updates, test improvements, or new requirements for flight-like systems.
Collaborate and communicate across disciplines: Work closely with mechanical, electrical, materials, and systems engineers to align test objectives with product requirements.
Clearly communicate test methods, limitations, and results to a broad engineering audience, including uncertainty quantification and comparison to models.
Mentor and guide team members in test operations, safety practices, and first-principles problem solving.
Support laboratory operations: Oversee the installation, operation, and maintenance of vacuum chambers, furnaces, high-current power supplies, and associated test infrastructure.
Manage laboratory chemical and material waste, coordinating proper disposal procedures with EHS.
Maintain a clean, organized, and safe lab environment suitable for frequent R&D iteration.

Benefits

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Basic and supplemental life insurance
Paid parental leave
Short-term disability
Long-term disability
401(k) with a company match of up to 5%
Education Support Program
Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours
Up to 14 company-paid holidays
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.