Test Engineer

Blue Origin • Longmont, CO

16d • Onsite

About The Position

At Blue Origin, the Motion Control Business Unit (MCBU) designs, manufactures, and tests the high-performance, reliable motion control components and integrated solutions that power the most demanding aerospace missions. Our product portfolio—including actuators, motors, Solar Array Drive Electronics (SADEs), Solar Array Drive Assemblies (SADAs), and Thrust Vector Control (TVC) systems—operates in the harshest environments, enabling critical missions from Earth orbit to deep space. Our Test Department is essential in ensuring every component meets the rigorous standards required for mission success. As part of a hardworking team of specialists, technicians, and engineers in our MCBU Test Department, you will apply standard engineering knowledge and methods to the execution, support, and interpretation of tests for aerospace systems and components. In this role, you will focus on sustaining and recurring production testing—supporting repeat-build programs such as our SmallSat SADE controllers and SADA actuators, where established products are produced again with evolving test requirements. Working under the direction of senior test engineers and functional leads, you will execute acceptance and functional test campaigns, modify and stand up test fixtures and stands, perform data acquisition and first-level data review, and support anomaly investigations. Your work will directly sustain the reliability and performance of motion control solutions used in critical space exploration and aerospace mission.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 0-2 years of relevant experience in a test, mechanical, or electromechanical engineering role (internship and project experience will be considered).
• Understanding of mechanical structures, with the ability to modify, support, and develop test fixtures.
• Understanding of instrumentation and measurement systems, including the fundamentals of digital data acquisition.
• Working knowledge of the fundamental properties of motors (electric/electromechanical motors preferred) such as detent torque, accuracy, and stiffness.
• Familiarity with sensors such as load cells and thermocouples for measuring forces and temperatures.
• Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills (may be demonstrated through coursework, design projects, or internship experience).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a high degree of attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Nice To Haves

• Hands-on experience building, setting up, and troubleshooting mechanical systems or test equipment.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical diagrams; familiarity with PCBA schematics is a plus.
• Familiarity with motion control systems such as motors, actuators, or robotic mechanisms.
• Direct experience with environmental testing (vibration, shock, thermal, vacuum).
• Experience performing structural and/or stiffness testing.
• Proficiency with a 3D CAD software package for fixture design or modification (e.g., Creo, SolidWorks, NX).
• Experience with test data post-processing and analysis using tools such as MATLAB or Python.
• Exposure to test automation concepts or programming languages (e.g., Python, LabVIEW).
• Knowledge of space qualification standards (e.g., NASA-STD, MIL-STD-810, GEVS/GSFC-STD-7000) and cleanroom protocols.

Responsibilities

• Execute acceptance (ATP), functional, and performance test campaigns for recurring-production MCBU components such as SADE and SADA hardware.
• Modify, redline, and help maintain existing test plans and procedures as test requirements evolve across repeat production builds; support development of new procedures under the direction of senior engineers.
• Support the setup and execution of environmental tests, including vibration, shock, bench performance, thermal, and thermal vacuum (TVAC) testing.
• Perform test stand stand-up, configuration, and troubleshooting of test stands and articles under test to resolve technical issues that arise during test campaigns.
• Build, set up, modify, and troubleshoot mechanical test fixtures and ground support equipment; develop new fixtures or adapt existing fixtures for vibration, shock, bench performance, thermal, and TVAC testing as program needs dictate.
• Configure and operate instrumentation and digital data acquisition (DAQ) systems, applying fundamentals of measurement and signal acquisition to ensure accurate, repeatable data.
• Install and use sensors such as load cells and thermocouples to measure forces, torque, and temperature; conduct structural, stiffness, and performance measurements on motion control hardware.
• Apply fundamental knowledge of motor behavior—including properties such as detent torque, accuracy, and stiffness—to set up and interpret motor and actuator testing.
• Interpret electrical diagrams to support test stand stand-up and to troubleshoot faults during testing.
• Analyze and interpret test data to verify performance, identify trends, and support root cause investigations.
• Document test setups and results, prepare detailed technical reports, and present findings to internal teams.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams, including technicians, design engineers, and quality, to ensure successful test execution.
• Maintain test equipment readiness and support calibration activities to ensure accuracy and repeatability.

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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level