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!
About Blue Origin & the TeraWave Program
At Blue Origin, we build the road to space — for the benefit of Earth. The TeraWave program is developing next-generation free-space optical laser communication terminals (lasercom) for space-based data relay in medium Earth orbit (MEO). These precision assemblies transmit data at over 100 Gbps between spacecraft using focused laser beams. Our terminals must survive launch loads, operate through the full orbital thermal environment, and meet stringent requirements for wavefront error (WFE), line-of-sight (LOS) stability, and optical throughput. We are transitioning from engineering development units (EDUs) to flight unit manufacturing and production-rate acceptance testing — and we need engineers who have worked with real space hardware.
The Role
As a Level III Space Optical Payload Test Engineer, you will work within a structured test team to plan, execute, and document environmental qualification and optical performance tests on lasercom flight terminals. You will work independently within your assigned scope under senior engineer oversight, collaborating with optical designers, systems engineers, and the production team. This is a hands-on hardware role — you will spend significant time in the lab, cleanroom, and at environmental test facilities, not primarily at a desk. Your acceptance data directly determines what flies.
Key Responsibilities
Environmental Qualification & Acceptance Testing
- Write test plans and procedures for TVAC, vibration, and shock campaigns with clear pass/fail criteria, instrumentation requirements, safety precautions, and step-by-step operator instructions traceable to system requirements
- Execute TVAC campaigns — configure instrumentation inside the vacuum chamber, monitor real-time temperature and performance data, perform functional checks at each test point, and document anomalies
- Execute vibration and shock tests — set up accelerometers and sensors, monitor live data, coordinate fixture qualification with the structural team, and perform pre/post optical performance checks
- Serve as Test Conductor: direct the test team, make real-time continue/hold/abort calls, enforce safety protocols, and maintain a complete test log
- Present test results at TRRs (Test Readiness Reviews) and Post-Test Reviews with clear, data-supported findings
Optical & Opto-Mechanical Performance Testing
- Measure WFE using interferometers (e.g., Zygo) or Shack-Hartmann sensors; decompose into Zernike terms; document pass/fail against specification limits
- Measure LOS stability — static pointing error and dynamic jitter; process using PSD analysis tools
- Verify optical throughput against link budget allocations; identify unexpected loss sources
- Test PAT (Pointing, Acquisition, Tracking) — functional and performance verification against speed and accuracy specifications
- Compare measured data to Zemax, FEA, and STOP model predictions; investigate and report discrepancies to senior engineers
Test Automation & Software Development
- Write Python scripts (NumPy, SciPy, Pandas, Matplotlib) to control instruments over GPIB, USB, serial, and Ethernet/VISA interfaces; automate test sequences with real-time limit monitoring and pass/fail flagging
- Build data reduction pipelines converting raw multi-channel datasets into performance summaries, compliance tables, and serial-number trend charts
- Manage all code in Git with clear version control, commit documentation, and team code review compliance
- Connect automation to LIMS/data management system — all results stored with unit serial number, build configuration, test date, and calibration status traceability
- Support HIL/SIL test setups for PAT control system verification as directed by senior engineers
Data Acquisition & Instrumentation
- Select, configure, and maintain sensors and DAQ hardware (NI PXI/cDAQ); verify signal conditioning, sample rates, and measurement ranges for each test
- Track and renew instrument calibration on schedule — no out-of-calibration instrument may be used for flight-relevant acceptance measurements
- Maintain an instrumentation database with calibration status, measurement uncertainty, and location for all test equipment
Measurement Uncertainty & Test Quality
- Build measurement uncertainty budgets (GUM methodology); identify error contributors, calculate combined uncertainty, and set guardbands to protect acceptance decisions at specification boundaries
- Support Gage R&R studies confirming test system repeatability and reproducibility before production acceptance use
- Track SPC control charts across production serial numbers; escalate trends or process shifts to the test lead
Documentation & Failure Investigation
- Author test plans, procedures, and reports in a controlled, revision-managed documentation environment with full requirements traceability
- Log all test anomalies formally — description, impact assessment, and immediate action taken
- Support root-cause investigations by reviewing data history, comparing across serial numbers, and systematically eliminating potential causes
- Maintain full data traceability: every file linked to serial number, build state, test date, procedure revision, and instrument calibration records
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Optical, or Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related discipline
- 6 years of hands-on hardware test experience in the aerospace, defense, or space industry
- Direct hands-on experience executing TVAC and/or random vibration / mechanical shock campaigns on aerospace or space hardware
- Hands-on experience measuring at least one of: WFE, LOS stability, optical throughput, or beam quality on a precision optical or opto-mechanical assembly
- Working Python proficiency — instrument control, data acquisition, and analysis (NumPy, SciPy, Pandas, Matplotlib); code samples may be requested
- Experience with NI PXI / cDAQ or equivalent DAQ hardware — sensor wiring, channel configuration, software integration
- Experience authoring formal test plans, procedures, and reports in a controlled, revision-managed documentation environment
- Familiarity with at least one space test standard: GEVS/GSFC-STD-7000, SMC-S-016, MIL-STD-1540, MIL-STD-810, or ECSS-E-ST-10
Preferred Qualifications
- M.S. or Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Physics
- Lasercom experience — FSO link testing, PAT system characterization, or optical link budget verification
- STOP analysis correlation — comparing measured WFE/LOS data to Zemax, FEA, or STOP model outputs
- GUM uncertainty budgeting, Gage R&R / MSA, and SPC in a production aerospace context
- LabVIEW proficiency; Git version control and code review workflows
- AS9100 / ISO 9001 familiarity — NCRs, CAPA, and First Article Inspection (FAI)
- Cleanroom experience (ISO Class 8 or better) ESD handling, FOD prevention, optical surface contamination control
HIL/SIL test experience for control system verification; EMI/EMC testing per MIL-STD-461
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Compensation Range for:
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 (CDL drivers only), 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.
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.
