Sr. Test Engineering Manager

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!

As a member of the Blue Origin family of companies, Honeybee Robotics has been at the forefront of robotics for over 40 years. Our Colorado location specializes in creating advanced motion control solutions for NASA, defense, and commercial programs.

Our work has played a critical role in thousands of projects, spanning from conceptual design studies to flight missions, including NASA's Artemis I Mission and the Roman Space Telescope. We are seeking technically brilliant individuals who are passionate about their work, thrive in collaborative environments, and have a laser focus on the details that drive excellence.

As a member of the Blue Origin family of companies, Honeybee Robotics has been at the forefront of robotics for over 40 years. Our Colorado location specializes in creating advanced motion control solutions for NASA, defense, and commercial space programs.

Our work has played a critical role in thousands of projects, spanning from conceptual design studies to flight missions, including NASA's Artemis I Mission and the Roman Space Telescope. We are seeking technically brilliant individuals who are passionate about their work, thrive in collaborative environments, and have a laser focus on the details that drive excellence.

The Senior Test Engineering Manager leads test engineering operations, personnel, facilities, equipment, and processes supporting aerospace hardware and component testing. This role is responsible for building a high-performing team; develop and deploy methods to improve quality, reduce cost and optimize test campaigns. Your leadership will strengthen the feedback loop with design and manufacturing to accelerate the pace of deliveries to meet the needs of both our internal and external customers. The permanent location of this position is Longmont, CO.

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!

Special Mentions

• Relocation provided
• Travel expected up to 5% of the time

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, mentor, and retain a team of test engineers, technicians, and supporting personnel through effective hiring, goal setting, performance management, succession planning, and career development.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, accountable, and high-trust work environment focused on safety, quality, innovation, and operational excellence.
• Manage daily Test Engineering operations, including staffing, shift coverage, schedules, test equipment, tooling, procedures, documentation, maintenance, calibration, and configuration control.
• Lead test planning, readiness reviews, execution, data review, anomaly resolution, root-cause investigations, corrective actions, and post-test analysis.
• Partner with mechanical, electrical, systems, manufacturing, quality, and safety teams to define test requirements and incorporate design-for-testability principles.
• Develop, validate, and implement automated test solutions and hardware-software integrations that improve safety, throughput, repeatability, data quality, product quality, and operational efficiency.
• Ensure test processes, procedures, work instructions, equipment, and technical documentation comply with applicable engineering, quality, safety, regulatory, and aerospace standards, including AS9100 where applicable.
• Establish and track performance metrics for safety, quality, cost, schedule, throughput, equipment availability, test effectiveness, and overall efficiency.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, schedules, staffing plans, capital investments, resource allocation, test execution estimates, proposals, and non-recurring engineering activities.
• Provide regular status updates on hardware readiness, test execution, delivery progress, risks, capacity, and recovery plans; resolve cross-functional scheduling and resource constraints.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that reduce setup time, processing duration, labor content, rework, and operational waste while improving test capability and reliability.
• Establish and sustain workplace organization, cleanliness, foreign object debris prevention, and 5S standards.
• Ensure preventive maintenance, calibration, lifecycle planning, and operational readiness of test assets and supporting infrastructure.
• Ensure effective use of nonconformance, manufacturing execution, material requirements planning, and configuration-management systems.
• Maintain accurate test records, technical documentation, data integrity, and configuration control.
• Make timely and sound technical and business decisions in dynamic, uncertain, and safety-critical environments while balancing safety, quality, cost, schedule, and risk.
• Work effectively across multiple shifts and adapt to changing program, organizational, and operational requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field from an accredited institution.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in test engineering, test operations, aerospace hardware, or a comparable complex industrial environment.
• 5+ years of experience managing technical teams, engineering projects, or operations.
• Demonstrated experience leading test planning, execution, test equipment operations, and post-test data analysis.
• Strong technical knowledge of aerospace test systems, electromechanical hardware, or other complex test environments.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing process improvements, test automation, or operational-excellence initiatives.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, schedules, staffing, equipment, and competing priorities.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience with aerospace quality systems, configuration-controlled documentation, nonconformance processes, and manufacturing or test execution systems.
• Ability to lead effectively in uncertain, fast-paced, and safety-critical environments.
• Ability to make sound technical and business decisions while balancing safety, quality, cost, schedule, and risk.
• Proficiency with standard office and technical software applications.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the United States as a refugee or granted asylum.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Mechanical, Aerospace, Chemical, Manufacturing, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 15+ years of experience in aerospace, launch vehicle, aircraft, or similarly complex test operations.
• Experience designing and deploying automated test systems, including hardware and software integration.
• Experience with Python, LabVIEW, data acquisition systems, or test automation frameworks.
• Experience testing motors, actuators, gearboxes, valves, fluid systems, pressure systems, or comparable aerospace hardware.
• Experience with CAD, ERP, MRP, manufacturing execution, or related engineering systems.
• Base Pay Range for: CO applicants is $157,318.00 - $220,244.85
• Other site ranges may differ
• Culture Statement

Additional information

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.