Instrument Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

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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!

New Glenn is Blue Origin's orbital launch vehicle, and all avionics equipment that flies on it must be verified before it leaves the ground. As part of a hardworking team of engineers, you will be an individual technical contributor on the Chassis Tester Software team - the engineers who build the software stack that makes that verification possible. You will work on verification systems and be responsible for requirements, design, implementation, integration and testing of various software components and tools critical for the success of New Glenn's mission.

This is not a test automation role in the traditional sense. You will write Linux instrument drivers, architect hardware-in-the-loop test frameworks, build the operator-facing tools that run on the test floor, and own the automated result-checking infrastructure (Themis) that determines pass/fail for flight-critical hardware. Your software is the last line of defense before hardware ships.

At Level 3, you execute complex work independently and begin influencing technical direction within the team.

Responsibilities:

• Design and implement production-quality Linux software drivers for test instruments - power supplies, DMMs, oscilloscopes, signal generators, DAQ systems - communicating over SCPI, VISA, serial, USB, and Ethernet
• Own the full driver lifecycle: characterization, implementation, integration testing, and documentation
• Work directly with avionics hardware engineers to understand instrument behavior, define operating envelopes, and validate driver correctness against hardware specs
• Architect and extend automated test execution frameworks and Themis, the team's result-checking framework
• Implement check logic, pass/fail criteria, limit management, and structured report generation for acceptance and qualification test campaigns
• Own and evolve the Platform Integration Layer common framework and its platform integrations
• Design networking architecture for multi-instrument, multi-UUT test configurations
• Build and maintain deployment automation (Ansible-based role architecture) for test system configuration management
• Drive technical debt reduction: decouple legacy behaviors, standardize interfaces, and maintain a clean common codebase
• Design and implement operator-facing applications - GUI tools and/or CLI interfaces - that allow test engineers and technicians to configure, execute, monitor, and review avionics test campaigns
• Prioritize usability, reliability, and clear feedback for non-software users operating in a fast-paced test environment

Required Qualifications:

• B.S. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience
• Expert-level Python - you write clean, testable, maintainable Python and hold others to the same standard
• Proven experience developing software on Linux - process management, filesystem, systemd, shell scripting
• Experience with the networking stack - socket programming, UDP/TCP telemetry and command transport, packet capture and parsing, network reliability handling and configuration
• Hands-on experience writing hardware interface software - instrument drivers, SCPI/VISA communication, or equivalent embedded/hardware-adjacent development
• Experience with automated test frameworks (pytest or equivalent) including fixture design, parametrization, and structured reporting
• Strong Git workflow discipline - branching strategy, code review, CI integration
• Demonstrated ability to debug across the hardware-software boundary - you are comfortable with a scope or DMM when the driver isn't behaving

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Ansible or similar infrastructure-as-code / configuration management tools
• Experience building GUI applications in Python (PyQt5/6, PySide, wxPython) or web-based operator interfaces (FastAPI, React, or similar)
• Experience with C++ in an embedded or hardware-interface context
• Familiarity with avionics test environments - EMI, TVAC, pyrotechnic systems, harness verification, automated test equipment checkout
• Experience designing networked test architectures - Ethernet instrument switching, NPC configuration, multi-node test topologies
• Knowledge of acceptance and qualification test processes in an aerospace hardware development lifecycle
• Familiarity with DOORS, Jama, or equivalent aerospace data and requirements management systems
• Experience with Docker or containerized test environments

Base Pay Range for:

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, 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. For more information on "Know Your Rights," please see here.

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 atEEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.