Instrument Specialist III — Oasis - 1 Mission (space Resources Program)

Space Resources Program Instrument Specialist

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!

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 believe that to preserve our planet, humanity must expand beyond our current limits, venturing into space to explore and harness new energy and material resources. In pursuit of this vision, we invite you to join our Space Resources Program, working alongside Blue Alchemist, Blue Origin's initiative to enable lunar surface power production and building blocks for humanity from local materials.

The Space Resources Program encompasses multiple projects; in this role, you will contribute across the portfolio, including the current Blue Alchemist effort and future initiatives. We're dedicated to developing and demonstrating Prospecting and In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) technologies for the Moon, Mars, and beyond. If our mission resonates with you and you are eager to contribute, you could be the perfect addition to our inclusive, open-minded, and forward-thinking team. In this hands-on role, you will work in a fully in-person capacity at our Los Angeles SRCE facility.

You will serve as an Instrument Specialist, executing assembly, integration, verification, and calibration of two flight Instrument Modules and an Engineering Model under the guidance of the Instrument Lead and in close coordination with Design & Integration (D&I). You will contribute to instrument design, receive and kit parts, build and test hardware per the finalized V&V plan, maintain calibration artifact traceability, and prepare GSE and procedures. You will support laboratory calibrations (Imaging Spectrometer, GRNS, magnetometers), contribute to the on-orbit calibration plan and CRB materials, and lead portions of field test setup, data collection, and closeout. You will assist with interface verification to the satellite and dispenser, participate in joint TRRs/QRs/FRRs with PA/QA witnessing, and provide inputs to operator procedures for commissioning and operations. You will work closely with electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, planetary scientists, and a senior geochemist.

We value self-motivated, hands-on leaders who can find practical solutions to abstract problems. Our teams work in fast-paced cycles of design, analysis, and operations to deliver scalable solutions. We're looking for someone adaptable, willing to take action, eager to learn, and committed to a highly dedicated and open-minded team of team players working together, all while embracing a culture of safety and quality. Your creativity, innovative spirit, and ability to navigate changing requirements are crucial.

Conditions of employment: Offer and start are contingent upon contract award/funding and required internal approvals. If the contract is not awarded, the role may be paused or canceled.

Location and travel: Fully in-person role based at our Los Angeles (North Hollywood) SRCE facility; periodic domestic and international travel expected (labs, field sites, suppliers, and launch/integration activities).

Key responsibilities and core deliverables:

• Instrument module design, assembly, integration, and test
• Calibration execution and data integration
• Field test planning and execution
• Interfaces and ICD verification
• Integration and verification support
• Configuration management, quality, and documentation
• Operations readiness and commissioning
• Reviews and gates participation

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• 4+ years of hands-on AIT experience with spaceborne instruments in at least one of: gamma ray spectroscopy (GRS), neutron detection, magnetometry, multispectral/visible-NIR imaging.
• Demonstrated experience assembling and testing flight hardware per formal procedures and a V&V plan, including functional and environmental testing (TVAC, vibration/shock).
• Experience executing or supporting instrument calibrations with external labs/vendors and integrating calibration results into data processing pipelines.
• Proficiency with lab instrumentation and GSE (e.g., oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, power supplies, thermal/vacuum fixtures); ability to read schematics, ICDs, and mechanical drawings.
• Familiarity with configuration management, as-built records, travelers, and EBOM↔MBOM collaboration with D&I.
• Experience with NCR/MRB processes and PA/QA witnessing/IV&V coordination.
• Data analysis skills (e.g., Python or MATLAB) for calibration validation, error quantification, and report generation.
• Strong documentation and cross-functional communication; ability to work across Systems, D&I, Software, MA/Q, and supplier teams.

Preferred qualifications:

• Master's degree in a related field; 6+ years of relevant experience.
• SmallSat/CubeSat heritage building two flight units and EMs through environmental test and delivery.
• Depth in Imaging Spectrometer calibration; GRNS spectral calibration; magnetometer alignment/scale/frequency response.
• Experience with EMI/EMC practices and testing; grounding/bonding/shielding; EEE parts selection/derating and radiation considerations (TID/SEE).
• Experience developing/maintaining CM-controlled calibration databases and preparing audit-ready artifacts for SRR/PDR/CDR/QR/TRR/FRR.
• Hands-on field testing experience including comms setup, ground-truth instrumentation, and data quality assessment; HIL bench integration.
• Tooling proficiency (e.g., Altium/KiCad for design review, SPICE for analyses, LabVIEW/Python for test automation and data processing).

Compensation range for CA applicants is $117,498.00-$164,497.20. 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. Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays. Discretionary bonus: Bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Eligibility for benefits varies by role type, please check with your recruiter for a comprehensive list of the benefits available for this role.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Blue