Systems Test Engineer - Space Technologies

Worker Type

• Regular
• Job Description

• Summary
• AV is seeking an experienced Systems Test Engineer for multiple programs within the Space Technologies division. The Space Technologies division has been developing the techniques, systems, subsystems, and design elements required to implement high reliability opto-mechanical and electrical systems.
• The Systems Test Engineer is a key member of an integrated team operating in a very dynamic environment. The candidate will work across engineering disciplines to help define V&V statements, develop SW for automated tests and provide overall systems support for multiple programs.
• The ideal candidate will have a strong electrical engineering and systems test background, with experience developing automated test solutions and verifying complex hardware and software interfaces. The engineer will plan and execute tests on opto-mechanical and electrical systems, harnesses, embedded electronics, and spacecraft communication interfaces, including SpaceWire and MIL-STD-1553.

Position Responsibilities

Design, develop, integrate, and maintain automated test equipment, including test hardware, instrumentation, software, fixtures, and interfaces

Develop reusable and maintainable test automation frameworks using Python, LabVIEW, or comparable programming languages

Automate functional, performance, regression, integration, and acceptance testing for spaceflight hardware

Integrate automated test solutions with data acquisition systems, instrumentation, simulators, software-in-the-loop (SIL) environments, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) systems

Develop automated test scripts and tools for command, telemetry, data logging, analysis, reporting, and test result evaluation

Develop, debug, and execute tests for SpaceWire interfaces, including link initialization, data transfer, packet handling, error conditions, routing, timing, and interface performance

Develop, debug, and execute tests for MIL-STD-1553 interfaces, including bus controller, remote terminal, and monitor functionality; command and response validation; error injection; timing; and bus performance

Develop and execute comprehensive test plans for spaceflight hardware, ensuring all electrical components and systems meet functional and performance specifications

Work closely with electrical design engineers, systems engineers, and software teams to troubleshoot issues and optimize performance

Work with a multi-disciplinary team to achieve system test design automation, integration, SIL integration, and off-site tests

Work with the Systems Team to ensure proper requirement Verification and Validation methodology and execution

Analyze test data, identify anomalies, and provide recommendations for design improvements to ensure product reliability and performance

Support failure investigation, troubleshooting, and resolutions

All other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Physics with 5 - 8 years of experience, or Master's degree in Engineering or Physics with 3 - 5 years of experience

Experience developing and executing automated control and measurement systems using Python, LabVIEW, or equivalent tools

Experience with automated test equipment, automated test software, or system test equipment

Experience developing system-level test plans, test procedures, test scripts, and test reports

Experience with system design, verification, and validation

Demonstrated experience testing and troubleshooting SpaceWire and MIL-STD-1553 interfaces

Experience with SPI and other embedded electronics communication protocols

Experience using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, multimeters, and other electronic test equipment

Experience analyzing test data and troubleshooting electrical, digital, embedded, and system-level issues

Familiarity with environmental test standards for space hardware, such as NASA GEVS and MIL-STD-1540. experience with signal processing, data acquisition, or automated data analysis

Must be a U.S. Citizen

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

Experience developing automated System Test Equipment (STE) and reusable test automation frameworks

Five or more years of experience performing environmental and system-level testing of spaceflight hardware

Direct experience supporting flight programs for NASA, the U.S. Space Force, the Department of Defense, or major aerospace primes

Experience serving as a Test Lead, Responsible Test Engineer, or equivalent technical lead on complex hardware programs

Experience developing protocol-level test tools, simulators, traffic generators, or error-injection capabilities for SpaceWire or MIL-STD-1553

Experience with SpaceWire protocol analyzers, MIL-STD-1553 bus analyzers, interface simulators, or related test equipment

Experience developing HIL and SIL test environments

Experience integrating automated test systems with continuous integration or continuous test pipelines

Experience with NI PXI, high-speed digitizers, oscilloscopes, switching systems, and instrumentation

Experience with qualification and acceptance testing in accordance with NASA GEVS, U.S. Department of Defense environmental standards, or equivalent requirements

Experience with vibration, thermal vacuum, shock, EMI/EMC, and acoustic testing of flight hardware

Experience with root-cause failure analysis and anomaly resolution for high-reliability systems

Experience with test database management, automated reporting, data visualization, or requirements management tools

Experience with scripting, software development practices, version control, and code review

Competencies

Excellent communication skills with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams and technicians.

Strong electrical engineering, systems test, and troubleshooting skills.

Demonstrated ability to develop reliable, maintainable, and reusable test automation.

Working knowledge of digital communications interfaces and protocol-level verification.

Ability to interpret electrical schematics, system architecture documents, interface control documents, requirements, and test specifications.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to isolate hardware, software, firmware, instrumentation, and test-environment issues.

Ability to lead test activities and assume technical responsibility for assigned program elements.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary engineering teams, technicians, suppliers, and customers.

Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, mission-focused environment.

Physical Demands

Ability to work in an office, laboratory, and production environment (constant)

This position routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and other equipment as needed.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Clearance Level

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is:

$91,000 - $138,750

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administ