Vehicle Test Software Team Lead

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe – large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military.

With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts. Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization.

Astranis has raised over $1.2 billion from some of the world’s best investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Baillie Gifford, Blackrock, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, and Snowpoint, and employs a team of 500 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.

Team Lead, Vehicle Test Team

As the Team Lead of the Vehicle Test team, you will build and manage the team responsible for writing the test software to verify the Astranis spacecraft from panel integration through the final full spacecraft checkouts. In addition to the vehicle test software you will own the test frameworks, as well as the HITL testbeds that we use to verify our satellites work — and keep working — on orbit. Day to day, you'll drive architectural decisions and technical direction at the boundary of software and hardware, in close collaboration with other engineering teams.

This role will contribute to both commercial and US Government programs.

Role:

Directly support vehicle test execution across all integration phases, from panel-level through full spacecraft, covering Propulsion, Avionics, RF, Power, and more

Lead test framework, process, and architectural improvements for panel vehicle integration and test needs

Oversee HITL testbed development end-to-end: design, procurement, integration, validation, and long-term support — serving vehicle testing, mission operations, and flight software verification

Coordinate with cross-functional teams on testbed requirements, timelines, and budgets

Identify and drive opportunities to automate manual processes and improve test efficiency

Assist in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring additional teammates to our rapidly-growing team

Requirements:

Bachelors degree in CS, EE (or equivalent background knowledge)

5+ years of experience in test engineering or related field

2+ years of people management experience

Strong proficiency with Python

Experience with hardware test and production environments

Experience designing and implementing test frameworks, especially HITL systems

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Bonus:

Experience reading schematics and data sheets, and debugging circuits that interface with embedded software

Spacecraft or launch vehicle test experience

What we offer:

All our positions offer a compensation package that includes equity and robust benefits.

Base pay is just one component of Astranis’s total rewards package. Your compensation also includes a significant equity package via incentive stock options, high-quality company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement planning, flexible PTO, and free on-site catered meals.

Astranis pay ranges are informed and defined through professional-grade salary surveys and compensation data sources. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, and the level and scope of the position.

Base Salary

$150,000 — $230,000 USD

U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required

(To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))

Our mission and products are built for everyone, regardless of gender, race, creed, or background. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we invite all people to join our team and bring their unique perspectives to make us stronger.

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