Environmental Test Technician

Loft Orbital Solutions; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 201,000 - 335,000; Full time

Job summary

Orbitworks is seeking a hands-on Test Technician to design, set up, and operate specialized test equipment in Abu Dhabi. You will prepare flight hardware, install sensors, and run campaigns to verify spaceflight readiness.

The role emphasizes hardware-focused engineering tests with strict data integrity and safety standards, requiring extensive experience with test systems and cleanroom/ESD protocols.

Qualifications

• Requires technical diploma or associate degree in mechanical/electrical/mechatronics engineering or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years in mechanical/electrical/environmental testing of high-reliability hardware.
• Hands-on experience with test systems such as thermal vacuum chambers, vibration tables, or environmental chambers.

Responsibilities

• Set up and operate test systems including thermal vacuum, vibration sine/random, and anechoic chambers.
• Prepare flight and engineering hardware for test campaigns: mounting, wiring, installing sensors.
• Execute tests following procedures and engineering direction, ensuring data integrity and safety compliance.
• Monitor test parameters and document anomalies, ensuring traceable, high-quality results.
• Collect and analyze test data, generate plots and concise technical reports.
• Calibrate and maintain test instruments (vacuum gauges, temperature controllers, accelerometers, DAQ).
• Collaborate with engineering and AIT teams to improve test methods, fixtures, and automation.
• Maintain adherence to cleanroom and ESD protocols.

Skills

Test system operation

Reading engineering drawings

Instrumentation & DAQ

Cleanroom/ESD protocols

Education

Technical diploma or associate degree in mechanical/electrical/mechatronics engineering

Tools

Thermal vacuum chambers

Vibration tables

Environmental chambers

Anechoic chambers

Job description

Wanna join the adventure
Orbitworks is designing producing and operating spacecraft that bring the power of space down to Earth. We’re looking for a hands-on Test Technician to help us prove our spacecraft is ready for launch. You’ll operate specialized test equipment - thermal vacuum chambers vibration shakers and anechoic chambers - to simulate the extreme conditions of spaceflight. This is a hardware-focused engineering test role not an environmental science or inspection position.

About this Role:

• Set up and operate test systems including thermal vacuum vibration (sine/random) and anechoic chambers.
• Prepare flight and engineering hardware for test campaigns: mounting wiring and installing sensors (thermocouples accelerometers strain gauges etc.).
• Execute tests following procedures and engineering direction ensuring data integrity and safety compliance.
• Monitor test parameters and document anomalies ensuring traceable high-quality results.
• Collect and analyze test data generate plots and produce concise technical reports.
• Calibrate and maintain test instruments (vacuum gauges temperature controllers accelerometers data acquisition systems).
• Collaborate with engineering and AIT teams to improve test methods fixtures and automation.
• Maintain adherence to cleanroom and ESD protocols.

Must Haves:

• 10 years of experience in mechanical electrical or environmental testing of high-reliability hardware (aerospace automotive defense or electronics).
• Hands-on experience with test systems such as thermal vacuum chambers vibration tables or environmental chambers.
• Understanding of instrumentation and data acquisition systems (DAQ sensors calibration logging).
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings wiring diagrams and test procedures.
• Technical diploma or associate degree in mechanical electrical or mechatronics engineering (or equivalent experience).
• Strong attention to detail and comfort working with flight-critical hardware in cleanroom environments.

Nice to Haves:

• Experience with aerospace environmental test standards (GEVS MIL-STD-1540 ECSS).
• Familiarity with RF testing vibration control software or thermal control systems.
• Basic scripting or Python experience for data automation.
• Certified forklift or crane operator (for payload handling).
• Prior experience in spacecraft assembly integration or test (AIT).

Important note:

This role focuses on hardware environmental testing rather than chemical or environmental compliance work. Candidates with backgrounds in space aviation automotive or electronics testing are strongly encouraged to apply.

Orbitworks mission is to make space simple for organizations that want to deploy physical and virtual missions to space. Building on Loft Orbitals heritage Orbitworks will be the first commercial firm in the United Arab Emirates to mass-manufacture satellites. Orbitworks aims to manufacture tens of satellites annually and operates out of a 50000-square-foot facility in Abu Dhabi.

Required Experience:

IC