AIT Senior Test Technician

The Exploration Company; München; On-site; EUR 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Visa sponsorship

Equal opportunity employer

Job summary

The Exploration Company in Munich seeks a hands-on AIT Senior Test Technician (proto) to support environmental and functional testing of spacecraft subsystems and hardware. You will prepare, integrate, and report test activities with rigor and safety in a fast-paced aerospace development environment.

The ideal candidate is meticulous, structured, and able to train junior technicians while ensuring traceability, quality standards, and clear communication with engineers and operations teams.

Qualifications

• Technical degree or vocational training in aerospace, electronics, mechatronics, industrial systems, or a related technical field.
• Experience in aerospace, automotive, defense, industrial testing, or other high‑reliability technical environments.
• Hands‑on experience with environmental testing equipment such as vibration tables, thermal chambers, or instrumentation systems is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with laboratory operations, instrumentation installation, and mechanical integration activities.
• Experience working with calibrated equipment, controlled procedures, and technical documentation is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

• Set up, integrate, and execute environmental tests including: vibration testing, shock testing, TVAC testing, and ancillary testing activities.
• Take ownership of the preparation and execution of experimental campaigns for the qualification of prototypes of components developed internally (e.g., valves).
• Guide and train Junior Technicians to support activities when multiple campaigns run simultaneously.
• Prepare hardware, tooling, instrumentation, and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) for test campaigns and ensure readiness.
• Install thermocouples, accelerometers, harnessing, and instrumentation according to test procedures.
• Operate environmental test equipment including vibration shaker, shock facility, TVAC facility, and monitoring systems.
• Perform pre-test and post-test inspections and ensure documentation and traceability.

Skills

Attention to detail

Structured work style

Hands-on mindset

Team collaboration

Clear communication

Problem solving

Education

Technical degree or vocational training

Tools

Vibration testing equipment

Thermal vacuum chambers

Instrumentation systems

Job description

Here at The Exploration Company, we are building innovative aerospace technologies that advance the future of space transportation.

We are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle that caneventually be refueled in orbit and that can carry cargo - and potentially humans in the longer run.

We are looking for a hands‑on and rigorous AIT Senior Test Technician (proto) to support the preparation, integration, execution, and reporting of environmental and functional test activities for spacecraft sub‑systems and hardware.

This role is critical to ensuring that all testing activities are executed safely, accurately, and according to procedures and quality standards. The ideal candidate is meticulous, structured, technically skilled, and comfortable operating in a fast‑paced aerospace development environment.

Key Responsibilities

Environmental Test Preparation & Execution

• Be responsible for the setup, integration, and execution of environmental tests including:

  • Vibration testing

  • Shock testing

  • Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) testing

  • Ancillary testing activities

• Take ownership of the preparation and execution of experimental campaigns for the qualification of prototypes of components developed internally, such as valves

  • MGSE machining (milling, drilling, helicoil installation, ...)

  • FGSE preparation (valves, pressure controllers, ...)

• Guide and train Junior Technicians to support on the activities described above when multiple qualification campaign are executed simultaneously

• Prepare hardware, tooling, instrumentation, and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) for test campaigns taking ownership of their readiness.

• Install thermocouples, accelerometers, harnessing, and instrumentation according to test procedures and engineering requirements.

• Operate environmental test equipment including vibration shaker, shock test facility, TVAC facility, and associated monitoring systems.

• Perform pre-test and post-test inspections of test setups.

• Support testing activities both internally and at external test facilities.

Procedures, Documentation & Reporting

• Prepare and execute test procedures with adherence to safety, cleanliness, and quality standards.

• Ensure all operations are properly documented and traceable.

• Report, anomalies, and observations during operations.

• Verify that tools, instrumentation, and measurement equipment comply with calibration requirements before use.

Tooling, Equipment & Facility Support

• Maintain and organize tooling, sensors, adapters, cables, and test equipment.

• Monitor the condition and calibration status of test assets and measurement equipment.

• Perform first‑level maintenance and troubleshooting on test equipment and support systems.

• Support the integration and validation of new tooling and test setups.

• Assist engineers in defining and improving test processes, setups, and operational workflows.

• Ensure laboratory and test areas remain organized, safe, and operationally ready.

Qualifications & Experience

• Technical degree or vocational training in aerospace, electronics, mechatronics, industrial systems, or a related technical field.

• Experience in aerospace, automotive, defense, industrial testing, or other high‑reliability technical environments.

• Hands‑on experience with environmental testing equipment such as vibration tables, thermal chambers, or instrumentation systems is highly desirable.

• Familiarity with laboratory operations, instrumentation installation, and mechanical integration activities.

• Experience working with calibrated equipment, controlled procedures, and technical documentation is a strong plus.

Expected Technical Skills

• Ability to read and follow technical procedures and engineering drawings.

• Experience with mechanical assembly and test setups.

• Basic understanding of sensors and instrumentation systems.

• Familiarity with torque tools, measurement equipment, and laboratory/test equipment.

• Knowledge of safety procedures related to environmental testing activities.

• Basic troubleshooting and problem‑solving capabilities in technical environments.

Personal Qualities

• Strong rigor and attention to detail.

• Structured and disciplined way of working.

• Hands‑on mindset with a proactive attitude.

• Ability to identify and communicate anomalies clearly and accurately.

• Team player with good communication skills.

• Reliable, organized, and accountable.

• Comfortable working in fast‑paced and evolving environments.

• Excellent communication skills in English.

Why you should join us!

What makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is:

• We’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind

• We’re Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them

• We have a lot of Fun - we refuel our energy knowing we are democratising space. It’s a wonderful and rare opportunity, are YOU up for the challenge?

The Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable.

All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, which will be subject to the country, role, and project you applied for. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree that any offer of employment may be conditional upon successful condition of this check. The Exploration Company partners with Zinc Work Limited located in the UK (Zinc), a third‑party provider, to ensure this process as efficient and transparent as possible. If applicable, you will receive an email from Zinc upon acceptance of your offer with a link to a secure portal where you can provide the required information to Zinc.