Test Engineer - Space Hardware (m/f/d)

Blackwave GmbH; Taufkirchen; Remote; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Germany ticket

Lunch culture

Autonomy

Aerospace culture

Rooftop terrace

Job summary

Blackwave GmbH in Germany seeks a hardware test engineer to design and operate test infrastructure for aerospace COPV components. You will design test benches, execute campaigns, and deliver fully traceable data to validate hardware prior to flight.

You will collaborate with design, manufacturing, and quality teams, owning campaigns from setup to final reporting. English fluency and hands-on mindset are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical/Aerospace/Materials/Physics or related field.
• Experience in hardware testing, test bench development, or experimental engineering.
• Understanding of sensors, DAQ, and mechanical/hydraulic/pneumatic test systems.
• Ability to evaluate data and document traces; Python or MATLAB is a plus.
• Strong ownership mindset and hands-on, curious approach; fluent English.

Responsibilities

• Develop, build, and provision test methods and benches for product validation.
• Plan and run structured campaigns (proof, burst, cycling, environmental) end-to-end.
• Analyze results, assess accuracy, and deliver traceable test reports.
• Collaborate with design, manufacturing, and quality teams in Taufkirchen.

Skills

Test methodology

DAQ systems

Sensor integration

Data analysis

Python / MATLAB

Education

BSc in Mechanical Eng

MSc in Aerospace Eng

Tools

LabVIEW

MATLAB

Python

DAQ hardware

Job description

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

THE WHAT

You develop and operate the test infrastructure for our aerospace components — from test method and test bench design to campaign execution, data evaluation, and traceable reporting. You bring a fresh engineering perspective to new projects and strengthen our validation capabilities with every campaign.

THE WHY

To end COPV failure in spaceflight. Every composite pressure vessel that flies is proven on a test bench first. Testing is where design assumptions meet physical reality — burst, proof, cycle, and environmental campaigns generate the data that lets our customers trust their hardware in orbit. This role owns that proof.

YOUR IMPACT

You don't run tests. You deliver proof.

You ensure:

• every test campaign delivers reliable, reproducible data on schedule
• test benches and methods evolve with our products — not behind them
• results are documented so clearly that anyone can trace a data point back to its source

Important note: This role covers hardware testing and quality assurance of our COPVs and carbon structures. We are not hiring for Software QA or software testing positions.

Your tasks in detail and by priority:

• Develop, build, and technically provision test methods and test benches — mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic setups including sensor and DAQ integration — to support product validation and qualification.

High Performance: Precision at speed. Test-ready when the hardware is.

• Conceptualize, prepare, and run structured test campaigns (e.g. proof, burst, pressure cycling, or environmental testing) according to project and customer requirements. You own the campaign end-to-end.

Accountability: Your bench, your campaign, your data.

• Analyze measurement results, assess accuracy and reliability, and prepare comprehensive and fully traceable test reports. The data says what it says — you report it straight.

Candor: Honest data. Clear reports. No spin.

• Approach testing challenges with curiosity and initiative — new fixtures, smarter instrumentation, and better methods. Testing is applied problem-solving, and you treat it that way.

Playfulness: Experiment on the bench, not in production.

• Work hands-on with design, manufacturing, and quality teams in Taufkirchen to close the loop between test results and product improvement.

Togetherness: Test data only matters if the whole team can act on it.

YOUR PROFILE

Must-Haves

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a related technical field.
• First practical experience (internships, thesis projects, or 1-3 years of professional experience) in hardware testing, test bench development, or an experimental engineering environment.
• Solid understanding of test methodologies and experimental setups, including practical experience with sensors, data acquisition (DAQ), and mechanical, hydraulic, or pneumatic test systems.
• Ability to critically evaluate measurement data and create clear, traceable documentation; experience with Python or MATLAB is a plus.
• Strong ownership mindset and the ability to drive technical topics forward in a structured and independent manner.
• Fluent English and a curious, hands‑on mindset with a strong willingness to learn.

Nice to have

• Experience with composite materials or pressure vessel testing.
• Experience with LabVIEW, aerospace testing standards (e.g. ECSS), cryogenic testing, or measurement uncertainty analysis.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Choose your own benefit: Germany ticket, Egym Wellpass, or a tax‑free Give Card
• Healthy & social lunch culture: Fresh meals during shared lunch breaks
• High level of autonomy & real impact: You own a critical seam in the business — between what we sell and what we build
• Startup mindset meets aerospace innovation: Flat hierarchies, fast decisions, and space for your ideas
• Stunning views: Rooftop terrace with views of the Alps in Taufkirchen, or indoor garden in Garching-Hochbrück
• Growth opportunities: Work on technically demanding projects with real stakes
• We live our team culture: From tech talks to team events and after‑work gatherings — we celebrate success together

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