Role: Lead - Satellite Checkout Engineer
Employment Type: Full Time
Educational Qualification: B.E./B.Tech/M.S/M.Tech in Electrical & Electronics (or Instrumentation) Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
Work Experience: Minimum 10-12 years of experience in Checkout / Embedded Software Quality Engineering & Assurance / Software AIT within the aerospace, satellite manufacturing, automotive or defence industries. Experience in establishing and managing teams at an organisational level is highly desirable.
Role Description: Team lead of the Checkout group in the Space Department of Pixxel.
Responsibilities & Duties
- As a part of Pixxel’s Production group, you will be responsible for the integration and testing of all spacecraft systems software.
- You’ll develop and implement comprehensive system test plans, perform analysis, and document outcomes at different stages of satellite integration. You'll play a pivotal role in recording and categorizing defects, while also summarizing test results for clear communication.
- You’ll investigate and analyze defects, reproducing scenarios using ground-based rigs to aid Root Cause Analysis (RCA). Develop and implement tests to address defects effectively in collaboration with the design team.
- You will be expected to continuously optimize the checkout process and philosophy to be lean, simple, and reliable.
- You would be expected to lead various satellite test campaigns like - Thermo Vacuum Cycling campaigns, Hardware-In-Loop Tests, Day-In-Life Tests, EMI/EMC Campaign etc.
- You will be responsible for configuration management of the deployment software for production satellites.
- You will be responsible for creation and maintenance of documentation of all test activities performed by the checkout team.
Leadership & Strategy
- You will lead, guide and manage a team of 5+ checkout engineers, assuming responsibility for both their technical leadership and personnel management. You will also be responsible for the staffing of the checkout team for all future missions.
- You will oversee sprint planning for the checkout team, including task allocation and bandwidth management.
- Guide the team towards continuous improvement and upskilling, enabling them to plan and conduct test campaigns independently, thereby reducing reliance on the design team.
- You will be expected to interface with Verification & Validation team, Flight Software Team, Program office, Production team and Quality assurance team on a regular basis to identify checkout activities, plan execution, and perform tests in sprint cycles.
Desirable Skills & Certifications
- Strong understanding and experience in Avionics / Payload Systems, cross functional system level knowledge of various satellite systems (Electrical Power, Sensors, Actuators, Radios, Propulsion, etc), result analysis, and multi-system testing.
- Experience in reading and understanding datasheets, technical reports, software release notes, wiring diagrams, schematics and test plans is a must. Should be well versed in providing technical feedback to the design team.
- Strong understanding of test campaigns - firmware release tests, Day-in-life test, Functional Checks, System performance test - and ability to quickly and accurately document test reports and results.
- Demonstrated experience in successfully running production level test campaigns for products in aerospace / automotive / defense sectors. Experience in testing of satellites - will be a bonus.
- High proficiency in Python, C, C++. Comfortable with Linux based tools.
- Strong written and interpersonal skills for effective collaboration with various subsystems in the space department’s design teams.
- You will have to be impeccable with your documentation - to record tests plans, results & be able to deliver technical feedbacks to the design teams.
Candidate Acumen
A strong desire to work in an unstructured, high-growth, fast-paced start-up environment. Ability to deal with challenges and work out innovative solutions to tackle them. Building a team and guiding them towards success.
Benefits
Health insurance coverage, Unlimited leaves & flexible working hours, Role-based remote work and work-from-home benefit, Relocation assistance, Professional Mental Wellness services, Creche facility for primary caregivers (limited to India), Employee Stock Options for all hires.