Satellite Test Engineer – I (Checkout Systems)

Digantara; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Digantara is seeking an Electronics Hardware Test Engineer to enhance a checkout platform for spacecraft hardware. You will develop test sequences, perform spacecraft-level campaigns, and generate conclusive test reports.

You will verify interfaces, manage configurations, and troubleshoot faults with vendor collaboration. Strong lab and soldering skills are required, with hands-on experience in high‑reliability domains.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's/Master's degree in Electronics/Electrical/Instrumentation, or a relevant technical discipline.
• 3 to 6 years of hands-on experience in electronics hardware testing, validation, or integration in satellite/launch vehicle avionics, or other high-reliability domains.
• Demonstrated ownership of a test campaign from procedure authoring through execution to signed test report.
• Working experience with a commercial test platform ecosystem - NI (PXI, TestStand, VeriStand, LabVIEW) or Keysight (PathWave) - sufficient to develop and maintain test sequences independently of vendor support.
• Ability to work from electrical and software interface control documents and turn them into executable test cases with clear pass/fail criteria.
• Proficiency in using lab equipment i.e., oscilloscopes, power supplies, electronic loads, digital multimeters, and protocol analysers for bring‑up, debug and functional testing.
• Understanding of data communication protocols SPI, I2C, UART, RS422/485, CAN, LVDS, and Gigabit Ethernet, including termination, isolation, and fail‑safe behaviour.
• Working proficiency in Python for test automation and data handling.
• Hands‑on soldering and rework skills including through‑hole and surface‑mount components for prototyping, repair, and test fixture assembly.

Responsibilities

• Develop, and maintain test sequences, limit sets, and automation content within the delivered checkout platform, structured so that test content remains portable if the underlying platform changes.
• Verify power, data, and timing interfaces at the bus‑to‑payload boundary: regulated and unregulated rails, RS422/485, CAN, LVDS, Gigabit Ethernet, bi‑level discretes, PPS timing, and temperature monitor channels.
• Plan and execute spacecraft‑level campaigns - payload integration, functional, self‑compatibility, thermal vacuum, and end‑to‑end test - and generate test procedures, test reports, and non‑conformance reports.
• Troubleshoot checkout system faults to the point of isolating vendor versus in‑house responsibility, and provide the technical detail needed to open and close vendor support cases.
• Maintain configuration control of the checkout system across module swaps, firmware and software updates, so results remain comparable across a multi‑unit build.
• Maintain electronics lab and Ground Support Equipment infrastructure (equipment configuration, calibration schedules, cabling, ESD‑safe workstations) and train technicians and interns on checkout system operation.

Skills

Electronics hardware testing

Test campaign ownership

Python for test automation

Laboratory equipment proficiency

Soldering (through-hole & SMD)

Data handling

Documentation & reporting

Vendor liaison

Protocols knowledge (SPI/I2C/UART/RS-R

Version control (Git)

GSE/EGSE familiarity

Independent decision making

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's/Master's degree in Electronics/Electrical/Instrumentation

Tools

NI PXI

TestStand

VeriStand

LabVIEW

Keysight PathWave

Git

Job description

Digantara is a leadingSpace Surveillance and Intelligencecompany focused on ensuring

orbital safety and sustainability. With expertise in space-based detection, tracking,

identification, and monitoring, Digantara provides comprehensive domain awareness across

regimes, allowing end users to have actionable intelligence on a single platform. At the core of

its infrastructure lies a sophisticated integration of hardware and software capabilities aligned

with the key principles of situational awareness: perception(data collection), comprehension

(data processing), and prediction(analytics). This holistic approach empowers Digantara to

monitor all Resident Space Objects(RSOs)in orbit, fostering comprehensive domain

awareness.

Ideal Candidate:

Someone with 3 to 6 years of hands‑on experience in spacecraft or high‑reliability electronics test who can take a checkout system and make it productive - building out test content, running spacecraft‑level campaigns on it, and producing evidence that stands up in review.

Responsibilities:

• Develop, and maintain test sequences, limit sets, and automation content within the delivered checkout platform, structured so that test content remains portable if the underlying platform changes.

• Verify power, data, and timing interfaces at the bus‑to‑payload boundary: regulated and unregulated rails, RS422/485, CAN, LVDS, Gigabit Ethernet, bi‑level discretes, PPS timing, and temperature monitor channels.

• Plan and execute spacecraft‑level campaigns - payload integration, functional, self‑compatibility, thermal vacuum, and end‑to‑end test - and generate test procedures, test reports, and non‑conformance reports.

• Troubleshoot checkout system faults to the point of isolating vendor versus in‑house responsibility, and provide the technical detail needed to open and close vendor support cases.

• Maintain configuration control of the checkout system across module swaps, firmware and software updates, so results remain comparable across a multi‑unit build.

• Maintain electronics lab and Ground Support Equipment infrastructure (equipment configuration, calibration schedules, cabling, ESD‑safe workstations) and train technicians and interns on checkout system operation.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's/Master's degree in Electronics/Electrical/Instrumentation, or a relevant technical discipline.

• 3 to 6 years of hands‑on experience in electronics hardware testing, validation, or integration in satellite/launch vehicle avionics, or other high‑reliability domains.

• Demonstrated ownership of a test campaign from procedure authoring through execution to signed test report.

• Working experience with a commercial test platform ecosystem - NI (PXI, TestStand, VeriStand, LabVIEW) or Keysight (PathWave) - sufficient to develop and maintain test sequences independently of vendor support.

• Ability to work from electrical and software interface control documents and turn them into executable test cases with clear pass/fail criteria.

• Proficiency in using lab equipment i.e., oscilloscopes, power supplies, electronic loads, digital multimeters, and protocol analysers for bring‑up, debug and functional testing.

• Understanding of data communication protocols SPI, I2C, UART, RS422/485, CAN, LVDS, and Gigabit Ethernet, including termination, isolation, and fail‑safe behaviour.

• Working proficiency in Python for test automation and data handling.

• Hands‑on soldering and rework skills including through‑hole and surface‑mount components for prototyping, repair, and test fixture assembly.

Preferred Skills:

• Ability to debug a framed wire protocol at packet level - framing, CRC integrity, sequence handling - sufficient to diagnose faults independently rather than escalating every issue to the vendor.

• Experience operating or commissioning EGSE, checkout systems, or SCOE.

• Experience supporting factory or site acceptance testing of a supplied system.

• Experience with thermal vacuum, self‑compatibility, and end‑to‑end spacecraft‑level test campaigns.

• Certification in IPC‑A‑610/IPC J‑STD‑001/IPC‑7711/7721 is an advantage.

• Familiarity with version control (Git) and configuration management for test scripts, GSE builds, and setups.

• Familiarity with cleanroom protocols and handling optical payload is an added advantage.

General Requirements:

• Ability to work in a mission‑focused, operational environment.

• Ability to think critically and make independent decisions.

• Interpersonal skills to enable working in a diverse and dynamic team, including with overseas vendors across time zones.

• Maintain a regular and predictable work schedule, with extended‑hours support during test campaigns.

• Writing and delivering technical documents and briefings.

• Verbal and written communications skills as well as organizational skills.

• Travel occasionally as necessary, including to vendor facilities to support acceptance testing.

Job Location: Hebbal, Bengaluru.