Senior AIT Engineer

S[&]T; Delft; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

S[&]T in Delft seeks a Senior AIT Engineer to own AI&T activities for a growing space engineering team. You will define test philosophy, manage integration and test campaigns, and drive process improvements across internal and supplier teams.

You will also develop the organisation’s AI&T capability, work with an international partner, and ensure readiness for flight by balancing testing rigor with project constraints.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related field.
• At least 8 years of experience in assembly, integration and testing of complex hardware.
• Experience leading an integration and test campaign from planning to delivery.
• Hands-on experience with environmental or qualification testing (vibration, TVAC, etc).
• Spacecraft AI&T experience or equivalent in high‑reliability programs.
• Ability to work on-site in Delft with limited hybrid options and international collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the AI&T philosophy and strategy for the programme.
• Lead verification and validation activities across EM/FM levels with suppliers.
• Plan, execute EM and flatsat activities, develop procedures and evidence.
• Develop satellite-level FM test procedures and support test campaigns.
• Review supplier AI&T plans and ensure compliance with requirements.
• Lead or participate in Test Readiness Reviews and Test Review Boards.

Skills

AIT

Integration

Test automation

Python

MATLAB/Simulink

Electrical testing

Cleanroom practices

Dutch language

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Aerospace Engineering

Tools

ECSS standards

Scripting tools

Job description

We are currently looking for a Senior AIT Engineer to join the team in Delft.

We are looking for a Senior Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T) Engineer to take ownership of AI&T activities within a growing space engineering team.

You will play a central role in defining how complex satellite hardware is assembled, integrated, tested, verified, and ultimately accepted for flight. The position combines two main responsibilities: contributing directly to an ongoing satellite integration and test campaign, while simultaneously developing the organisation’s long-term AI&T capability.

The current campaign is being carried out together with an experienced international partner. You will be closely involved in the activities for which the organisation is responsible, working alongside specialists from both organisations. The exact level of campaign responsibility can grow depending on your previous experience.

At the same time, you will establish and further develop the internal AI&T discipline, including the overall test philosophy, integration strategy, procedures, standards, documentation, and test infrastructure. The approaches established now will form the basis for future satellite programmes.

Much of the physical integration and environmental testing is performed at suppliers and partner facilities in the Netherlands, elsewhere in Europe, and the United States. You will define the required verification and testing approach, assess supplier proposals and documentation, participate in critical reviews and test campaigns, and intervene when results do not meet the required standard.

In Delft, activities include software- and hardware-in-the-loop testing, with the potential development of a flatsat environment in the future.

Ultimately, you will be responsible for determining whether hardware is ready to proceed to the next stage of integration or testing. You will work closely with Systems Engineering, which manages requirements and verification, and Programme Management, which oversees schedule and cost.

Responsibilities:

• Define and maintain the overall AI&T philosophy and strategy, including engineering, qualification, and acceptance testing.
• Determine the appropriate use of engineering models, structural/thermal models, and other test models to reduce programme risk.
• Take ownership of the organisation’s responsibilities within an ongoing satellite AI&T campaign.
• Define verification and validation requirements and support verification close-out.
• Assess and accept subsystems prior to integration at both Engineering Model (EM) and Flight Model (FM) level.
• Plan and execute EM and potential flatsat activities, including procedure development, test execution, result collection, and generation of compliance evidence.
• Develop satellite-level FM test procedures and participate in flight-model integration and environmental testing.
• Define and procure mechanical and electrical Ground Support Equipment (GSE).
• Prepare AI&T plans, test specifications, and test procedures at both system and supplier level.
• Plan, oversee, and evaluate environmental and functional qualification campaigns, including vibration, shock, thermal, thermal-vacuum (TVAC), and EMC testing.
• Support optical alignment, calibration, and performance verification in cooperation with payload specialists.
• Review supplier AI&T plans, procedures, reports, and other documentation and ensure suppliers meet agreed requirements.
• Lead or participate in Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs) and Test Review Boards.
• Investigate and support the disposition of non-conformances, anomalies, and test failures.
• Define and maintain contamination-control, ESD, cleanroom, and hardware-handling requirements throughout the integration flow.
• Provide realistic integration and test durations for programme planning and substantiate the assumptions behind them.
• Be present at supplier and partner facilities during critical integration and test activities.
• Further develop the AI&T discipline as the organisation grows, including its standards, processes, documentation, tools, and future team capability.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Optomechatronics, Precision Engineering, or a comparable technical discipline.
• At least 8 years of experience in assembly, integration, and testing of complex hardware systems, including experience at system level.
• Demonstrated experience taking ownership of an integration and test campaign from planning and logistics through execution and delivery.
• Hands-on experience with environmental or qualification testing such as vibration, shock, thermal, TVAC, or comparable test activities.
• Professional experience with spacecraft AI&T, whether at platform, payload, subsystem, or complete mission level.
• Experience defining, specifying, and procuring mechanical and/or electrical GSE.
• Ability to critically assess supplier work and make firm technical acceptance or rejection decisions when required.
• Working knowledge of cleanroom practices, contamination control, ESD, and sensitive hardware handling.
• Good understanding of electrical test equipment, instrumentation, test procedures, data acquisition, and test-result interpretation.
• Fluent English and comfortable working within multidisciplinary and international teams.
• Willingness to work primarily on site in Delft, with limited hybrid working possibilities.
• Willingness and ability to spend extended periods at partner and supplier facilities during integration and test campaigns.
• Experience with optical instruments, optical payloads, or opto-mechatronic systems.
• Familiarity with ECSS standards, particularly those relating to verification, integration, and testing.
• Experience with scripting or test automation using tools such as Python or MATLAB/Simulink.
• Previous experience establishing or developing an AI&T capability, processes, or standards within a growing organisation.
• Experience within the defence or security sector.
• Working proficiency in Dutch.

Please note that if you do not hear back from us within 10 days of your application, you may assume that we have selected another candidate we would like to interview for this position. We do our best to get back to you individually; however, due to a high volume of responses, it can be that we have not been able to reject your application in person.