Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) Manager

Project Pearl; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Project Pearl seeks an experienced Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) Manager to build and lead the AIT organization for a next‑generation space observatory. You will oversee integration across multiple sites, manage the verification strategy, and run the end-to-end test campaign from testbed integration to launch handoff.

You will stand up a new AIT facility, coordinate with suppliers and vendors, and lead a team of engineers and technicians to ensure mission readiness and schedule adherence.

Qualifications

• Experience leading AIT teams for complex aerospace programs.
• Strong systems engineering background with verification methods.
• Ability to manage budgets, schedules and risk across multi-site integrations.

Responsibilities

• Build, staff, and lead the AIT organization; own the AIT Plan, budget, schedule, resource loading, and critical path.
• Own payload-to-platform integration and final observatory closeout, including hazard controls and back-out paths.
• Lead spacecraft-level test execution: end-to-end functional, performance, mass properties, and test readiness.
• Coordinate integration readiness with platform and instrument suppliers; review supplier integration flows and artifacts.
• Own anomaly response during integration and test, including root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Establish a new integration facility tailored for space optics; define requirements, design bays/cleanrooms, and turnover to operations.

Skills

AIT management

Systems engineering

Project planning & scheduling

Anomaly investigation & root cause

Job description

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) Manager to build and lead the AIT organization for a next‑generation space observatory through final integration, environmental verification, hazardous processing, and launch vehicle integration on the Eastern Range. You will collaborate with world‑class scientists, engineers, and global partners on a program that enables groundbreaking astrophysical discoveries.

The program includes payload‑level integration of a telescope and instruments at a supplier site in California, delivery of a bus and payload to a final integration site in Florida, where spacecraft‑level testing, propellant loading, encapsulation, and launch vehicle integration are performed. This is a management position: you will stand up a new integration facility purpose‑built for world‑class space optics, manage commercial processing providers, staff and qualify the technician workforce, establish production and test process control, and run the integrated test campaign from testbed integration through launch handoff.

The Spacecraft Systems Engineering group owns the Requirements Verification Plan, the test strategy, and the closure criteria. The AIT group that you lead implements that plan: translating verification requirements into executable procedures and integration flows, executing them on flight and testbed hardware, and delivering as‑run data and discrepancies back for requirement closure. Verification approach is a Systems Engineering product; verification execution is an AIT product. The AIT Manager and the V&V engineers work as direct counterparts across that boundary.

Key Responsibilities For This Role Include The Following

AIT Management and Execution

• Build, staff, and lead the AIT organization; own the AIT Plan, budget, schedule, resource loading, and critical path.
• Own payload-to-platform integration: receiving, inspection, payload reassembly, mate to the bus, alignment, and final observatory closeout, including hold points, hazard controls, and back‑out paths.
• Lead spacecraft‑level test execution: end‑to‑end functional, performance, modal survey, DFAT, EMC self‑compatibility, mass properties, thruster alignment, and closeout.
• Coordinate integration readiness with the platform, payload, and instrument suppliers; review and approve supplier integration flows, readiness artifacts, and as‑shipped configuration.
• Own anomaly response during integration and test, including troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and corrective action.
• Own AIT content in program review gates (CDR, TRR, MRR, ORR, launch readiness) and report status and risk to leadership.

Facilities, Providers, and Launch Site Setup

• Establish and stand up a new integration facility purpose‑built for world‑class space optics: requirements definition, bay and cleanroom design, buildout, activation, certification, and turnover to operations.