Development Test Engineer

Northwoodspace; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwood Space is seeking a Test Engineer to build and manage development test systems that ensure hardware reliability from prototype to production. The role blends electronics, software, and systems integration to create repeatable, robust test capabilities for real-world space missions.

You will own EMI/EMC certification pathways, develop HITL testbeds, and integrate tests into automated CI environments, while shaping test strategy and maintenance across the lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Hands-on Linux-based environment experience.
• Familiarity with basic computer networking.

Responsibilities

• Lead integrated test development from concept through operations, including test strategy, requirements, and execution plans.
• Own the path to certification for EMI/EMC and other applicable standards (e.g., MIL-STD-461, FCC/CE), including pre-compliance testing and documentation.
• Design hardware, wiring, and electrical systems to support electrical and RF testing for development and production.
• Create device and subsystem simulators for HITL and integrate testbeds into CI/CD pipeline.
• Own test maintainability and reliability across the lifecycle.

Skills

Root-cause analysis

EMC testing

MIL-STD-461 familiarity

RF test setups

CI automation

Harness design

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Power supplies

DC loads

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

Spectrum analyzers

Job description

About Northwood:

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

Role:

Northwood is looking for an engineer to build the development systems that ensure our hardware performs reliably from early prototypes through operations. You'll own development test including hardware-in-the-loop testbeds, development RF testbeds or ranges/chambers, and customer integration milestones for modem test. This is a highly hands-on role that sits at the intersection of electronics, software, and systems integration - ideal for someone who enjoys turning ambiguous problems into robust, repeatable test capabilities that help develop world-class systems.

Responsibilities:

• Lead integrated test development from concept through operations, including test strategy, requirements, and execution plans
• Own the path to certification for EMI/EMC and other applicable standards (e.g., MIL-STD-461, FCC/CE), including pre-compliance testing, design-for-compliance input to the hardware team, test lab coordination, and certification documentation
• Design hardware, wiring, and electrical systems to support electrical and RF testing for development and production (fixtures, harnesses, interfaces, rack integration)
• Create device and subsystem simulators for hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) and integrate testbeds into our CI/CD pipeline
• Own test maintainability and reliability across the lifecycle, defining calibration, upkeep, debugging, and continuous improvement of test assets

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, or related field
• Hands-on experience in Linux-based environment, and familiarity with basic computer networking
• Hands-on experience with electrical test equipment such as power supplies, DC loads, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and spectrum analyzers

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience root-causing issues in integrated electronics (mixed-signal, digital, RF-adjacent systems)
• Hands-on EMC test and troubleshooting experience, such as near-field probes, radiated emissions testing
• Familiarity with MIL-STD-461 EMI/EMC requirements and MIL-STD-810 environmental test methods, including vibration, shock, and thermal testing
• Experience building RF test setups for communications systems, including over-the-air and conducted testing, channel emulation, and modem or link-level performance characterization
• Experience building hardware-in-the-loop testbeds and device simulators, and running them in automated CI environments
• Experience designing test racks and harnessing

Compensation:

• Test Engineer/Level 2: $100,000-$119,000 per year
• Test Engineer/Level 3: $118,000-$148,000 per year
• Test Engineer/Level 4: $136,000-$170,000 per year

Additional Information:

• If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.
• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Northwood Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.