Engineer V

General Atomics; Acton (MA); On-site; USD 106,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs and builds advanced EO/IR space payloads and systems for defense and space applications. The Test Software & Automation Engineer will join the Optical Payload I&T team to design, automate, and test software-based payload subsystems, collaborating across systems, software, and hardware engineers in Acton, MA.

This on-site, full-time role emphasizes repeatable test workflows, data analysis, and robust software architectures.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor's, master's, or PhD in engineering with progressive experience.
• Strong Python software-development experience in production or engineering environments.
• Demonstrated experience architecting and maintaining a nontrivial software system.
• Demonstrated experience interfacing software with hardware, embedded systems, or lab equipment.
• Strong understanding of software architecture, modular design, interface definition, configuration management, and automated testing.
• Strong debugging skills across software, communications, OS, and hardware interfaces.
• Ability to mentor less experienced software developers and review their work.
• Comfortable working directly in laboratories with engineers and hardware.
• Strong technical writing, documentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance is required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical lead for payload test software, test automation, and software-based EGSE.
• Architect reusable test software frameworks for payload integration, functional test, and production.
• Lead development of hardware abstraction layers and interfaces to lab equipment, payload electronics, sensors, motion system, optical equipment, and other GSE.
• Develop operator-facing applications for configuration, telemetry visualization, test execution, and data review.
• Define software architectures supporting repeatable, automated test execution.
• Develop and maintain data acquisition, processing, image-analysis, visualization, and database infrastructure.
• Establish software development practices including version control, code review, automated testing, CI/CD, release management, deployment.
• Support automated verification and regression testing of flight and test software.
• Lead troubleshooting of software/hardware integration issues in labs.
• Reduce operator-dependent activities through automation and user-interface design.
• Mentor junior software personnel and provide technical direction and reviews.
• Collaborate with system and test engineers to translate test requirements into software capabilities.
• Develop common software capabilities reusable across programs and test stations.

Skills

Python

Software architecture

Debugging

Mentoring

Lab work

Technical writing

Mentoring junior developers

DoD security clearance readiness

CI/CD

Containers

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Master's degree

PhD

Tools

CI/CD

Docker

Kubernetes

Linux

OpenCV

Databases

Job description

56981BR

Job Summary:

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs and manufactures first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS' expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions support critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide.

At GA-EMS - Optical Sensor Systems, we design, build, and test advanced electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) space payload that power next-generation remote-sensing systems. You’ll join a multidisciplinary team tackling technically challenging problems in a collaborative, hands-on environment. We value innovation, rigor, and accountability—offering opportunities for growth and leadership based on technical excellence.

We are seeking a highly motivated Test Software & Automation Engineer to join our Optical Payload Integration & Test (I&T) team. This role focuses on electro-optical payload test software, test automation, and software-based payload subsystems. You will work closely with systems, software, and electrical engineers to plan and execute integration activities, automate test workflows, and ensure performance and reliability requirements are met. Candidates should be comfortable working in laboratory and cleanroom environments with test hardware, software interfaces, and data analysis tools. This is a full-time position located in Acton, MA.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as technical lead for payload test software, test automation, and software-based EGSE

• Architect reusable test software frameworks supporting payload integration, functional test, characterization, qualification, acceptance, and production

• Lead development of hardware abstraction layers and interfaces to laboratory equipment, payload electronics, sensors, motion system, optical equipment, and other GSE

• Develop operator-facing applications for configuration, commanding, telemetry visualization, test execution, and data review

• Define software architectures supporting repeatable, automated, configuration-controlled test execution

• Develop and maintain data acquisition, data processing, image-analysis, visualization, and database infrastructure

• Establish software development practices appropriate for test systems, including source control, code review, automated testing, CI/CD, release management, and deployment

• Support automated verification and regression testing of flight and test software

• Lead troubleshooting of software/hardware integration issues in laboratory environments

• Reduce operator-dependent activities through automation, validation, interlocks, and appropriate user-interface design

• Mentor junior software personnel and provide technical direction, design reviews, and code reviews

• Collaborate with system and test engineers to translate test requirements into maintainable software capabilities

• Develop common software capabilities reusable across multiple programs and test stations

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply

Job Qualifications:

• Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; nine or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, seven or more years of experience with a masters degree, or four or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.

• Strong Python software-development experience in production or engineering environments

• Demonstrated experience architecting and maintaining a nontrivial software system, rather than individual scripts and utilities

• Demonstrated experience interfacing software with physical hardware, embedded systems, laboratory equipment, or other external devices

• Strong understanding of software architecture, modular design, interface definition, configuration management, and automated testing

• Strong debugging skills across software, communications, operating-system, and hardware interfaces

• Ability to mentor less experienced software developers and review their technical work

• Comfortable working directly in laboratories with engineers and hardware

• Strong technical writing, documentation, and communication skills

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance is required

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with CI/CD, automated deployment, containers, or infrastructure automation

• Experience with databases and high-volume engineering/test data

• Linux development and deployment experience

• Experiencing developing test software or EGSE for aerospace, defense, semiconductor, robotics, scientific instrumentation, or similarly hardware-intensive environments

• Experience with GUIs and real-time engineering visualization

• Experience with Python scientific/data tools such as NumPy, SciPy, pandas/Polars, OpenCV, or similar

• Experience with network protocols, serial communications, CAN, Ethernet, TCP/UDP, REST, ZeroMQ, or similar machine interfaces

• Familiarity with FPGA/embedded-system integration

• Image processing or EO/IR data experience

• Experience designing software for multiple test stations or production environments where repeatability and operator-error reduction matter

Job Category:

Engineering

Experience Level:

Senior (8+ years)

Workstyle:

Onsite

Full-Time/Part-Time:

Full-Time Salary

Pay Range Low:

105,890

Pay Range High:

189,545

Travel Percentage Required:

0% - 25%

Relocation Assistance Provided?:

Yes

US Citizenship Required?:

Yes

Clearance Required?:

Desired

Clearance Level:

Secret

General Atomics is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, transitioning status, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, medical condition, mental disability, physical disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. In accordance with applicable federal law, General Atomics takes affirmative action to employ and advance the employment of qualified protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. We also prohibit compensation discrimination under all applicable laws. U.S. Citizenship is required for certain positions. To learn more, please review the EEOC’s "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal" poster.