Lead Payload Test Software & Automation Engineer

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

Job summary

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) in Acton, MA, is seeking a Test Software & Automation Engineer to design and automate EO/IR payload test software for aerospace applications. You’ll collaborate across systems, software, and electrical teams to plan integration activities, automate workflows, and ensure performance requirements are met.

The role is full-time in Acton, MA, with opportunities to lead software development practices and mentor junior engineers in a hands-on lab

Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor's, master's or PhD in engineering or related technical discipline with progressive experience (8+ years with BA, 7+ with MS, or 4+ with PhD).
• Strong Python software-development experience in production or engineering environments.
• Experience architecting and maintaining nontrivial software systems.
• Experience interfacing software with hardware, embedded systems, or lab equipment.
• Strong understanding of software architecture, modular design, and automated testing.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance.

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 interfaces to laboratory equipment and payload subsystems.
• Develop operator-facing applications for configuration, telemetry visualization, and test execution.
• Define architectures for repeatable, automated test execution.
• Establish data acquisition, processing, and visualization for test metrics.
• Drive CI/CD, automated testing, and deployment practices for test software.

Skills

Python

Software architecture

QA/testing

Mentoring

Lab equipment

Technical writing

DoD Clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's degree in engineering

PhD in engineering

Tools

CI/CD

Containers

Linux

Databases

Job description

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) in Acton, MA, is seeking a Test Software & Automation Engineer to design and automate EO/IR payload test software for aerospace applications. You’ll collaborate across systems, software, and electrical teams to plan integration activities, automate workflows, and ensure performance requirements are met.

The role is full-time in Acton, MA, with opportunities to lead software development practices and mentor junior engineers in a hands-on lab