Lead Spacecraft AI&T & Integration Engineer

Schmidt Entities; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Schmidt Entities seeks a Senior Spacecraft AI&T Systems Engineer to lead integration, verification, and test campaigns for a next‑generation space observatory. You will manage instrument, telescope, and bus integration across partners, owning spacecraft‑level integration of payload with the bus and defining the intensive AI&T plan.

You will collaborate across optics, avionics, software, mechanical, thermal, GN&C, and power teams to ensure end‑to‑end functionality and successful testing in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in spacecraft AI&T, system integration, or verification.
• Experience integrating spacecraft subsystems or payloads (avionics, optics, instruments, power, GN&C).
• Familiarity with environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, EMC).
• Experience developing test plans, procedures, and integration flows.
• Strong understanding of spacecraft architectures and subsystem interfaces.
• 7+ years of spacecraft AI&T or system-level verification experience.
• Experience integrating telescopes or complex scientific payloads.
• Experience with flatsats, simulators, and hardware–software integration.
• Familiarity with verification standards and best practices.
• Experience with configuration management and test automation.
• Passion for space systems and advanced scientific missions.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the spacecraft AI&T plan, integration sequences, and verification strategy.
• Oversee the integration of the instrument, telescope, and bus at vendor facilities.
• Own and execute the spacecraft-level integration of the payload with the spacecraft bus.
• Develop system-level verification plans (VCD/VCM), test procedures, and pass/fail criteria.
• Lead functional, performance, environmental (TVAC, vibe, acoustic), and EMC testing.
• Coordinate flatsat testing and hardware–software integration with avionics, GN&C, and FSW teams.
• Define requirements for testbeds, flatsats, simulators, and EGSE/MGSE.
• Ensure ground support systems and test setups meet spacecraft and payload needs.
• Manage configuration control across hardware, software loads, harnessing, and integration setups.
• Develop AI&T requirements, integration constraints, and verification methods.
• Maintain traceability across spacecraft requirements, integration steps, and test results.
• Ensure consistency across internal and external ICDs.
• Coordinate integration activities with spacecraft bus vendors, telescope/instrument teams, and test facilities.
• Review vendor integration flows, readiness artifacts, and verification outputs.
• Support major reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR, TRR, ORR).
• Work closely with systems engineering, bus, telescope, payload, and mission operations teams.
• Support anomaly investigation, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Communicate risks, AI&T status, and technical findings clearly to leadership and partners.

Skills

Systems engineering

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong communication

Hands-on in cleanroom

Documentation

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering

Tools

Flatsats

Simulators

EGSE/MGSE

Job description

Schmidt Entities seeks a Senior Spacecraft AI&T Systems Engineer to lead integration, verification, and test campaigns for a next‑generation space observatory. You will manage instrument, telescope, and bus integration across partners, owning spacecraft‑level integration of payload with the bus and defining the intensive AI&T plan.

You will collaborate across optics, avionics, software, mechanical, thermal, GN&C, and power teams to ensure end‑to‑end functionality and successful testing in