Lead Test Engineer, Flight Power Systems

CisLunar Industries; Loveland (CO); On-site; USD 145,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Healthcare stipend

Roth IRA contributions

Unlimited PTO

Colorado FAMLI leave

Job summary

CisLunar Industries in Loveland, CO seeks a Lead Test Engineer, Flight Power Systems to own test architecture, EGSE, checkout, acceptance, and qualification execution for flight power electronics.

This hands-on leadership role requires turning prototype methods into repeatable, evidence-driven processes for PPU and high-power spacecraft systems.

Qualifications

• BS or higher in Electrical/Aerospace/Systems Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years hardware test engineering or equivalent in aerospace/spacecraft domains.
• Hands-on lab experience with real hardware.
• Experience with power electronics test and EGSE.
• Ability to write clear test procedures, plans, checkout scripts, and reports.
• Experience debugging hardware, firmware, test software, and lab setup.

Responsibilities

• Own Qualification and Acceptance Test Plans for flight power electronics and PPU programs.
• Own EGSE architecture and implementation for checkout, acceptance, qualification support and delivery evidence.
• Define and build representative electrical loads and interface simulators for thruster and spacecraft interfaces.
• Select, integrate, and maintain power supplies, electronic loads, DAQs, oscilloscopes, sensors, harnessing, safety interlocks.
• Develop test automation, data logging, fault detection, scripted checkout, and repeatable test execution flows.
• Support prototype, EM, QM, PFM, and FM testing.
• Translate early prototype approaches into controlled acceptance and qualification procedures.
• Own test readiness reviews and lab readiness for qualification closures.

Skills

Lab troubleshooting

Automation scripting

Cross-disciplinary coordination

Test plan writing

Python MATLAB LabVIEW

Education

B.S. or higher in Electrical Engineering or related field

Electrical test or EGSE experience

Tools

Power supplies

Electronic loads

DAQs

Oscilloscopes

Sensors & instrumentation

Job description

We are looking for a Lead Test Engineer, Flight Power Systems to own test architecture, Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE), checkout, acceptance, and qualification execution for flight power electronics programs.

This is a hands-on hardware test leadership role. The person in this role will turn prototype debug methods into repeatable acceptance and qualification flows for power processing units, high-voltage spacecraft power systems, and Hall Effect Thruster support hardware.

This is an engineering ownership role, not a narrow software QA or production test position. We need someone who can define how the system should be tested, build or integrate the equipment needed to test it, automate where it helps, debug hardware, software, and lab interactions, and produce credible evidence for flight delivery.

Why This Role Matters:

CisLunar Industries is growing from successful engineering-model work into repeatable flight hardware execution. As our PPU and flight power programs scale, we need a dedicated owner for the test systems, EGSE, data flow, and evidence packages that support acceptance and qualification.

This role will make checkout and test execution more consistent across builds and programs. The right engineer will define practical test architecture, automate where it helps, improve lab readiness, and help produce the evidence needed for confident customer delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own Qualification and Acceptance Test Plans for flight power electronics and PPU programs.
• Own EGSE architecture and implementation for checkout, acceptance, qualification support, and delivery evidence.
• Define and build representative electrical loads and interface simulators for thruster, flow-control, sensor, valve, spacecraft, and support-equipment interfaces where needed.
• Select, integrate, and maintain power supplies, electronic loads, DAQs, oscilloscopes, sensors, harnessing, safety interlocks, and lab instrumentation.
• Develop test automation, data logging, fault detection, scripted checkout, and repeatable test execution flows.
• Support prototype, EM, QM, PFM, and FM testing.
• Translate early prototype debug approaches into controlled acceptance and qualification procedures.
• Own test readiness reviews, acceptance test readiness, qualification planning, and lab readiness.
• Define what data must be collected, how it will be stored, and what evidence is needed for acceptance or qualification closure.
• Improve repeatability of test setups so results do not depend on tribal knowledge.
• Support customer-facing test evidence, including procedures, test reports, end item data packages, anomaly summaries, and issue closure.
• Support safe lab practices for high-voltage and high-power testing.
• Help plan and execute environmental and qualification testing, including thermal cycling, thermal vacuum, vibration, EMI/EMC support, or other test campaigns as needed.
• Maintain test equipment configuration, calibration awareness, harness/test fixture documentation, and operating instructions.

Required Qualifications:

• B.S. or higher in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field. Mechanical Engineering may be acceptable with substantial electrical test or EGSE experience.
• 5+ years of experience in hardware test engineering, AI&T, EGSE, power electronics test, spacecraft test, or high-reliability hardware verification.
• Strong hands-on lab experience with real hardware.
• Experience with power supplies, electronic loads, DAQs, oscilloscopes, current probes, differential probes, sensors, serial interfaces, and instrumentation control.
• Ability to write clear test procedures, test plans, checkout scripts, and test reports.
• Experience debugging interactions between hardware, firmware, test software, instrumentation, and lab setup.
• Ability to work safely around high-voltage and high-power systems.
• Scripting or automation experience in Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or similar.
• Ability to coordinate across engineering disciplines and technicians without needing everything pre-defined.
• Must satisfy U.S. Person requirements for access to export-controlled and government contract-restricted technical work.

Strongly Preferred:

• Spacecraft AI&T, EGSE, propulsion test, PPU test, electric propulsion, Hall Effect Thruster support hardware, or spacecraft power systems experience.
• Experience with qualification or acceptance testing for flight, aerospace, defense, medical, automotive, or other high-reliability hardware.
• Experience with thermal vacuum, vibration, EMI/EMC, burn-in, acceptance test, qualification test, or production checkout.
• Experience building representative loads, sensor simulators, interface simulators, or hardware-in-the-loop test equipment.
• Experience with RS-422, RS-485, CAN, Ethernet, serial telemetry, command/response interfaces, or embedded test systems.
• Experience with test data management, automated pass/fail detection, limits checking, and report generation.
• Familiarity with FRACAS, NCRs, anomaly response, root cause investigation, or corrective action workflows.
• Experience in a startup or small team where test infrastructure had to be built while the hardware was still evolving.
• Ability to balance aerospace rigor with speed, cost, and scalability
• Comfortable pushing back on management, engineers, and technicians
• Influencing teams without conflict
• Hands-on, builder mindset who is willing to both define and execute
• Strong problem-solving skills and a desire to get to the root cause and implement effective corrective and preventive actions
• Ability to balance schedules and coordinate to ensure timelines are met while still maintaining rigor

U.S. Person Requirement:

This position involves access to flight hardware and technical data controlled under U.S. export control laws. Candidates must therefore qualify as a U.S. Person - a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident, or an individual granted asylum or refugee status. This requirement stems from federal export regulations, not from a preference regarding citizenship or national origin.

Location and Onsite Expectations:

This role is primarily onsite in Loveland, Colorado. The engineer will need regular access to the lab because they own EGSE, lab integration, high-voltage checkout, test hardware, qualification support, and acceptance execution.

Occasional work-from-home days may be possible when the work supports it, such as documentation, scripting, data review, or test planning. However, candidates should expect this to be a lab-centered role, with additional travel possible for qualification testing, vendor support, or off-site test campaigns.

Compensation and Benefits:

Base salary range: $145,000 – $175,000, depending on experience. Eligible for equity.

• Healthcare: Individual-coverage healthcare reimbursement (QSEHRA) at the maximum allowable annual allowance — currently $6,450 for individual coverage and $13,100 for employees with a spouse and/or dependents — letting you choose the plan that fits your situation rather than one we picked for you.
• Additional healthcare stipend: $6,000 per year, paid semi-monthly, to offset rising premium and out-of-pocket costs.
• Retirement: Automatic Roth IRA payroll contributions through Colorado SecureSavings.
• Time off: Unlimited PTO plus recognized company holidays. We expect people to actually use it.
• Colorado FAMLI paid family and medical leave.