Principal Integration & Test Engineer

Trident; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 101,000 - 188,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental

Vision

401(k) with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

Trident Systems in Chantilly, VA seeks a Principal Integration & Test Engineer for space payloads. You will lead hands-on work across software, firmware and electronics to integrate, debug, and verify payload systems for lab, environmental, and flight tests.

The role requires strong boundary expertise, root-cause analysis, and collaboration with software, firmware, electrical, systems, and mechanical engineers to ensure flight readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/ECE/CS/Aerospace or equivalent.
• 9+ years of related experience.
• Experience integrating and testing embedded systems, avionics, or aerospace hardware.
• Ability to debug across software, firmware, and electronics.
• Experience reading schematics, ICDs, test procedures and design docs.
• Familiarity with C/C++, Python or similar scripting for test automation.

Responsibilities

• Integrate and test space payload hardware and software in development, qualification, and flight-like configurations.
• Debug and troubleshoot issues spanning application software, embedded software, FPGA/firmware interfaces, electronics, sensors, and communication links.
• Support bring-up of payload electronics, processors, FPGAs, data interfaces, and support equipment.
• Investigate failures during integration and test using lab equipment, logs, telemetry, and software/firmware diagnostics.
• Use lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies, DMMs, protocol analyzers, and signal generators to diagnose hardware and interface issues.
• Support checkout and debugging of interfaces such as SPI, I2C, UART, RS-422/485, Ethernet, SpaceWire, CAN, and other mission-specific buses.
• Work closely with software, firmware, electrical, systems, and mechanical engineers to resolve integration issues and improve design robustness.
• Document test results, anomalies, troubleshooting steps, and corrective actions to support formal verification and flight readiness reviews.
• Assist with system-level and environmental testing, including functional test, thermal vacuum, vibration, EMI/EMC, and mission simulations.
• Contribute to development of testbeds, lab infrastructure, automated test tools, and debug processes.
• Support configuration management and ensure testing is performed against the correct hardware, firmware, and software baselines.
• Ability to support travel or off-site work, as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Embedded systems testing

Debug across software

Schematic/ICD reading

Telemetry tools

C/C++ / Python scripting

Test automation

Electrical basics

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer/Aerospace Engineering

Job description

Position Title: Principal Integration & Test (I&T) Engineer, Space Payloads

Requisition ID: 1846

Position Location: Chantilly, VA

Position Reports To: Senior Manager, Integration & Test Engineering

Supervises Others: No

At Trident Systems Space Electronic Systems (SES) division, we believe in the power of using strong engineering principles to drive innovation and solve complex problems. We foster a culture of rigorous engineering and continuous improvement, leveraging the full knowledge of our organization through collaborative product development processes that include design and peer reviews. We combine our expertise in space electronics with right-sized development processes to create innovative, high-performance space-based electronic systems that meet our customers' evolving needs.

We are a mission partner supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, and Civil space customers. We develop complex, radiation effects mitigated designs that balance competing requirements in modern space programs, delivering cutting-edge solutions that enable our customers to achieve more in space.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Principal Integration & Test (I&T) Engineer to support the development, integration, debugging, and verification of space payload systems. This role requires a hands-on engineer who can work across software, firmware, and electronics to troubleshoot complex system issues and ensure payload readiness for lab, environmental, and flight test activities. The ideal candidate is comfortable at the hardware/software boundary and able to isolate problems, perform root-cause analysis, and support system bring-up for advanced payloads operating in space environments.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Integrate and test space payload hardware and software in development, qualification, and flight-like configurations.
• Debug and troubleshoot issues spanning application software, embedded software, FPGA/firmware interfaces, electronics, sensors, and communication links.
• Support bring-up of payload electronics, processors, FPGAs, data interfaces, and support equipment.
• Investigate failures during integration and test using lab equipment, logs, telemetry, and software/firmware diagnostics.
• Use lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies, DMMs, protocol analyzers, and signal generators to diagnose hardware and interface issues.
• Support checkout and debugging of interfaces such as SPI, I2C, UART, RS-422/485, Ethernet, SpaceWire, CAN, and other mission-specific buses.
• Work closely with software, firmware, electrical, systems, and mechanical engineers to resolve integration issues and improve design robustness.
• Document test results, anomalies, troubleshooting steps, and corrective actions to support formal verification and flight readiness reviews.
• Assist with system-level and environmental testing, including functional test, thermal vacuum, vibration, EMI/EMC, and mission simulations.
• Contribute to development of testbeds, lab infrastructure, automated test tools, and debug processes.
• Support configuration management and ensure testing is performed against the correct hardware, firmware, and software baselines.
• Ability to support travel or off-site work, as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or related field (OR equivalent years of experience / combined education).
• 9 or more years of related experience.
• Experience integrating and testing embedded systems, avionics, or aerospace hardware.
• Ability to debug across software, firmware, and electronics.
• Experience reading and interpreting schematics, ICDs, test procedures, requirements, and design documentation.
• Experience with embedded debugging tools, logs, telemetry, and lab instrumentation.
• Familiarity with C/C++, Python, or similar scripting languages for test automation and troubleshooting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with space payloads, spacecraft avionics, or mission-critical embedded systems.
• Experience debugging FPGA-based systems and firmware-controlled electronics.
• Familiarity with Linux-based embedded systems, RTOS, or board bring-up.
• Experience supporting TVAC, vibration, or EMI/EMC test campaigns.
• Knowledge of space-qualified components, radiation-tolerant electronics, or flight hardware processes.
• Experience with requirements verification, anomaly reporting, and formal test documentation.
• Familiarity with CI/CD, automated test frameworks, HIL testing, or lab automation.

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $101,000 - $188,000. Please Note: Actual compensation offered will be determined based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, skills, education, certifications, internal equity, business considerations, and geographic location where applicable.

Benefits

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits including but not limited to:

• Health benefits
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Basic life with AD&D
  • Short term disability
  • Long term disability
• Spending accounts (HSA, FSA, and DCFSA)
• Paid time off
• Holidays
• 401(k) (including company match)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Leaves (Parental, maternity, and military)
• Annual discretionary bonus (for eligible roles)

Trident Systems reserves the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

Trident Solutions is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] .

Pay Transparency: The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)