Principal Product Test Engineer

CesiumAstro, Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

CesiumAstro, Inc. seeks a Principal Product Test Engineer to ensure product performance, yield optimization, and reliability in a fast-paced production environment. You will drive root-cause analysis, lead design-to-production transitions, and collaborate with design engineering to improve DFM/DFT practices.

Ideal candidates have a strong background in microwave hardware, PCB debugging, embedded systems, and cross-functional teamwork to resolve complex issues and optimize manufacturing processes.

Qualifications

• BS degree in Electrical Engineering or higher from an accredited university.
• Minimum of 9 years supporting a production environment.
• Experience in design, production and test of microwave communications hardware.
• Strong knowledge of PCB-level debugging, embedded systems, and HW/SW integration.
• Excellent troubleshooting, data analysis and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on technical support for PCBA and RF/microwave products during production.
• Lead root cause analysis of PCBA and RF-related production issues and deviations.
• Support hardware/software debugging of digital logic, embedded systems, and mixed-signal interfaces.
• Drive LRIP to production transition and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Review designs and drawings to improve manufacturability and testability.
• Lead containment and RCA investigations to resolve complex production problems.

Skills

PCB debugging

Embedded systems

Hardware/software integration

Troubleshooting

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BS in Electrical Engineering

Job description

Please Note: To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

We are looking to add a Principal Product Test Engineer to our team. If you enjoy working in a startup environment, and are passionate about circuit theory, troubleshooting, and truly enjoying discovering the root cause when problems arise, we would like to hear from you.

In this position, you will provide engineering support and practical problem-solving in a dynamic, high-paced production setting. This role focuses on ensuring product performance, yield optimization, and reliability through direct support of manufacturing operations. You will drive root cause analysis, lead design-to-production transitions, and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to resolve complex technical issues and continuously improve processes.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on technical support for PCBA and RF/microwave products during production, ensuring smooth manufacturing operations.
• Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis of PCBA and RF-related production issues, including yield losses, test failures, and product deviations.
• Support hardware/software debugging of digital logic, embedded systems, and mixed-signal interfaces.
• Support Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) and transition to consistent production.
• Review designs, drawings, and working plans to improve products and manufacturing process, including Root Cause and Corrective Action for production support problems.
• Perform engineering work and applied research with Test Equipment group to ensure quality standards and functional objectives are met.
• Collaborate with design engineering teams to influence DFM (Design for Manufacturability) and DFT (Design for Test) practices.
• Drive process improvements to enhance product performance, reduce costs, and increase throughput.
• Provide hands-on engineering guidance and real-time problem-solving within a fast-paced production environment.
• Monitor yields, test margin and resolution of technical issues impacting production.
• Investigate and propose solutions to complex problems involving the design and production of complex digital, RF, and baseband communications hardware (Digital, RF, and analog circuitry).
• Lead problem containment and structured root cause & corrective action investigations.

Job Requirements And Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science (BS) degree or higher in Electrical Engineering from an accredited university.
• Minimum of 9 years of relevant experience supporting a production environment.
• Experience in the design, production and test of microwave communications hardware and assemblies.
• Strong knowledge of PCB-level debugging, embedded systems, and hardware/software integration.
• Excellent troubleshooting, data analysis, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to collaborate across functional teams with a proactive approach to addressing technical challenges on the production floor.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in aerospace, defense, automotive, or industrial electronics industries.
• This position crosses the boundaries between Engineering and Operations – Expertise in both domains is desired.

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

• Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.

CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgement. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.