Senior Avionics Hardware Test Engineer (Spacecraft)

Apex; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Healthcare

PTO & Holidays

401(k) Plan

Parental Leave

Lunch & Snacks

Community events

Great desk

Playa Vista Office

Impact

Job summary

Apex is seeking a Hardware Test Engineer to join our avionics test team in Playa Vista. The role focuses on hardware integration, system-level and component-level testing, and automated spacecraft test execution.

You will work with electrical, mechanical, RF, and systems engineers to build and operate integrated test environments and lead qualification campaigns. You will own test racks, document checks, and oversee cross-functional test campaigns while mentoring junior engineers and driving

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 5+ years of aerospace hardware or electronics testing experience.
• Hands-on with laboratory instrumentation and hardware bring-up.
• Familiar with avionics hardware and embedded communication protocols: UART, SPI, CAN, I2C.
• Experience troubleshooting integrated electrical systems and test setups.
• Strong understanding of hardware integration and validation workflows.

Responsibilities

• Own the build, configuration, and maintenance of bus-level and/or component-level test racks.
• Lead hardware integration activities including harnessing, fixturing, rack integration, and interface validation.
• Troubleshoot flight hardware and test setup failures using lab instrumentation (oscilloscopes, meters, DAQ, VNAs).
• Support Flatsat operation and maintenance activities as needed.
• Execute and document functional checkouts, environmental screening, and system validation.
• Support EMI/EMC, vibration, thermal cycling, TVAC campaigns.
• Perform RF/avionics validation testing for antennas, radios, transceivers, GNSS, RF switches.

Skills

Problem solving

Communication

Mentorship

Team collaboration

Hands-on debugging

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or related field

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Multimeters

DAQ systems

VNA

Vector signal analyzers

Signal generators

Job description

Apex is seeking a Hardware Test Engineer to join our avionics test team in Playa Vista. The role focuses on hardware integration, system-level and component-level testing, and automated spacecraft test execution.

You will work with electrical, mechanical, RF, and systems engineers to build and operate integrated test environments and lead qualification campaigns. You will own test racks, document checks, and oversee cross-functional test campaigns while mentoring junior engineers and driving