Senior HIL & Test Automation Engineer (Aerospace)

Astra; Alameda (CA); Sur place; USD 140 000 - 180 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Astra seeks an experienced Test & Launch engineer to design, build, and run DAQ and control systems for 20+ test stands supporting Rocket 4 development in Alameda, CA. You will develop architectures, write real-time control software, and implement HIL simulations to verify flight software and GNC algorithms.

You will collaborate with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and software teams, build plant models, and coordinate with launch campaigns.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in test engineering, instrumentation & control, or systems test in aerospace, defense, automotive, or a hardware-intensive field.
• Hands-on experience designing and commissioning DAQ and control systems: sensor selection, signal conditioning, I/O architecture, real-time control platforms.
• Strong controls programming background: PLC/IEC 61131-3, structured text, state machines, interlock logic. Beckhoff TwinCAT preferred.

Responsabilités

• Design DAQ and control system architectures for test stands across the program: instrumentation plans, I/O lists, sensor selection, signal conditioning, control cabinet layout, wiring schematics.
• Write and commission control logic for test stand automation: sequencing, safety interlocks, abort logic, and operator interfaces. Beckhoff TwinCAT / structured text, Python, and whatever else gets the job done.
• Own the Launch System Simulator from architecture through delivery: select the HIL hardware platform, build real-time plant models (propulsion, GNC, avionics), define the simulation interface to flight software, and integrate fault injection and Monte Carlo test campaigns.
• Partner with ground software teams on data pipeline architecture: understanding the full path from DAQ hardware through storage, processing, and visualization well enough to define requirements and troubleshoot during test campaigns.
• Work with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and flight software teams to design and build test infrastructure: defining requirements, validating acceptance criteria, and commissioning new stands through ORR.
• Support active test campaigns at Castle (Chiron engine hot-fire) and Orion (upper stage component test). Travel to Cape Canaveral for launch campaign support.
• Document everything: P&IDs, wiring diagrams, software architecture, commissioning procedures, and test reports in Confluence.

Connaissances

Test engineering

Instrumentation & control

Systems test

Python

Beckhoff TwinCAT

HIL simulation

Data pipelines

Outils

Beckhoff TwinCAT

Simulink Real-Time

NI VeriStand

InfluxDB

Grafana

SQL

Description du poste

Astra seeks an experienced Test & Launch engineer to design, build, and run DAQ and control systems for 20+ test stands supporting Rocket 4 development in Alameda, CA. You will develop architectures, write real-time control software, and implement HIL simulations to verify flight software and GNC algorithms.

You will collaborate with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and software teams, build plant models, and coordinate with launch campaigns.