Senior Integration and Test Engineer TS/SCI

Iridium; Reston (VA); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company stock

Annual bonus

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Parental leave

Job summary

Iridium is seeking an experienced integration and test engineering leader to guide end-to-end efforts for satellite ground segment systems. You will oversee requirements through deployment, drive automated testing, and build containerized test environments to simulate operational configurations.

The role requires 8+ years in integration/verification of complex systems and hands-on work with Java, Python, C++, and modern DevOps tools. A US-based, hybrid work model is expected.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field.
• 8+ years hands-on integration and test experience with complex systems.
• Proficient in Java (Spring Boot), JavaScript, Python, C++, and shell scripting.
• Experience with Kubernetes, Docker, Podman, and ArgoCD.
• Ability to design, implement, and maintain unit and integration test suites across the full software development lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership on integration and test engineering activities ensuring alignment with program goals and quality standards.
• Lead end-to-end integration of satellite ground segment components including command, telemetry, mission planning, hardware, software, and networking.
• Design, implement, and maintain CI/CD pipelines for automated build, test, and deployment across environments.
• Oversee system testing and verification from requirements through test execution to meet performance targets.
• Develop and execute integration test plans, procedures, and automated regression suites for nominal and off-nominal scenarios.
• Design and manage software tools, simulators, and containerized test environments that replicate ground segment configurations.
• Troubleshoot complex integration issues across software, network, and hardware boundaries with root-cause analysis.

Skills

Java (Spring Boot)

JavaScript

Python

C++

Shell scripting

Kubernetes

Docker

ArgoCD

CI/CD

Education

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Kubernetes

Docker

Podman

ArgoCD

Jira

Confluence

Bitbucket

Job description

This position requires an active Top Secret SCI Security Clearance (A U.S. Security Clearance that has been active in the past 24 months is considered active).

What You’ll Do:

• Provide technical leadership on all integration and test engineering activities, ensuring alignment with program goals, mission objectives, and quality standards.
• Lead end-to-end integration of satellite ground segment components, including command and control, telemetry processing, mission planning, hardware, software, and networking infrastructure.
• Design, implement, and maintain CI/CD pipelines to support automated build, test, and deployment of ground segment software across all environments.
• Oversee system testing and verification from requirements definition through test execution, ensuring all technical performance targets are met.
• Develop and execute integration test plans, procedures, and automated regression suites covering nominal and off-nominal operational scenarios.
• Design and manage software tools, simulators, and containerized test environments that replicate operational ground segment configurations.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex integration issues through root cause analysis and corrective actions across software, network, and hardware boundaries.
• Partner with cross-functional engineering teams early in the design lifecycle to define interface control documents, test requirements, and ensure system testability.
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation including integration plans, procedures, test reports, and traceability matrices.
• Mentor junior engineers on integration best practices, test automation frameworks, and DevOps methodologies within space ground systems.

What You’ll Need to Succeed:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• 8+ years of hands-on integration and test experience with complex systems, including satellite ground segments, mission‑critical software, or large‑scale networked architectures.
• Programming languages such as: Java (Spring Boot), JavaScript, Python, C++, Shell scripting
• Experience with Kubernetes / Docker / Podman / ArgoCD
• Familiarity with tools and software applications that support System Engineering and Integration, Verification, and Validation best practices. Ability to design, implement, and maintain comprehensive unit and integration test suites, contributing effectively across the full software development lifecycle.

Professional Skills & Attributes

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate products, deliverables, analyses, and technical issues to cross‑functional teams and non‑technical stakeholders
• A confident, relationship‑oriented professional who builds trust and rapport easily with leadership, peers, and colleagues across the organization
• An analytical and creative problem‑solver who can assess complex situations, think critically, and develop innovative, out‑of‑the‑box solutions
• A proactive team contributor who actively shares knowledge, provides constructive feedback, and mentors others to elevate the team’s capabilities
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize your own workload—and potentially guide others—to consistently meet deadlines
• A continuous learner with a growth mindset, eager to expand your skill set and develop deep expertise across the full suite of System Performance and Analysis software

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in satellite operations ground segment environments, particularly in network management or packet‑level data handling
• Familiarity with the Atlassian tool suite (Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket) in a professional development setting

Things That Would be Great if You Brought to the Table:

• Experience with Flight Dynamics, in the context of satellite missions, pertains to the function that determines, predicts, and controls a spacecraft’s orbit, attitude, and trajectory over its lifetime, including the maneuvers needed to achieve and maintain the desired flight path.
• Experience with Mission planning, in the context of satellite ground and space systems, is the set of processes, tools, and rules used to translate mission objectives into time‑ordered, constraint compliant timelines of spacecraft, payload, and ground activities (including data collection and routing opportunities) across the full mission lifecycle.
• Experience with Network Management pertains to continuously supervising and controlling all links and nodes across the space segment (LEO/MEO/GEO satellites and intersatellite links) and the ground segment (gateways, teleports, user terminals, terrestrial backhaul).
• Additional Programming Languages: C++, TypeScript, Perl
• Data Formats & Query Languages: XML, JSON, SQL
• Security: Security vulnerability analysis and remediation procedures
• Project & Development Tools: Atlassian suite including Jira, Git, Crucible, and Confluence
• Architecture & Design Patterns: Microservices architectures and distributed system design
• Testing: Automated testing frameworks and test automation strategies
• Cloud Environments: Government (GovCloud) and commercial Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud environments

We’ll also need you to:

• Must be a US Citizen

This position primarily works in an office setting and is largely sedentary with the majority of the position working with a computer. The role typically requires the use of basic office equipment such as a phone, video, computer, keyboard, mouse, and printer.

We believe in‑person connection drives innovation, strengthens mentorship, and builds culture, while flexibility enables employees to do their best work. Under Iridium’s Hybrid Work Policy, employees are expected to work at least three days per week (approximately 60%) in an Iridium office to support collaboration, relationship‑building, and professional growth.

Additional Information

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work for this role and is not a comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Employees may be assigned additional responsibilities as needed.

Base Pay Range: $115,000 - $155,000 USD

Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors and this range represents an estimate of compensation at the time of posting. Base salary is only one part of our compensation package for this role. You may also be eligible for company stock and annual bonus. Employee benefits also include medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage; 401(k) retirement plan options; paid time off and paid holidays; paid parental leave; and other discounts and perks.

Iridium is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.