Senior Optical Payload I&T Engineer — Automation

General Atomics; Acton (MA); On-site; USD 69,000 - 116,000; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs, builds, and tests advanced EO/IR space payloads supporting next-generation remote-sensing systems. You will join a multidisciplinary team tackling technically challenging problems in a collaborative lab environment, focusing on integration, test automation, and validation of complex payload subsystems.

You’ll work with systems, software, and electrical engineers to plan and execute integration activities, automate test workflows, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in engineering or related field; 2+ years of engineering experience.
• Experience with system-level integration and testing of complex hardware or embedded systems.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary integration efforts involving optical, electrical, and software subsystems.
• Understanding of electro-optical system design and test processes.
• Proficiency in Python for test automation, data handling, hardware control, and analysis.
• Ability to read and understand C code, particularly for diagnostics and interface verification.
• Familiarity with Linux environments, command-line tools and Git.
• Strong technical writing, documentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance is required.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement test strategies for payload verification across functional, performance, and environmental tests.
• Lead cross-discipline coordination between optical, electrical, software, and systems teams during integration and test campaigns.
• Develop and maintain automated test infrastructure and Python-based frameworks.
• Collaborate with Flight Software and Systems Engineering to verify C-based embedded code via hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Perform electrical and software integration of payload components and interfaces.
• Oversee operation and integration of optical test equipment.
• Support V&V efforts across prototype, qualification, and flight hardware.
• Analyze telemetry, images, and test data to evaluate performance and stability.
• Establish data management and analysis workflows for reproducibility and traceability.
• Document test procedures and results per engineering and quality processes.
• Support anomaly investigations and corrective actions during campaigns.
• Mentor early-career engineers and test operators.

Skills

Python

C

C++

Embedded systems

Linux

Git

Test automation

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in engineering

Tools

Collimators

Integrating Spheres

Blackbodies

Lasers

Optical stages

Job description

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs, builds, and tests advanced EO/IR space payloads supporting next-generation remote-sensing systems. You will join a multidisciplinary team tackling technically challenging problems in a collaborative lab environment, focusing on integration, test automation, and validation of complex payload subsystems.

You’ll work with systems, software, and electrical engineers to plan and execute integration activities, automate test workflows, and