Senior Software Engineer - Test Infrastructure

LinuxCareers; Golden (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Flexible time off

Paid holidays

401(k) with equity options

Catered lunches

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Loft Orbital is seeking a test infrastructure engineer to design, build, and maintain hardware-in-the-loop testbeds that emulate spacecraft systems and sensors. You will develop EGSE interfaces for assembly and testing, and create tools to simulate faults and mission scenarios across platforms.

The role collaborates with systems, software, and hardware teams to integrate feedback into scalable test platforms, while supporting CI pipelines for end-to-end validation of spacecraft hardware and

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Computer Science or similar field.
• 2+ years working with Linux systems including configuration, debugging, and system-level troubleshooting.
• Strong networking fundamentals knowledge (OSI layers, packet analysis, TCP/IP, UDP).
• Hands-on experience with embedded systems or low-level hardware (Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontrollers).
• Proficiency in Python 3.9+ for building test automation frameworks, device drivers, or orchestration tools.
• Experience containerizing applications with Docker.
• Familiarity with at least one modern CI tool (Jenkins, GitLab CI, Buildkite, CircleCI).
• Experience designing or automating complex HIL/SIL testbeds, signal conditioning, fault injection, or hardware emulation.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, deploy, and maintain hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testbeds that emulate spacecraft systems, sensors, and communication links.
• Design and maintain electrical ground support equipment (EGSE) that interfaces with space vehicles during assembly, integration, and testing.
• Develop tools and frameworks for simulating faults, edge cases, and mission scenarios difficult to reproduce with physical hardware.
• Work with systems, software, hardware, and operations teams to understand test requirements and integrate feedback into platforms.
• Maintain and extend test infrastructure supporting continuous integration pipelines with realistic system-level validation.

Skills

Linux systems

Networking fundamentals

Embedded systems

Python

Test automation

CI concepts

HIL/SIL testbeds

Education

Master's degree

Tools

Docker

Job description

Loft Orbital operates satellites and is scaling globally. This role involves designing, building, and maintaining test infrastructure—including hardware-in-the-loop testbeds, electrical ground support equipment, and automation frameworks that validates spacecraft hardware and software before launch.

What You'll Do

• Design, build, deploy, and maintain hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testbeds that emulate spacecraft systems, sensors, and communication links
• Design and maintain electrical ground support equipment (EGSE) that interfaces with space vehicles during assembly, integration, and testing
• Develop tools and frameworks for simulating faults, edge cases, and mission scenarios difficult to reproduce with physical hardware
• Work with systems, software, hardware, and operations teams to understand test requirements and integrate feedback into platforms
• Maintain and extend test infrastructure supporting continuous integration pipelines with realistic system-level validation

What You Need

• Master's degree in Computer Science or similar field
• 2+ years working with Linux systems including configuration, debugging, and system-level troubleshooting
• Strong networking fundamentals knowledge (OSI layers, packet analysis, TCP/IP, UDP)
• Hands-on experience with embedded systems or low-level hardware (Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontrollers)
• Proficiency in Python 3.9+ for building test automation frameworks, device drivers, or orchestration tools
• Experience containerizing applications with Docker
• Familiarity with at least one modern CI tool (Jenkins, GitLab CI, Buildkite, CircleCI)
• Experience designing or automating complex HIL/SIL testbeds, signal conditioning, fault injection, or hardware emulation

Nice to Have

• Experience with Infrastructure-as-Code systems, specifically NixOS
• Familiarity with networking simulation tools (network emulators, virtual switches) for testing data flows
• Interest or experience with hardware test automation frameworks (custom Python-based test rigs)

100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending (FSA) and health savings (HSA) accounts with employer contribution; 100% employer-paid life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance; flexible time off and 12 paid holidays; 401(k) plan and equity options; daily catered lunches and snacks; international exposure; fully paid parental leave (14 weeks primary, 10 weeks secondary); Carrot Fertility benefits; off-sites and social events; relocation assistance when applicable