Senior Solar Array Test Engineer — Space Hardware

Telemetry Today LLC; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 112,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Equity

Generous paid time off

Meal perks

Job summary

Vast in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Solar Array Test Engineer to lead qualification efforts for terrestrial photovoltaic cell technologies used in space hardware. The role reports to the Principal Power Systems Engineer and involves coordinating test campaigns, developing test plans, and ensuring verification at coupon to system levels.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of hardware testing experience in aerospace, with strong data analysis skills (MATLAB/Python) and hands-on testing in

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, materials engineering, physics, or related engineering discipline
• 5+ years of hardware testing for satellites, spacecraft, or high-reliability aerospace systems
• Familiarity with data acquisition systems, instrumentation (thermocouples, strain gauges, accelerometers, LVDTs), and test automation
• Hands-on experience planning and executing environmental testing (thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, or acoustic) on flight or qualification hardware
• Demonstrated experience authoring test plans, procedures, and test reports
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple parallel test campaigns and meticulous documentation
• Working knowledge of photovoltaic device physics and space-environment degradation mechanisms
• Proficiency with data analysis and visualization tools such as MATLAB, Python, or equivalent
• Effective communicator in a hands-on, hardware-rich environment across engineering disciplines

Responsibilities

• Own the qualification program for terrestrial photovoltaic cell technologies for space use
• Develop, author, and maintain test plans, procedures, and reports for solar array hardware
• Plan and execute test campaigns including TVAC, thermal cycling, vibration, shock, acoustic, static load, deployment, and life-cycle testing
• Plan and execute functional testing of solar array hardware, including flash testing and IV curve characterization
• Define test success criteria, instrumentation requirements, and data acquisition configurations
• Coordinate and oversee testing at internal facilities and external labs
• Analyze test data, document results, and lead troubleshooting and root cause investigations
• Determine applicable standards such as AIAA S-111, S-112, SMC-S-016
• Collaborate with design, structures, thermal, power electronics, and mission assurance engineers
• Support development of internal test capabilities and ground support equipment
• Present test readiness reviews and lessons learned at design reviews
• Author and maintain verification documentation through the product lifecycle

Skills

Data acquisition

Instrumentation

Test automation

Environmental testing

Test planning

MATLAB/Python

Education

BS in engineering or related field

Tools

NX

Teamcenter

Job description

Vast in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Solar Array Test Engineer to lead qualification efforts for terrestrial photovoltaic cell technologies used in space hardware. The role reports to the Principal Power Systems Engineer and involves coordinating test campaigns, developing test plans, and ensuring verification at coupon to system levels.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of hardware testing experience in aerospace, with strong data analysis skills (MATLAB/Python) and hands-on testing in