Senior Space Solar Array Test Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Paid time off

Equity

401(k)

Free meals

Lunch subsidy

Job summary

Vast in Long Beach is seeking a Solar Array Test Engineer to own the qualification program for solar cell technologies used in space. You will develop test plans, perform TVAC, vibration, and life-cycle tests, and coordinate with design and mission assurance teams to verify hardware.

The role emphasizes hands-on, hardware-rich work in a fast-paced aerospace environment with opportunities to shape internal test capabilities and contribute to the Haven program and future space station systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline with aerospace focus.
• 5+ years hardware testing for satellites or space systems.
• Experience with data acquisition, sensors, and test automation.
• Hands-on environmental testing on flight or qualification hardware.
• Experience authoring test plans, procedures, and reports.
• Strong documentation and cross-functional collaboration.

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 TVAC, vibration, shock, and life-cycle tests.
• Perform functional testing including EL imaging and IV curves.
• Define test criteria, instrumentation, and data acquisition configurations.
• Coordinate testing across internal facilities and external labs.
• Analyze data, identify anomalies, and lead root-cause investigations.
• Ensure compliance with AIAA and program-specific verification requirements.
• Collaborate with design, structures, thermal, and mission assurance teams.
• Present test readiness reviews and lessons learned at design reviews.

Skills

Hardware testing

Data acquisition

Thermal vacuum

Vibration testing

EL imaging

IV curve analysis

MATLAB

Python

Test automation

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

NX

Teamcenter

Job description

Vast in Long Beach is seeking a Solar Array Test Engineer to own the qualification program for solar cell technologies used in space. You will develop test plans, perform TVAC, vibration, and life-cycle tests, and coordinate with design and mission assurance teams to verify hardware.

The role emphasizes hands-on, hardware-rich work in a fast-paced aerospace environment with opportunities to shape internal test capabilities and contribute to the Haven program and future space station systems.