Senior Spacecraft AI&T Systems Engineer

Schmidt Entities; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Schmidt Entities seeks a Senior Spacecraft AI&T Systems Engineer to lead integration, verification, and test campaigns for a next‑generation space observatory. You will manage instrument, telescope, and bus integration across partners, owning spacecraft‑level integration of payload with the bus and defining the intensive AI&T plan.

You will collaborate across optics, avionics, software, mechanical, thermal, GN&C, and power teams to ensure end‑to‑end functionality and successful testing in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in spacecraft AI&T, system integration, or verification.
• Experience integrating spacecraft subsystems or payloads (avionics, optics, instruments, power, GN&C).
• Familiarity with environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, EMC).
• Experience developing test plans, procedures, and integration flows.
• Strong understanding of spacecraft architectures and subsystem interfaces.
• 7+ years of spacecraft AI&T or system-level verification experience.
• Experience integrating telescopes or complex scientific payloads.
• Experience with flatsats, simulators, and hardware–software integration.
• Familiarity with verification standards and best practices.
• Experience with configuration management and test automation.
• Passion for space systems and advanced scientific missions.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the spacecraft AI&T plan, integration sequences, and verification strategy.
• Oversee the integration of the instrument, telescope, and bus at vendor facilities.
• Own and execute the spacecraft-level integration of the payload with the spacecraft bus.
• Develop system-level verification plans (VCD/VCM), test procedures, and pass/fail criteria.
• Lead functional, performance, environmental (TVAC, vibe, acoustic), and EMC testing.
• Coordinate flatsat testing and hardware–software integration with avionics, GN&C, and FSW teams.
• Define requirements for testbeds, flatsats, simulators, and EGSE/MGSE.
• Ensure ground support systems and test setups meet spacecraft and payload needs.
• Manage configuration control across hardware, software loads, harnessing, and integration setups.
• Develop AI&T requirements, integration constraints, and verification methods.
• Maintain traceability across spacecraft requirements, integration steps, and test results.
• Ensure consistency across internal and external ICDs.
• Coordinate integration activities with spacecraft bus vendors, telescope/instrument teams, and test facilities.
• Review vendor integration flows, readiness artifacts, and verification outputs.
• Support major reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR, TRR, ORR).
• Work closely with systems engineering, bus, telescope, payload, and mission operations teams.
• Support anomaly investigation, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Communicate risks, AI&T status, and technical findings clearly to leadership and partners.

Skills

Systems engineering

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong communication

Hands-on in cleanroom

Documentation

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering

Tools

Flatsats

Simulators

EGSE/MGSE

Job description

About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Spacecraft Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T) Systems Engineer to lead the integration, verification, and test campaign for a next‑generation space observatory. In this role, you will collaborate with world‑class scientists—including Nobel Prize laureates—as well as engineers and global partners to develop cutting‑edge space observatories that enable groundbreaking astrophysical discoveries.

You will oversee the instrument, telescope, and spacecraft bus integration activities across partners, while directly owning and executing the spacecraft-level integration of the payload with the bus. You will define and execute the AI&T plan, integration flows, verification strategy, and test campaigns—ensuring the integrated observatory meets all functional, environmental, and performance requirements.

As a key technical leader, you will work across the telescope, instrument, and bus teams and their subsystems (optics, avionics, software, mechanical, thermal, GN&C, power, etc.), as well as mission operations, to ensure smooth integration and end‑to‑end functionality.

This role requires strong cross‑functional communication, excellent technical judgment, and the ability to execute complex integration activities in fast‑paced environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the spacecraft AI&T plan, integration sequences, and verification strategy.
• Oversee the integration of the instrument, telescope, and bus at vendor facilities.
• Own and execute the spacecraft-level integration of the payload with the spacecraft bus.
• Develop system-level verification plans (VCD/VCM), test procedures, and pass/fail criteria.
• Lead functional, performance, environmental (TVAC, vibe, acoustic), and EMC testing.
• Coordinate flatsat testing and hardware–software integration with avionics, GN&C, and FSW teams.
• Define requirements for testbeds, flatsats, simulators, and EGSE/MGSE.
• Ensure ground support systems and test setups meet spacecraft and payload needs.
• Manage configuration control across hardware, software loads, harnessing, and integration setups.
• Develop AI&T requirements, integration constraints, and verification methods.
• Maintain traceability across spacecraft requirements, integration steps, and test results.
• Ensure consistency across internal and external ICDs.
• Coordinate integration activities with spacecraft bus vendors, telescope/instrument teams, and test facilities.
• Review vendor integration flows, readiness artifacts, and verification outputs.
• Support major reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR, TRR, ORR).
• Work closely with systems engineering, bus, telescope, payload, and mission operations teams.
• Support anomaly investigation, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Communicate risks, AI&T status, and technical findings clearly to leadership and partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in spacecraft AI&T, system integration, or verification.
• Experience integrating spacecraft subsystems or payloads (avionics, optics, instruments, power, GN&C).
• Familiarity with environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, EMC).
• Experience developing test plans, procedures, and integration flows.
• Strong understanding of spacecraft architectures and subsystem interfaces.
• Ability to work hands‑on in cleanroom/test environments and coordinate across multiple teams.
• Excellent communication and cross‑disciplinary collaboration skills.
• 7+ years of spacecraft AI&T or system‑level verification experience.
• Experience integrating telescopes or complex scientific payloads.
• Experience with flatsats, simulators, and hardware–software integration.
• Familiarity with verification standards and best practices.
• Experience with configuration management and test automation.
• Passion for space systems and advanced scientific missions.

Additional Information

This is an exempt position.

This role requires access to U.S. export controlled information. Candidates must be a U.S. person (i.e., a citizen of the United States, a permanent resident, or a legal asylee or refugee) OR receive approval from the U.S. Government to work with U.S. export controlled information.