Senior Vehicle Test Engineer

Portal Space Systems; Bothell (WA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Portal Space Systems, based in Bothell, WA, seeks a Senior Vehicle Test Engineer to own the integrated planning and execution framework for spacecraft vehicle‑level verification. You’ll engage early in development to ensure test scope, facilities, and artifacts are ready when vehicle integration completes.

You will lead SMEs in defining objectives, acceptance criteria, and evidence, coordinating across engineering domains to ensure flight readiness through robust testing and documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical or systems engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of spacecraft integration or test experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the integrated vehicle verification and test strategy from early design through flight readiness.
• Own and maintain the vehicle verification matrix and Verification Control Document in coordination with Systems Engineering and requirement owners.
• Define the required verification artifact for each applicable requirement and ensure the responsible domain expert produces complete, reviewable evidence.
• Plan all applicable vehicle‑level functional, environmental, interface, deployment, propulsion, mass‑properties, end‑to‑end, and mission‑readiness testing.
• Lead subject‑matter experts in defining test objectives, success criteria, limits, instrumentation, data products, and procedure steps.
• Produce integrated test reports, verification‑completion status, open‑anomaly assessments, retest recommendations, and flight‑readiness inputs.

Skills

Test planning

Systems engineering

Data interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or related

Tools

GSE setup

Job description

Portal Space Systems is on a mission to expand humanity’s freedom of movement in space. We’re building the spacecraft that makes that mission possible. From our Bothell, WA headquarters, we design vehicles with the maneuverability, resilience, and adaptability needed for the next era of orbital operations. Every system we build is in service of a simple idea: space should be more accessible, responsive, and capable. Joining Portal means stepping into a team that believes in bold engineering, fast iteration, and the power of small groups to change what’s possible. If you want your work to directly shape the future of in‑space mobility, join us.

Position Summary

The Senior Vehicle Test Engineer owns the integrated planning and execution framework for spacecraft vehicle‑level verification. The engineer engages early in the development lifecycle so that test scope, design‑for‑test features, facilities, ground‑support equipment, procedures, staffing, and verification artifacts are ready when vehicle integration is complete. This role leads subject‑matter experts in defining and executing all applicable vehicle‑level tests and owns the vehicle verification matrix and Verification Control Document.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the integrated vehicle verification and test strategy from early design through flight readiness.
• Own and maintain the vehicle verification matrix and Verification Control Document in coordination with Systems Engineering and requirement owners.
• Define the required verification artifact for each applicable requirement and ensure the responsible domain expert produces complete, reviewable evidence.
• Plan all applicable vehicle‑level functional, environmental, interface, deployment, propulsion, mass‑properties, end‑to‑end, and mission‑readiness testing.
• Develop integrated test flows, schedules, configurations, dependencies, resource plans, and entry and exit criteria.
• Lead subject‑matter experts in defining test objectives, success criteria, limits, instrumentation, data products, and procedure steps.
• Author integrated test procedures, control procedure execution, and maintain accurate as‑run procedures.
• Lead Test Readiness Reviews, test‑conductor activities, console organization, configuration verification, and anomaly‑response coordination.
• Define facility, instrumentation, tooling, lifting, handling, data‑system, and GSE requirements early enough to support vehicle test.
• Ensure the engineers responsible for GSE architecture, design, fabrication, software, checkout, and delivery meet vehicle‑test needs and schedule.
• Design or contribute directly to GSE architecture when experience and program needs allow.
• Coordinate test execution across Systems Engineering, Integration and Test, avionics, flight software, GNC, power, propulsion, thermal, structures, facilities, quality, and safety.
• Establish custody, naming, configuration, storage, and traceability expectations for raw data, processed data, test logs, anomaly records, as‑run procedures, reports, and verification evidence.
• Ensure test datasets and verification artifacts are generated, populated, reviewed, approved, and linked to the applicable requirements.
• Produce integrated test reports, verification‑completion status, open‑anomaly assessments, retest recommendations, and flight‑readiness inputs.
• Capture lessons learned and improve vehicle test processes, templates, and readiness criteria.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, or a related technical discipline or equivalent experience.
• 5 + years of spacecraft integration, spacecraft test, aerospace systems engineering, or closely related vehicle‑level test experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading spacecraft vehicle‑level qualification or acceptance test campaigns.
• Experience with spacecraft integration, design for test, test‑conductor duties, or Test Readiness Reviews.
• Experience planning or executing major spacecraft lifts, moves, handling operations, or other critical vehicle operations.
• Experience across several test domains, such as functional testing, vibration, acoustic, shock, EMI/EMC, TVAC, propulsion, deployment, mass properties, or end‑to‑end mission testing.
• Familiarity with test‑data systems, instrumentation, telemetry, anomaly management, configuration management, and verification databases.
• Experience planning or executing multidisciplinary aerospace functional or environmental tests.
• Experience writing, controlling, and maintaining test procedures and as‑run records.
• Experience coordinating subject‑matter experts, facilities, instrumentation, data acquisition, GSE, and test schedules.
• Working knowledge of requirements verification, verification matrices, Verification Control Documents, and objective evidence.
• Ability to lead time‑critical test activities, communicate clearly across disciplines, and maintain configuration and data traceability.
• This role participates throughout development and becomes especially hands‑on during vehicle integration and test.
• Occasional travel may be required during active test campaigns.

This position may involve access to technical data and defense‑related materials controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Eligibility to access ITAR‑controlled items requires that candidates be U.S. persons, which includes U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other protected individuals as defined by U.S. law. Employment is contingent upon verification of ITAR eligibility and, where applicable, obtaining any required export authorization or license.

Equal Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.