Software Development Engineer in Test

Xona Space; Burlingame (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Xona Space is seeking a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to write production-grade Python and C++ test code for core components in distributed cloud and edge systems.

You will develop robust test suites, build deterministic harnesses, and ensure thorough validation of core logic across all systems, collaborating with software engineers and infrastructure teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• 3+ years of professional experience as an SDET, QA Engineer or Software Engineer with automated test development focus.
• Strong C++ proficiency with unit/integration tests and mocking (gMock).
• Strong Python proficiency with Pytest and test frameworks in Git-based workflows.
• CI/CD pipeline configuration and management experience.
• Experience testing distributed cloud or hybrid environments.
• Code coverage metrics (gcov/lcov, Bazel coverage) and quality gates.

Responsibilities

• Develop production-grade test code: C++ unit/integration tests and Python integration tests for complex navigation/algorithms.
• Execute integration and end-to-end testing with live/staged AWS resources and Kubernetes environments.
• Design deterministic test harnesses, mocks, and simulation utilities for edge cases.
• Validate C++/Python interop and data transfers between algorithms and Python systems.
• Integrate with build/CI: Bazel test targets and GitLab CI/CD pipelines.
• Monitor and enforce code coverage and quality gates.
• Lead root-cause analysis of non-deterministic test failures with core developers.

Skills

C++

Python

CI/CD

Distributed systems

Code coverage

Code quality

Aerospace domain

Interop bindings

Docker

Kubernetes

GitLab CI

Bazel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Engineering

Tools

GoogleTest

Catch2

pytest

Job description

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards‑compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

Overview

As a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET), you will play a critical part in ensuring the quality and accuracy of our software systems. You will work side‑by‑side with software developers to write production‑grade Python and C++ test code for core components in distributed cloud and edge systems.

This role is for an engineer who treats test software with the exact same rigor, design standards, and architectural hygiene as production application code. Your primary focus will be engineering robust test suites, building deterministic test harnesses, and ensuring our core logic is thoroughly validated across all of our systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop Production‑Grade Test Code: Architect, write, and maintain clean, performant, and scalable C++ unit/integration test suites (GoogleTest/Catch2) for complex numerical and navigation logic, alongside Python integration tests for end‑to‑end system workflows.

• Execute Integration & E2E Testing: Collaborate closely with infrastructure engineers to write integration and end‑to‑end tests that interact directly with live or staged AWS resources and Kubernetes container environments.

• Build Test Harnesses & Mocks: Design deterministic test harnesses, mock frameworks (e.g., catch2, Python pytest), and simulation utilities to test hard‑to‑reach edge cases without relying on live production environments.

• Validate C++/Python Interop: Test and validate C++/Python binding layers to ensure seamless, error‑free data transfer between core C++ algorithms and higher‑level Python systems.

• Integrate with Build & CI Tools: Write and maintain Bazel test targets and interface with GitLab CI/CD pipelines to ensure automated test suites execute cleanly and deterministically on every commit.

• Code Coverage & Quality Enforcement: Measure, track, and analyze code coverage metrics (gcov/lcov, Bazel coverage) to surface untested logic paths and establish strict quality gates.

• Failure Triage & Deep‑Dive Debugging: Lead root‑cause analysis on complex, non‑deterministic test failures or regressions, collaborating directly with core developers to fix underlying software bugs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

• 3+ years of professional experience as an SDET, QA Engineer or Software Engineer with a primary focus on automated test development.

• Strong C++ Proficiency: Hands‑on experience writing unit/integration tests, mocking components (e.g., gMock), and working with existing C++ codebases handling complex algorithmic, spatial, or numerical logic.

• Strong Python Proficiency: Experience building integration test suites and using test frameworks like Pytest within collaborative, Git‑based workflows.

• CI Integration: Practical experience with CI/CD pipeline configuration and management.

• Distributed Systems Testing: Experience testing multi‑service, cloud, or hybrid distributed environments.

• Code Coverage & Tooling: Practical experience tracking and enforcing code coverage metrics (gcov/lcov, Bazel coverage tools).

• Software Hygiene: Proven ability to write clean, maintainable, modular test code following standard production software practices.

Nice to Haves

• Prior experience in Aerospace, Defense, GNSS/PNT, or High‑Reliability software environments.

• Experience testing low‑level interop or binding layers (e.g., nanobind, pybind11, ctypes, or gRPC/Protobuf interfaces).

• Experience working with containerized testing environments (Docker / Kubernetes).

• Experience with deterministic simulation, log playback, or hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) testing approaches.

• Experience with GitLab CI/CD pipeline configuration.

• Experience with the Bazel build system or its relatives (Buck2, Pants).

For U.S. Roles

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

For U.K. Roles

To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).

For Canada Roles

Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.