Software Engineer - Test Infrastructure

Rocket Lab; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace company in Mountain View, CA, is seeking a Software Test Infrastructure Engineer to enhance test infrastructure for critical spacecraft systems. This role involves developing robust test frameworks, automating tests, and collaborating with engineers to deliver effective testing solutions, ensuring high reliability and efficiency in spacecraft development.

Benefits

Equity compensation

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401k retirement plan

Three weeks paid vacation

12 paid holidays

Unlimited sick time

Paid parental leave

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in software development focused on test automation.
• Experience with testing embedded systems or hardware components.
• Familiarity with electronics test equipment.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain software test frameworks for hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Automate tests for avionics computers and hardware components.
• Collaborate with engineers to define test requirements and troubleshoot.

Skills

Python

Test Automation

Accountability

Multi-tasking

Education

B.S. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics

Tools

Git

CI/CD Pipelines

Job description

About the role

Muon seeks a Software Test Infrastructure Engineer to join our satellite development team in Mountain View, CA. You will be responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the software test infrastructure used to test the hardware components, such as avionics computers and other electronics, as well as the software that forms the backbone of Muon's spacecraft. You will contribute to an ecosystem of test and development tooling used by a large swath of the company for hardware and software testing across Muon’s Halo platform. The ideal candidate has experience developing test automation frameworks, hardware-in-the-loop systems, and manufacturing testing. Previous experience working on interdisciplinary projects, such as robotics, autonomous vehicles, avionics, or aerospace, is a strong asset.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain robust and scalable software test frameworks and infrastructure for hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and component-level testing.
• Create and automate tests for avionics computers and other electronic hardware components used in Muon's spacecraft.
• Collaborate closely with hardware, avionics, and software engineers to define test requirements, develop comprehensive test plans, and troubleshoot issues identified during testing.
• Integrate test infrastructure with continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) systems to streamline the testing process.
• Develop tools, utilities, and processes to improve test efficiency, test coverage, and the reliability of test results.
• Analyze test data, identify failures or anomalies, and work collaboratively with relevant engineering teams to investigate and resolve hardware and software issues.
• Maintain documentation for test infrastructure, procedures, and equipment.
• Contribute to an inclusive, collaborative, and team-oriented culture that fosters high productivity and opportunities for growth.

Qualifications

• B.S. or equivalent experience in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in software development, with a significant focus on test automation or test infrastructure development.
• Strong programming skills, particularly in Python.
• Proven experience with testing embedded systems or hardware components.
• Experience developing or working with software for hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testbeds.
• Familiarity with common electronics test equipment (e.g., oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, logic analyzers).
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines (e.g. Github Actions)
• Strong sense of accountability, integrity, and team focus with extensive multi-tasking and organizational experience.

Nice-to-have Skills

• Experience specifically testing avionics or aerospace hardware systems.
• Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS).
• Knowledge of communication protocols common in aerospace (e.g., CAN, Ethernet, RS-422/485).
• Experience with data acquisition (DAQ) systems and sensor integration.
• Programming experience in C/C++ or Rust.
• Track record of scrappiness and getting it done.

Salary

• The salary range for this role is $144K - $190K and will depend on a candidate's skills, geographic location, qualifications, and experience as defined during the interview process.

About Muon Space

Founded in 2021, Muon Space is an end-to-end Space Systems Provider that designs, builds, and operates LEO satellite constellations delivering mission-critical data. Our revolutionary, integrated technology stack enables customers to optimize every dimension of their missions for faster time-to-orbit and superior constellation remote sensing performance. Our state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Silicon Valley is optimized for manufacturing spacecraft and rapid, flexible payload integration at scale. From climate monitoring to national security, Muon Space is dedicated to delivering Earth Intelligence for a safer and more resilient world.

Taking Care of Our Team

At Muon salary is only part of our total compensation package. In addition to salary, we provide equity compensation as well as benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401k retirement plan, short & long term disability and life insurance. We also offer three weeks paid vacation for new employees, along with 12 paid holidays, unlimited sick time and paid parental leave.

Our mission embraces the entire planet and we believe our team should too. Muon is dedicated to creating a diverse and dynamic company and workforce. We believe in equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or gender identity. We value diversity in the workplace, and that starts with our applicants. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't check all the boxes, and we look forward to reviewing your application! In addition, if you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

ITAR/EAR Requirements

This position requires access to export controlled information. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations applicable to that information, applicant must either be (A) a U.S. person, defined as a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, (B) eligible to access the export controlled information without a required export authorization, or (C) eligible and reasonably likely to obtain the required export authorization from the applicable U.S. government agency. The Company may, for legitimate business reasons, decline to pursue any export licensing process.