Spacecraft AIT Program Lead

Schmidt Entities; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Schmidt Entities seeks an experienced Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) Manager to build and lead the AIT organization for a next-generation space observatory through final integration, environmental verification, hazardous processing, and launch vehicle integration on the Eastern Range.

You will establish a new integration facility, staff technicians, and manage the end-to-end test campaign from bed assembly to launch handoff, coordinating with NASA partners, payload and instrument suppliers,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of spacecraft AIT, integration, or launch site processing experience, including 3+ years leading teams.
• Direct experience executing a spacecraft launch campaign at a U.S. range, with working knowledge of range safety processes and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Build, staff, and lead the AIT organization; own the AIT Plan, budget, schedule, resource loading, and critical path.
• Own payload-to-platform integration: receiving, inspection, payload reassembly, mate to the bus, alignment, and final observatory closeout, including hold points, hazard controls, and back-out paths.
• Lead spacecraft-level test execution: end-to-end functional, performance, modal survey, DFAT, EMC self-compatibility, mass properties, thruster alignment, and closeout.

Skills

Leadership

AIT management

Systems engineering

Budget planning

Staffing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering

MS preferred

Tools

GSE tooling

Job description

Schmidt Entities seeks an experienced Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) Manager to build and lead the AIT organization for a next-generation space observatory through final integration, environmental verification, hazardous processing, and launch vehicle integration on the Eastern Range.

You will establish a new integration facility, staff technicians, and manage the end-to-end test campaign from bed assembly to launch handoff, coordinating with NASA partners, payload and instrument suppliers,