Spacecraft Test Engineer: Vibration & TVAC Lead

Xona-Space-Systems; Burlingame (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Xona-Space-Systems in Burlingame, CA, seeks a Spacecraft Test Engineer to own mechanical and environmental testing across the spacecraft development lifecycle, from R&D through first-article qualification. Lead vibration tests and TVAC campaigns, design test fixtures and instrumentation, develop test methods, and review data to drive design improvements with cross-functional teams.

Ideal candidate has 3+ years of relevant experience, a bachelor's in mechanical or aerospace engineering, and

Qualifications

• 3+ years of engineering experience with hardware testing.
• Experience developing and executing mechanical or environmental tests on complex hardware.
• Direct experience with spacecraft environmental tests such as vibration, thermal vacuum, thermal cycling, shock, or structural testing.

Responsibilities

• Identify high-risk mechanical, structural, thermal, material, and process risks early in the development cycle.
• Design and execute coupon-, component-, and subassembly-level tests to characterize materials and hardware.
• Develop test-derived data and allowables for mechanical interfaces and fixtures.
• Perform material and process characterization to validate assumptions before they are flight-ready.
• Develop rapid mechanical and thermal tests to inform design decisions.
• Collaborate with mechanical, structures, thermal, payload, electrical, and systems engineers to translate test results into design changes.
• Lead test campaigns such as first-article vibration tests and TVAC, from planning to reporting.

Skills

3+ years experience

Hardware testing

Spacecraft testing

Hands-on flight hardware

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Tools

CAD

Data acquisition

Python

MATLAB

LabVIEW

Job description

Xona-Space-Systems in Burlingame, CA, seeks a Spacecraft Test Engineer to own mechanical and environmental testing across the spacecraft development lifecycle, from R&D through first-article qualification. Lead vibration tests and TVAC campaigns, design test fixtures and instrumentation, develop test methods, and review data to drive design improvements with cross-functional teams.

Ideal candidate has 3+ years of relevant experience, a bachelor's in mechanical or aerospace engineering, and