Systems Test Engineer - Space Technologies

avav; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

AV is seeking an experienced Systems Test Engineer for the Space Technologies division. The engineer will design, implement, and maintain automated test equipment and frameworks, executing tests on opto-mechanical and electrical systems, harnesses, embedded electronics, and spacecraft interfaces.

Candidates should have strong electrical engineering and systems test backgrounds, experience with SpaceWire and MIL-STD-1553, and a proven ability to develop reusable test automation for spaceflight

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Physics; 5–8 years experience or Master's with 3–5 years.
• Experience developing and executing automated control and measurement systems using Python, LabVIEW, or equivalents.
• Experience with automated test equipment, automated test software, or system test equipment.
• Experience developing system-level test plans, procedures, scripts, and reports.
• Familiarity with SpaceWire and MIL-STD-1553 interfaces; testing and troubleshooting.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, integrate, and maintain automated test equipment, including hardware, instrumentation, software, fixtures, and interfaces.
• Develop reusable test automation frameworks using Python, LabVIEW, or comparable languages.
• Automate functional, performance, regression, integration, and acceptance testing for spaceflight hardware.
• Integrate automated test solutions with data acquisition systems, simulators, SIL/HIL environments.
• Develop and execute tests for SpaceWire and MIL-STD-1553 interfaces.

Skills

Python

LabVIEW

SpaceWire

MIL-STD-1553

Test automation

Electrical engineering

Systems testing

Oscilloscopes

Data analysis

Vibration testing

NASA GEVS

U.S. Citizenship

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Physics

Master's degree in Engineering or Physics

Tools

NI PXI

SpaceWire protocol analyzers

MIL-STD-1553 bus analyzers

High-speed data acquisition hardware

Electrical test equipment

Job description

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary

AV is seeking an experienced Systems Test Engineer for multiple programs within the Space Technologies division. The Space Technologies division has been developing the techniques, systems, subsystems, and design elements required to implement high reliability opto-mechanical and electrical systems.
The Systems Test Engineer is a key member of an integrated team operating in a very dynamic environment. The candidate will work across engineering disciplines to help define V&V statements, develop SW for automated tests and provide overall systems support for multiple programs.
The ideal candidate will have a strong electrical engineering and systems test background, with experience developing automated test solutions and verifying complex hardware and software interfaces. The engineer will plan and execute tests on opto-mechanical and electrical systems, harnesses, embedded electronics, and spacecraft communication interfaces, including SpaceWire and MIL-STD-1553.

Position Responsibilities

• Design, develop, integrate, and maintain automated test equipment, including test hardware, instrumentation, software, fixtures, and interfaces
• Develop reusable and maintainable test automation frameworks using Python, LabVIEW, or comparable programming languages
• Automate functional, performance, regression, integration, and acceptance testing for spaceflight hardware
• Integrate automated test solutions with data acquisition systems, instrumentation, simulators, software-in-the-loop (SIL) environments, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) systems
• Develop automated test scripts and tools for command, telemetry, data logging, analysis, reporting, and test result evaluation
• Develop, debug, and execute tests for SpaceWire interfaces, including link initialization, data transfer, packet handling, error conditions, routing, timing, and interface performance
• Develop, debug, and execute tests for MIL-STD-1553 interfaces, including bus controller, remote terminal, and monitor functionality; command and response validation; error injection; timing; and bus performance
• Develop and execute comprehensive test plans for spaceflight hardware, ensuring all electrical components and systems meet functional and performance specifications
• Work closely with electrical design engineers, systems engineers, and software teams to troubleshoot issues and optimize performance
• Work with a multi-disciplinary team to achieve system test design automation, integration, SIL integration, and off-site tests
• Work with the Systems Team to ensure proper requirement Verification and Validation methodology and execution
• Analyze test data, identify anomalies, and provide recommendations for design improvements to ensure product reliability and performance
• Support failure investigation, troubleshooting, and resolutions
• All other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Physics with 5 - 8 years of experience, or Master's degree in Engineering or Physics with 3 - 5 years of experience
• Experience developing and executing automated control and measurement systems using Python, LabVIEW, or equivalent tools
• Experience with automated test equipment, automated test software, or system test equipment
• Experience developing system-level test plans, test procedures, test scripts, and test reports
• Experience with system design, verification, and validation
• Demonstrated experience testing and troubleshooting SpaceWire and MIL-STD-1553 interfaces
• Experience with SPI and other embedded electronics communication protocols
• Experience using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, multimeters, and other electronic test equipment
• Experience analyzing test data and troubleshooting electrical, digital, embedded, and system-level issues
• Familiarity with environmental test standards for space hardware, such as NASA GEVS and MIL-STD-1540. experience with signal processing, data acquisition, or automated data analysis
• Must be a U.S. Citizen

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Experience developing automated System Test Equipment (STE) and reusable test automation frameworks
• Five or more years of experience performing environmental and system-level testing of spaceflight hardware
• Direct experience supporting flight programs for NASA, the U.S. Space Force, the Department of Defense, or major aerospace primes
• Experience serving as a Test Lead, Responsible Test Engineer, or equivalent technical lead on complex hardware programs
• Experience developing protocol-level test tools, simulators, traffic generators, or error-injection capabilities for SpaceWire or MIL-STD-1553
• Experience with SpaceWire protocol analyzers, MIL-STD-1553 bus analyzers, interface simulators, or related test equipment
• Experience developing HIL and SIL test environments
• Experience integrating automated test systems with continuous integration or continuous test pipelines
• Experience with NI PXI, high-speed digitizers, oscilloscopes, switching systems, and instrumentation
• Experience with qualification and acceptance testing in accordance with NASA GEVS, U.S. Department of Defense environmental standards, or equivalent requirements
• Experience with vibration, thermal vacuum, shock, EMI/EMC, and acoustic testing of flight hardware
• Experience with root-cause failure analysis and anomaly resolution for high-reliability systems
• Experience with test database management, automated reporting, data visualization, or requirements management toolsExperience with scripting, software development practices, version control, and code review
• Competencies
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams and technicians.
• Strong electrical engineering, systems test, and troubleshooting skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop reliable, maintainable, and reusable test automation.
• Working knowledge of digital communications interfaces and protocol-level verification.
• Ability to interpret electrical schematics, system architecture documents, interface control documents, requirements, and test specifications.