Test / Automation Engineer

Stanford Climate Ventures; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision and dental coverage

401k with company matching

Stock options

Job summary

Stanford Climate Ventures is looking for a Test Engineer based in El Segundo, California. You will take ownership of testing and automation for spacecraft such as Seldon and Dreadnought. This role requires extensive collaboration across mechanical, electrical, software, and data sectors to rapidly enhance hardware development.

Responsibilities include managing test stands, designing critical test infrastructure, and developing automation systems. The ideal candidate will have a BS degree in engineering and at least 2 years of relevant experience.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of hands-on experience developing or automating test equipment.
• Experience in data visualization and communicating test results.
• Understanding of debugging and hazard analysis.

Responsibilities

• Own test stands and systems from concept to operation.
• Design and maintain test infrastructure for space hardware.
• Develop test automation software to control hardware and enforce safety limits.

Skills

Test automation experience

LabVIEW proficiency

Python programming

Problem-solving skills

Education

BS in mechanical, electrical, aerospace engineering or related field

Tools

National Instruments hardware

DAQ systems

Job description

About General Galactic

General Galactic designs, builds, and flies advanced spacecraft that redefine what’s possible beyond Earth. Led by former SpaceX, Varda, Impulse, and Relativity engineers, our vision is to dominate cislunar space and build the railway to Mars – expanding access to high-energy orbits and enabling the next generation of missions along the way. Based in Los Angeles, California, we’re leveraging our paradigm-shifting water-based technology to reshape the space domain for good.

Job Description

As a Test Engineer, you will own critical testing and test automation infrastructure for our product suite, including Seldon and Dreadnought spacecraft vehicles, Genesis propulsion systems, and more. You’ll have extreme ownership over your work, move quickly, and operate with high agency. As we grow, there will be opportunities to expand your role with the company. You will build the systems that enable us to build game‑changing space hardware faster than previously thought possible.

This role sits at the center of the hardware development loop: instrument the system, run the test, analyze the data, identify failure modes, feed results back into design, and improve the test infrastructure for the next cycle. This is a high‑ownership, hands‑on role for someone who can move quickly across mechanical, electrical, software, and data domains.

Responsibilities

• Own test stands and test systems from concept through commissioning, operation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement
• Design, stand up, and operate test infrastructure for critical space system hardware (structures, avionics, fluids, etc); modify and maintain existing test infrastructure
• Lead or support HITL (Hardware‑In‑The‑Loop), HOOTL (Hardware‑Out‑Of‑The‑Loop), engineering qualification testing, and ATP
• Develop test automation software to control hardware, sequence tests, acquire data, enforce safety limits, and generate repeatable test outputs
• Integrate sensors, DAQ systems, controllers, serial devices, PLCs, National Instruments hardware, or similar ground support equipment
• Coordinate with third‑party aerospace test houses for specialized testing

Requirements

• BS in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical field
• 2+ years of hands‑on experience developing, operating, or automating test equipment, test stands, ground support equipment, etc.
• Understanding of data visualization, telemetry, dashboards, and communication of test results
• Demonstrated experience with LabVIEW, National Instruments, Python, Nominal, Revel, serial communications, etc.
• Skilled in debugging and optimization (as well as hazard analysis and root cause analysis)
• Experience in a fast‑paced startup environment or similar. High agency, strong ownership, and willingness to work hands‑on across disciplines
• First‑principles approach to problem solving even with incomplete or partial information

Benefits

Benefits include medical/vision/dental/PTO/401k/stock options, and more!

Compensation

Your salary and incentives will be determined individually on the basis of the following considerations: job‑related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Eligibility

This position requires access to information protected under US export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations. As such, US person status (including US citizens, U.S. permanent residents, individuals granted U.S. asylum status, or individuals admitted in U.S. refugee status) is a required qualification for this position.

Equal Employment Opportunity

General Galactic Technologies Corporation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.