Test / Automation Engineer

General Galactic; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

General Galactic is seeking a Test Engineer to own critical testing and test automation infrastructure for our spacecraft product suite, including Seldon and Dreadnought vehicles. You’ll operate with high ownership across mechanical, electrical, software, and data domains to accelerate development.

In this role you instrument the system, run tests, analyze data, identify failure modes, and feed results back into design to continuously improve the test infrastructure for the next cycle.

Qualifications

• BS in mechanical, electrical, aerospace engineering or related field.
• 2+ years hands-on experience developing or automating test equipment or stands.
• Experience with LabVIEW, NI hardware, Python, and serial communications.

Responsibilities

• Own test stands from concept through commissioning and continuous improvement.
• Design, stand up, and operate test infrastructure for critical space system hardware; modify existing infrastructure.
• Lead or support HITL, HOOTL, engineering qualification testing, and ATP.
• Develop test automation software to control hardware, acquire data, enforce safety limits, and generate repeatable outputs.
• Integrate sensors, DAQ systems, controllers, serial devices, PLCs, NI hardware, or similar ground support equipment.
• Coordinate with third-party aerospace test houses for specialized testing.

Skills

LabVIEW

National Instruments

Python

Serial communications

DAQ systems

PLCs

Education

BS in mechanical engineering

BS in electrical engineering

BS in aerospace engineering

Tools

LabVIEW

National Instruments

Python

Job description

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

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.

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.