Test Engineer

Rendezvous Robotics; Golden (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical vision and dental coverage

3 weeks paid vacation

10+ paid holidays

Job summary

Rendezvous Robotics is seeking a senior test engineer to design and run comprehensive test campaigns for modular spacecraft tiles. You will develop plans, automate tests, analyze results, and drive root-cause investigations.

You will collaborate with design, manufacturing, and avionics teams in Golden, CO to ensure tests meet requirements and support flight demonstrations. A strong background in engineering testing and data-driven decision making is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (mechanical, electrical, aerospace, or related).
• Hands‑on experience planning and executing test campaigns — environmental, structural, EMI/EMC, and/or functional.
• Strong data analysis and failure‑analysis skills with a systems view of how tests map to requirements.
• Comfort with data acquisition, test automation, and scripting (Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, or similar).
• Clear technical writing and communication; procedures and reports must stand on their own.

Responsibilities

• Develop test plans, procedures, and readiness documentation with traceability to requirements.
• Build and maintain test infrastructure and tooling for repeatable campaigns.
• Execute tests and analyze data; document results against pass/fail criteria.
• Lead anomaly resolution and root-cause investigations; drive corrective actions.
• Support assembly and integration of electromagnetic tiles and spacecraft components.
• Act as technical point of contact for tests in design reviews and events.
• Help define test strategy as the program scales toward flight demonstrations.

Skills

Test planning

Data analysis

Scripting

Technical writing

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

Python

LabVIEW

MATLAB

Job description

Today, everything we send to space is constrained by what fits inside a rocket fairing. That's a fundamental bottleneck to building more capable spacecraft. Rendezvous Robotics is solving this problem with electromagnetic self‑assembling tiles: modular spacecraft components that rendezvous, dock, and latch to assemble bigger and more powerful spacecraft than anything that can be folded to fit into a rocket.

We're a small team based in Golden, Colorado, executing on a clear path from flight demonstration to our first operational systems. Our work spans hardware, software, and systems engineering. We are looking for the best people in the world who want to build the next generation of advanced spacecraft.

Responsibilities & Ownership

• Develop test plans, procedures, and readiness documentation for component, subsystem, and system-level testing, with clear traceability to requirements.
• Build and maintain test infrastructure — fixtures, data acquisition, automation, and the tooling that makes campaigns repeatable.
• Execute functional, environmental, and performance tests; collect and analyze data; and document results against pass/fail criteria.
• Lead anomaly resolution and root‑cause investigations, and drive corrective actions to closure.
• Support assembly and integration of our electromagnetic tiles and multi‑tile spacecraft, working shoulder‑to‑shoulder with design, manufacturing, and avionics engineers.
• Serve as a technical point of contact for test activities in design reviews and major test events.
• Help define the test strategy as the program scales toward flight demonstration and first operational systems.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (mechanical, electrical, aerospace, or related).
• Senior level only: 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Hands‑on experience planning and executing test campaigns — environmental, structural, EMI/EMC, and/or functional.
• Strong data analysis and failure‑analysis skills, with a systems‑level view of how a test result maps back to requirements.
• Comfort with data acquisition, test automation, and scripting (Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, or similar).
• Clear technical writing and communication — your procedures and reports need to stand on their own.
• S. person status required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with spacecraft, satellite, or other flight‑hardware AI&T.
• Familiarity with embedded systems, motor/actuator control, or sensor instrumentation.
• Knowledge of relevant standards (e.g., MIL‑STD‑810, GSFC‑STD‑7000 / GEVS, or equivalent NASA/DoD specs).
• Experience standing up a test lab or test infrastructure from scratch in a startup or small‑team environment.

Compensation and Benefits

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job‑related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. In addition to the base salary, you may also be eligible for long‑term incentives in the form of stock options. You will receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, short‑ and long‑term disability insurance, life insurance, and paid parental leave. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year.

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Rendezvous Robotics is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Rendezvous Robotics is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.