Test Engineer - Space Solar

Starpath; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity package

Health coverage

PTO & holidays

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Starpath Robotics in Hawthorne, CA is seeking a Test Engineer to advance space solar hardware from cell-level testing to environmental qualification. You will build test stands, acquire data, and review results to ensure reliability for lunar and martian deployments.

The role offers hands-on instrumentation, collaboration with design and manufacturing, and opportunities to influence testability and diagnostic techniques, with growth through mentoring and cutting-edge space technology.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, materials, physics, or related engineering/science
• 1+ years hardware test engineering experience (internship and academic research applicable)
• Hands-on experience with test instrumentation and data acquisition

Responsibilities

• Execute test programs for space solar hardware — from cell-level characterization through panel and array environmental testing
• Build and operate test stands, fixtures, and data acquisition systems for electrical, thermal, mechanical, and environmental testing
• Run environmental tests — TVAC, thermal cycling, vibration, shock, and humidity — including setup, execution, and post-test data review
• Perform electrical characterization of solar hardware — LIV/flash testing, electroluminescence imaging, dark IV, and degradation analysis
• Investigate test failures and anomalies; partner with design and manufacturing engineering to close issues
• Write and execute test procedures and contribute to qualification reports
• Influence hardware design from a testability perspective — flag instrumentation access and design choices to ease qualification
• Push back on unnecessary complexity — streamline test setups and reduce overhead where not adding value

Skills

LabVIEW

Python

MATLAB

Data acquisition

Test instrumentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or science

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Spectrolab

Job description

The Mission

Starpath develops and manufactures the technologies that will enable humans to live on the Moon and Mars. Today, we are building robotic systems that locally produce the essential commodities a lunar civilization will require at extreme scale: water, power, and oxygen. Our ultimate goal is to build and operate a self-sustaining city on Mars.

Test Engineer – Space Solar

The Starlight team is focused on dramatically improving space solar power to support Starpath's core mission and the greater space economy. Starlight manufactures the lowest cost and highest performance space solar ever, which will power the majority of new satellites built on Earth and all of Starpath's equipment on the Moon and Mars.

Responsibilities

• Execute test programs for space solar hardware — from cell-level electrical characterization through panel and array environmental testing
• Build and operate test stands, fixtures, and data acquisition systems for electrical, thermal, mechanical, and environmental testing
• Run environmental tests — thermal vacuum (TVAC), thermal cycling, vibration, shock, and humidity — including test setup, execution, and post-test data review
• Perform electrical characterization of solar hardware — LIV/flash testing, electroluminescence imaging, dark IV, and degradation analysis
• Investigate test failures and anomalies; partner with design and manufacturing engineering to close issues
• Write and execute test procedures and contribute to qualification reports
• Influence hardware design from a testability perspective — flag instrumentation access, alignment features, and design choices that make hardware easier to qualify
• Push back on unnecessary complexity — simplify test setups, eliminate redundant verification, and cut overhead wherever it doesn't add value

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, materials, physics, or a related engineering or science discipline
• 1+ years of hardware test engineering experience (internship and academic research applicable)
• Hands-on experience with test instrumentation and data acquisition

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in an engineering or science discipline
• Direct experience testing photovoltaic hardware — solar cells, strings, panels, or arrays — ideally multi-junction (III-V) or perovskite cells for space or other high-reliability applications
• Hands-on experience operating solar simulators (e.g., Spectrolab, AAA-class) and interpreting LIV/flash test data
• Familiarity with electroluminescence imaging, dark IV analysis, and other diagnostic techniques for solar hardware
• Experience supporting environmental test campaigns — TVAC, thermal cycling, vibration, shock
• Familiarity with aerospace test standards (e.g., GEVS, MIL-STD-1540, AIAA S-111/S-112 for solar cells)
• Proficiency with LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB, or equivalent for data acquisition and analysis
• Experience with test fixture and stand design, including thermal and electrical interfaces to hardware under test
• Exposure to aerospace, space, or other high-reliability hardware environments

Compensation & Benefits

• Location: Los Angeles (Hawthorne), CA
• Competitive salary plus equity package; compensation scales with candidate experience
• PTO & health/dental/vision coverage included

EAR Requirements

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, you 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.

Equal Opportunity

• Starpath is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Benefits

At Starpath Robotics, base pay is just one part of your total rewards package. We also offer:

• Generous benefits including health, dental, vision, and retirement plans.
• Paid time off, holidays, and flexible policies to support balance.
• Professional growth opportunities through training and development.
• The chance to own high-impact work that directly shapes the future of robotics & space!
• A collaborative, mission-driven culture where craftsmanship and innovation are celebrated.