As a Development Test Engineer at BRL, you will design, build, and operate the test infrastructure that proves out our hardware. You will be responsible for subassembly-level development testing through full-scale deployment testing of flight hardware. Your work will span the full development cycle; standing up data acquisition systems, fabricating test stands and fixtures, writing procedures and performing testing that take a mechanism from a prototype to qualified and acceptance tested spaceflight hardware.
Key Responsibilities:- Test Design and Fabrication:
- Design, fabricate, and instrument test rigs and stands for deployable mechanisms, structural test articles, and motor/actuator hardware.
- Fabricate and wire data acquisition (DAQ) systems, including sensor selection, signal conditioning, and instrumentation layout.
- Produce fabrication drawings, wiring schematics, and instrumentation lists for test equipment.
- Examine opportunities for streamlining and automating testing where necessary for acceptance testing or long term production.
- Test Operations and Data Review:
- Operate test systems across development, acceptance, and qualification testing, from full-scale deployment tests down to subassembly-level characterization.
- Run test campaigns hands-on, including test article integration, activation, execution, and troubleshooting.
- Reduce and review test data, and work with design engineers to identify anomalies and root cause.
- Own the outcome, not just the execution: synthesize test results and performance trends into concrete recommendations back to design and manufacturing to mature the hardware - you're expected to catch what the data is telling you before it becomes a program problem.
- Procedures and Qualification:
- Develop and write acceptance test procedures (ATPs) and qualification test plans for flight hardware and ground support equipment.
- Define qualification approaches and acceptance testing methods in coordination with responsible engineers.
- Maintain configuration control of test procedures, test data, and as-run documentation.
Basic Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
- 1+ years of experience in a hands-on engineering role fabricating or operating test hardware, DAQ systems, or test rigs.
- Experience developing test procedures, including acceptance test or qualification test documentation.
- Working knowledge of instrumentation and data acquisition fundamentals (sensors, signal conditioning, sampling).
- Demonstrated ability of taking project ownership and working well in small teams.
Preferred Qualifications:- ~5 years of experience in hardware development testing.
- Direct experience testing spaceflight hardware - through development, acceptance, and qualification testing.
- Direct prior experience designing, fabricating, and operating test rigs and stands for mechanisms, structural test articles, motors, or actuators, including DAQ hardware/software and common test instrumentation.
- Direct prior experience with large, lightweight deployable structure testing (gravity offload, deployment dynamics, or similar test methods).
- Demonstrated data reduction, data review and automation proficiency/capabilities.
Additional Requirements:- Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as necessary to support critical project milestones.
- Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or eligible for authorization under U.S. export regulations.
