Integration & Test Engineer

K2 Space

$100K — $140K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in electrical, aerospace, mechanical, computer, or other engineering discipline
  • 2+ years in an integration/test/automation engineering role (internships included)
  • Experience in testing and troubleshooting spacecraft and related systems
  • Familiarity with environmental testing (thermal vacuum, random vibration)
  • Clean room and ESD-sensitive equipment experience
  • Proficient with electrical test equipment (PSU, Oscilloscope, DMM, etc.)
  • Hands-on experience with HITL or Flatsat software verification testbeds
  • Strong conflict resolution and negotiation skills

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with design and systems engineers to define test plans with pass/fail criteria
  • Develop test procedures to confirm spacecraft hardware and software flightworthiness
  • Operate spacecraft interactions during system tests and operations
  • Investigate and troubleshoot vehicle issues and recommend actions
  • Become an expert for at least one subsystem of the vehicle
  • Lead and coordinate vehicle operations activities during integration campaign
  • Act as test conductor for environmental test campaigns
  • Maintain HITL table configurations and build outs
  • Create and release harness drawings for necessary ground support equipment
  • Support pre-launch and mission operations as a satellite controller

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • Paid time off and paid parental leave
  • Equity in the company
  • Additional perks beyond standard benefits
Full Job Description
The Role

As an Integration & Test Engineer, you'll be the last line of defense for all operations when the satellite is powered. Acting as a satellite controller, you'll be in the driver's seat of the satellite; all satellite activities go through you. Using a first principles approach, you'll be responsible for defining test plans that simulate all modes of flight, dictating what the vehicle needs to do, when, why, and how often. Your work will span most technical disciplines at the company and will require you to build consensus from multiple teams. Initial ground and on-orbit operations will be more manual but quickly grow into fully automated activities. As you build your knowledge of the vehicle through manual procedures and vehicle control, you'll be positioned to take the next step with the Vehicle Operations team towards a fully automated future.

Responsibilities
  • Collaborate with design and systems engineers to define test plans with pass/fail criteria for vehicle checkouts
  • Develop test procedures used to confirm spacecraft hardware and software flightworthiness
  • Operate spacecraft (interpret telemetry, send commands) during system tests at the factory, test facilities, launch sites, and during pre-launch operations
  • Investigate and troubleshoot vehicle issues and drive further actions to reduce future failures
  • Understand general vehicle operations and become expert for at least 1 subsystem on the vehicle
  • Regularly lead and organize vehicle operations activities for the integration campaign
  • Act as a test conductor (and POC, if offsite) for environmental test campaigns
  • Own and maintain HITL table configuration and build out, including the racks
  • Create and release harness drawings for required ground support equipment
  • Support pre-launch activities at the launch provider's payload processing facility
  • Support Mission Operations by acting as a satellite controller while vehicle is on-orbit

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in electrical, aerospace, mechanical, computer, or other engineering discipline
  • 2+ years of experience in an integration/test/automation engineering role (includes internships and design/build/compete extracurricular projects)
  • Experience testing and troubleshooting spacecraft and their related components and systems, including subsystem checkouts and system acceptance testing
  • Experience with environmental testing, such as thermal vacuum or random vibration
  • Experience working in a clean room and with ESD-sensitive equipment
  • Hands-on experience using electrical test equipment (PSU, Oscilloscope, DMM, etc.)
  • Hands-on experience with HITL or Flatsat software verification testbeds
  • Excellent conflict resolution and negotiation skills

Nice to Have
  • Proficient in Python and/or Rust
  • Experience with Linux systems
  • Experience managing contractual interfaces (e.g. customer, launch vehicle)

Compensation and Benefits
  • Base salary range for this role is $100,000 - $140,000 + equity in the company
  • Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
  • Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks


If you don't meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!

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