Summary
Position Title: Mission Engineer - Autonomy Test Focused
Position ID: TA283
Location(s): Hybrid; Aurora, CO; Chantilly, VA; Herndon, VA
Application Deadline: November 30, 2026
Security Clearance Requirement: TS/SCI Security Clearance
Job Description
Trusted Space is seeking a Mission Engineer with a strong focus on testing, integration, and quality assurance of space mission autonomy. In this role, you will be a key contributor to our hybrid test environment-spanning software-in-the-loop (SIL), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and digital mission simulation-ensuring highly reliable autonomous behaviors are designed, validated, and delivered to mission-critical space programs. You will help mature and verify autonomous capabilities such as onboard decision making, fault detection/isolation/recovery (FDIR), distributed constellation coordination, and ground-to-space autonomy-building confidence through rigorous scenario-based testing, simulation, and data-driven evaluation.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead integration and validation of complex autonomous systems across flight and ground segments.
- Define and execute test strategies for mission autonomy (SIL/HIL/digital twin), including scenario generation, Monte Carlo campaigns, safety envelopes, and regression suites.
- Evaluate autonomy software and mission systems for compliance with government and commercial safety and quality standards; author test plans, procedures, and verification reports.
- Collaborate closely with software, systems, mission operations, and test engineering teams to ensure requirements traceability and effective verification/validation (V&V).
- Design, implement, and maintain automated test scripts and pipelines (Python-first) for repeatable, high-fidelity autonomy testing.
- Translate integration steps into robust automated regression tests; stand up and maintain test data sets, metrics, and dashboards for mission performance and reliability.
- Use model-based systems engineering (MBSE) artifacts (e.g., SysML/UAF in Cameo) to align autonomy behaviors with mission requirements, interfaces, and constraints.
- Support simulation and mission analysis for autonomy evaluation (e.g., scenario modeling, timing/performance assessments, and interface validation).
Qualifications
- An Active Top Secret/SCI clearance.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or related field (Mechanical/Electrical/Systems or equivalent experience welcome).
- 8+ years in systems engineering, controls/automation, software test, integration, or verification roles on complex, safety-critical systems.
- 3+ years testing embedded or real-time C++ applications (space or aerospace/industrial controls preferred).
- Strong proficiency with Python 3 for test automation, data analysis, and tooling.
- Comfortable working in Linux and Windows environments (primarily Linux).
- Experience applying MBSE (e.g., SysML/UAF, Cameo) for requirements traceability, interface definition, and design verification.
- Familiarity with SIL/HIL test environments, digital twins, or closed-loop control/autonomy validation.
Desired Skills and Experience
- Experience with mission autonomy test and evaluation (FDIR, autonomy safety cases, scenario-based testing, Monte Carlo methods).
- Tools/frameworks for ML/AI or autonomy (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, RLlib) and safe-autonomy testing concepts.
- Experience with STK/GMAT or similar mission simulation tools for scenario generation and analysis.
- Familiarity with Agile development practices and CI/CD (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab).
- Experience with Java or Scala for tooling or services.
- Background in database programming (MongoDB preferred).
- Containerization experience (Docker).
- Experience with C++20 or newer.
- Scripting/automation within modeling environments (e.g., VTL, Jython in Cameo).
Compensation
The salary range for this role is $150,000 - $200,000. Please note that this range is a general guideline and can vary. Trusted Space, LLC considers several factors when extending an offer including, but not limited to: scope, location, position responsibilities, education/training, key skills and business considerations.
Benefits
Trusted Space seeks to create an environment where Employees are empowered and supported to achieve their full potential. We encourage life-long learning within our agile and innovative work environment. We offer competitive compensation and benefits including medical, dental, and vision plans; life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance; 401(k) plan; paid holidays and generous paid time off; short-term and long-term disability insurance; and other benefits to promote health, wellness, and a positive work-life balance.
This is a full time position
