Position Title: Principal Integration & Test (I&T) Engineer, Space Payloads
Requisition ID: 1846
Position Location: Chantilly, VA
Position Reports To: Senior Manager, Integration & Test Engineering
Supervises Others: No
Position SummaryWe are seeking a Principal Integration & Test (I&T) Engineer to support the development, integration, debugging, and verification of space payload systems. This role requires a hands-on engineer who can work across software, firmware, and electronics to troubleshoot complex system issues and ensure payload readiness for lab, environmental, and flight test activities.
The ideal candidate is comfortable at the hardware/software boundary and able to isolate problems, perform root-cause analysis, and support system bring-up for advanced payloads operating in space environments.
Duties and Responsibilities- Integrate and test space payload hardware and software in development, qualification, and flight-like configurations.
- Debug and troubleshoot issues spanning application software, embedded software, FPGA/firmware interfaces, electronics, sensors, and communication links.
- Support bring-up of payload electronics, processors, FPGAs, data interfaces, and support equipment.
- Investigate failures during integration and test using lab equipment, logs, telemetry, and software/firmware diagnostics.
- Use lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies, DMMs, protocol analyzers, and signal generators to diagnose hardware and interface issues.
- Support checkout and debugging of interfaces such as SPI, I2C, UART, RS-422/485, Ethernet, SpaceWire, CAN, and other mission-specific buses.
- Work closely with software, firmware, electrical, systems, and mechanical engineers to resolve integration issues and improve design robustness.
- Document test results, anomalies, troubleshooting steps, and corrective actions to support formal verification and flight readiness reviews.
- Assist with system-level and environmental testing, including functional test, thermal vacuum, vibration, EMI/EMC, and mission simulations.
- Contribute to development of testbeds, lab infrastructure, automated test tools, and debug processes.
- Support configuration management and ensure testing is performed against the correct hardware, firmware, and software baselines.
- Ability to support travel or off-site work, as needed.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or related field (OR equivalent years of experience / combined education).
- 9 or more years of related experience.
- Experience integrating and testing embedded systems, avionics, or aerospace hardware.
- Ability to debug across software, firmware, and electronics.
- Experience reading and interpreting schematics, ICDs, test procedures, requirements, and design documentation.
- Experience with embedded debugging tools, logs, telemetry, and lab instrumentation.
- Familiarity with C/C++, Python, or similar scripting languages for test automation and troubleshooting.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience with space payloads, spacecraft avionics, or mission-critical embedded systems.
- Experience debugging FPGA-based systems and firmware-controlled electronics.
- Familiarity with Linux-based embedded systems, RTOS, or board bring-up.
- Experience supporting TVAC, vibration, or EMI/EMC test campaigns.
- Knowledge of space-qualified components, radiation-tolerant electronics, or flight hardware processes.
- Experience with requirements verification, anomaly reporting, and formal test documentation.
- Familiarity with CI/CD, automated test frameworks, HIL testing, or lab automation.
Pay InformationFull-Time Salary Range: $101,000 - $188,000
Please Note: Actual compensation offered will be determined based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, skills, education, certifications, internal equity, business considerations, and geographic location where applicable.
Benefits Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits including but not limited to:
- Health benefits
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Basic life with AD&D
- Short term disability
- Long term disability
- Ancillary (Voluntary life with AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital, and pet)
- Spending accounts (HSA, FSA, and DCFSA)
- Paid time off
- Holidays
- 401(k) (including company match)
- Tuition reimbursement
- Leaves (Parental, maternity, and military)
- Annual discretionary bonus (for eligible roles)
Trident Systems reserves the right to change or assign other duties to this position.
