Environmental Test Engineer - Space Technologies

AeroVironment•Albuquerque, NM

1d•$74,500 - $113,500•Onsite

About The Position

AV is seeking an experienced Environmental Test Engineer for multiple programs within the Space Technologies division. The Space Technologies division has been developing the techniques, systems, subsystems, and design elements required to implement high reliability opto-mechanical and electrical systems. The Environmental Test Engineer will be a key member of an integrated, multidisciplinary engineering team operating in a dynamic development environment. This position will support the definition and execution of verification and validation (V&V) activities, environmental test planning, automated test development, data acquisition, and overall systems support across multiple programs. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with environmental test systems and spaceflight hardware, including vibration tables, thermal chambers, thermal vacuum chambers, cleanroom operations, and associated instrumentation. The candidate will also have experience developing automated test hardware and software to improve test efficiency, repeatability, data quality, and reporting.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline, with 2 - 5 years of experience
Experience testing spaceflight hardware, satellite systems, spacecraft components, or other high-reliability aerospace systems
Experience planning, preparing, executing, and documenting environmental tests
Experience with automated control and measurement systems
Experience developing or maintaining automated test equipment, test scripts, data acquisition software, or laboratory control systems
Experience with system design, verification, and validation
Experience testing hardware or systems in a cleanroom or controlled laboratory environment
Experience developing integration and test plans, procedures, scripts, and reports
Experience with environmental testing and associated test instrumentation
Experience with signal processing, data acquisition, or automated test-data analysis
Experience with vibration testing, thermal testing, thermal vacuum testing, or related environmental test activities
Working knowledge of Python, MATLAB, Simulink, LabVIEW, Java, or comparable programming and test automation tools
Must be a U.S. Citizen

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline with 4 - 8 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree with 2 - 5 years of relevant experience
More than two years of environmental test engineering experience
Direct experience conducting environmental tests for spaceflight hardware or satellite systems in a cleanroom environment
Experience developing automated environmental test systems and reusable test automation frameworks
Experience integrating automated test software with vibration controllers, thermal vacuum chambers, thermal chambers, facility control systems, and data acquisition systems
Experience with National Instruments hardware, including PXI, DAQ systems, high-speed digitizers, switching systems, and instrumentation
Experience with MATLAB, Simulink, Python, LabVIEW, Java, or equivalent engineering software
Strong environmental test engineering, instrumentation, and troubleshooting skills
Demonstrated ability to develop reliable, maintainable, and reusable test automation
Strong understanding of environmental test methods, test equipment, instrumentation, and data acquisition
Ability to interpret test requirements, specifications, drawings, interface control documents, and system-level documentation
Strong data analysis and signal-processing skills
Ability to identify and isolate hardware, software, instrumentation, facility, and test-setup issues
Strong leadership, organization, and communication skills
Ability to assume technical responsibility for assigned test activities or multiple programs
Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary engineering teams and technicians
Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, mission-focused environment

Responsibilities

Plan, coordinate, execute, and document environmental tests - including vibration, thermal, thermal vacuum, shock, and EMI/EMC testing - for spaceflight components, subsystems, and systems in accordance with applicable standards and customer requirements
Develop, design, integrate, and maintain hardware and software for automated environmental test equipment and laboratory control systems
Develop reusable test automation scripts and tools for test sequencing, equipment control, data acquisition, real-time monitoring, limit checking, abort logic, post-processing, and automated reporting
Integrate automated test systems with vibration controllers, thermal chambers, thermal vacuum chambers, data acquisition systems, instrumentation, facility control systems, and other specialized test equipment
Support the development and integration of hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), software-in-the-loop (SIL), and system-level automated test environments
Work with systems and multidisciplinary engineering teams to refine requirements, verification statements, verification methods, and verification cross-reference matrices to ensure requirements are complete, measurable, and testable
Develop and execute environmental test plans, procedures, scripts, AI&T documentation, test readiness materials, and formal test reports
Prepare and verify test configurations, instrumentation plans, test limits, abort criteria, sensor calibration, facility readiness, and test article setups prior to test execution
Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot vibration tables, thermal chambers, thermal vacuum chambers, autocollimators, data acquisition systems, and other specialized environmental test equipment
Analyze test data using automated data reduction, signal-processing, visualization, and reporting tools to identify anomalies, trends, and performance issues
Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, systems, software, manufacturing, quality, and operations teams to troubleshoot hardware, test equipment, facility, and data-related issues
Support failure investigations, root-cause analysis, anomaly resolution, corrective actions, regression testing, and technical reviews; assume technical responsibility for assigned environmental test activities across one or more programs
All other duties as assigned