Sr. Test Instrumentation Engineer

Virgin GalacticIrvine, CA
$108,871 - $166,036Onsite

About The Position

Virgin Galactic is seeking a talented and motivated engineer to execute a variety of Test & Evaluation instrumentation activities for our next generation of Spaceships. Guided by our values, “Safety Above All”, we proactively manage the risks inherent in human spaceflight through our daily actions. The Senior Test Instrumentation Engineer for Test & Evaluation Department will lead and execute the design, build, integration, verification and maintenance of custom and off-the-shelf test equipment and instrumentation for multiple engineering disciplines including, but not limited to structures, materials, mechanical systems, avionics and flight controls. Maintain focus on timeliness and execution of tasks and deliverables every day. Support the company strategy by holding ourselves and one another accountable for getting the work done.

Requirements

  • Bachelors degree from an accredited institution with a concentration in a relevant engineering discipline, or equivalent industry experience
  • 8+ years of experience in test instrumentation including test software, fixtures and/or racks used for component acceptance/qualification, structural test, materials test, or environmental test
  • Demonstrated experience of Instrumentation selection, signal conditioning and data acquisition
  • Experience instrumenting strain gages, string potentiometers, thermocouples, accelerometers, load cells, LVDTs and pressure transducers
  • 3+ years of National Instruments PXI, cRIO or cDAQ data acquisition experience
  • 5+ years of LabVIEW development experience in industry (Certified LabVIEW Developer accreditation or equivalent)
  • Extensive NI-DAQmx experience
  • Proven OOD experience and implementation of by-value or by-reference object-oriented designs in LabVIEW
  • Working knowledge of Source Code Control (GIT or equivalent) usage
  • Electrical engineering experience, as applied to data acquisition and control (e.g. analog, digital, high speed data signal integrity)
  • Hardware system build and integration experience
  • Working knowledge of integration tools (DMM, scope, function generator, power supply, loads, hand tools)
  • Working knowledge of mechanical and electrical build tools (wire cutter/stripper/crimper, soldering iron)
  • Engineering analytical skills in test-relevant engineering areas
  • Demonstrated organizational skills, capable of juggling and completing multiple tasks across different disciplines and programs
  • Demonstrate willingness to adjust thinking and behavior.
  • Ability to communicate in a manner that is timely, respectful, and open to other ideas

Nice To Haves

  • Experience with component testing in a DO-160 and/or SMC-S-016 (or similar) environment
  • Experience with environmental testing of mechanical and/or avionics components and systems
  • Experience with mechanical and physical testing of materials, with an emphasis on metallic and/or composite materials
  • Practical knowledge of test processes, including requirements gathering, design creation, integrity in build execution, and reporting skills
  • Working knowledge of PLM systems
  • Working knowledge of DQMH and/or JKISM
  • Working knowledge of UML including Class, Object, Activity, Use Case and Sequence diagrams
  • Working knowledge of Continuous Integration system usage
  • Experienced Confluence/Jira user
  • SharePoint familiarity
  • Successful execution of projects and tasks in an Agile environment
  • Demonstrated delegation skills
  • EIM integration knowledge
  • Working knowledge of Continuous Integration system setup and management

Responsibilities

  • Engage in Virgin Galactic’s ground testing instrumentation and test equipment for the verification of complex mechanical, electronic and/or structural components and systems
  • Drive and support the execution of entire instrumentation project cycles from concept through completion
  • Define the scope and verifiable requirements of test instrumentation efforts
  • Design instrumentation and associated equipment
  • Design and develop instrumentation software
  • Integrate test instrumentation systems
  • Verify as-built systems meet requirements
  • Maintain test instrumentation after deployment to active testing
  • Participate in the test engineering review, approval, and release processes
  • Participate in the continuous improvement of test instrumentation practices, including processes, procedures, technology implementation, capital projects, standardization efforts and training activities
  • Ensure common best practices are integrated across test instrumentation
  • Engage in internal instrumentation user groups to foster share learning with teammates
  • Ensure that all decisions of your team are driven by safety: be the safety focal for Test Instrumentation - drive the adoption of Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), safety audits for all roles and work functions, and maintain a safety-first culture
  • With support from senior management, foster an inclusive work environment that values diversity, sharing, creative problem solving, and strategic thinking
  • Execute other duties as required by Virgin Galactic senior leadership to support company and program objectives
  • Continuously practice safety behavior and Foreign Object Debris (FOD) awareness/prevention; adhere to regulatory protocols and rules
  • Work collaboratively to achieve goals and/or complete assigned tasks
  • Adhere to set directions and guidelines from team leader to support collaboration across teams to complete projects.

Benefits

  • medical
  • financial
  • bonus
  • long term incentive
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