Systems Verification & Validation Engineer

ThinKom Solutions•Hawthorne, CA

6d•$75,000 - $110,000•Onsite

About The Position

ThinKom's Systems Integration, Verification, and Validation (IVV) team supports critical technology sectors across our product portfolio, spanning Commercial In-Flight Connectivity (IFC), next-generation multi-beam Ground Stations and Gateway Arrays, land-mobile terminals, and special-mission aero platforms. This position focuses specifically on expanding our Operational Anomaly Investigation and Test Automation capabilities. You will analyze raw operational telemetry from airborne and ground deployments to investigate complex connectivity anomalies, while developing automated testing frameworks to scale regression test coverage across ThinKom’s product lines.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
Solid proficiency in Python for scripting, data analysis, and test automation.
Practical experience in Linux command-line environments, shell scripting (Bash), and core networking concepts (TCP/IP, VLANs, socket communication).
Hands-on background building, testing, or debugging physical hardware/software in a collaborative team setting.
Practical experience configuring and operating laboratory test equipment (e.g., digital spectrum analyzers, high-bandwidth oscilloscopes, RF vector signal generators, or logic analyzers).
Proven ability to inspect raw, noisy sensor plots, isolate true signals from anomalies, and deconstruct unfamiliar physical and mathematical problems from first principles.
Proficient with core business software applications (MS Office suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Must be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) due to U.S. Government contract requirements, and eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD Security Clearance.
High energy, creative problem-solving mindset, strong work ethic, and high emotional intelligence.
Ability to collaborate constructively across teams and represent ThinKom with uncompromised integrity.
Exceptional written, verbal, and formal presentation skills.
Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with cross-functional internal team members, as well as external suppliers and customers.
Ability to present technical information clearly in team meetings and formal design reviews.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Python testing frameworks and data/visualization libraries (e.g., PyTest, NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib).
Hands-on experience building, maintaining, or integrating automated test suites within continuous integration pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, GitHub Actions).
Exposure to satellite communication architectures, RF frequency translation (mixers, LNBs, local oscillators), antenna gain budgets, or link budget analysis.

Responsibilities

Parse and analyze raw operational logs and time-series telemetry to investigate field anomalies, isolate root causes for platform issues across airborne and ground systems.
Develop and maintain modular automated test scripts and frameworks in Python (e.g., PyTest) to scale System Test Procedure (STP) regression coverage.
Apply working knowledge of RF fundamentals (frequency translation, signal down conversion, power levels, link budgets) and control systems (pointing geometry, closed-loop tracking, motion sensors) to assist in test execution, data analysis, and anomaly investigations.
Execute hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) integration testing using laboratory equipment, including spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, signal generators, and antenna positioners/gimbals.
Verify system and software behavior against Software Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and Concepts of Operations (CONOPS).
Diagnose network and bus communication anomalies across embedded Linux controllers, VLANs, serial links, and 3rd-party line-replaceable units (modems, ModMans) using tools like Wireshark.
Build automated data-processing and visualization scripts to turn complex test and operational telemetry into clear, actionable findings.
Collaborate with Software, RF, Controls, and Field Engineering teams to isolate systemic defects and present empirical investigation findings during technical reviews.