Senior Spacecraft Environmental Test Engineer

About the role

The role centers on owning the end-to-end environmental testing strategy for Apex satellite buses, ensuring that every bus meets stringent reliability standards before flight. You will design and manage the execution of test protocols that replicate the harsh conditions of launch and orbit, directly safeguarding the integrity of customer payloads. This position owns the qualification and production testing of critical hardware, verifying performance through vibration, shock, thermal, and vacuum evaluations. You will diagnose anomalies in both spacecraft components and test equipment, driving root cause analysis to prevent future failures. Collaboration with design and production teams will be essential to iterate on build materials and processes based on test data. You will provide technical leadership by guiding junior engineers and technicians on best practices for test execution and safety. The position requires staying current with evolving aerospace test standards and integrating new technologies to improve test coverage. Ultimately, your work will enable Apex to scale manufacturing while maintaining the highest confidence in the spacecraft's ability to survive mission-critical environments.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Define and scope comprehensive test plans for vibration, shock, thermal cycling, thermal vacuum, pneumatic pressure, and EMI/EMC validation of spacecraft buses and components.
• Source, evaluate, and procure environmental test equipment such as vibration shakers, thermal chambers, and pneumatic test rigs, ensuring suitability for production-level testing.
• Install and configure test hardware and instrumentation, including accelerometers, thermocouples, data acquisition systems, and spectrum analyzers, to support test execution.
• Conduct production environmental testing on spacecraft bus components, performing functional checks to verify performance under simulated launch and orbital conditions.
• Perform qualification level environmental testing to validate that flight units meet all contractual and regulatory requirements.
• Analyze high-volume test data using statistical methods, generating clear reports that highlight trends, anomalies, and compliance status for internal and external stakeholders.
• Troubleshoot failures observed during testing, working closely with design and manufacturing teams to implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Lead cross-functional reviews of test results, collaborating with engineers, quality assurance, and production teams to resolve issues rapidly.
• Develop and maintain detailed test procedures, checklists, and standard work instructions to ensure consistency and repeatability across test campaigns.
• Mentor technicians and engineers on test protocols, safety procedures, and the use of instrumentation, fostering a culture of quality.
• Continuously evaluate testing processes, introducing automation and improved methodologies to increase throughput and accuracy.
• Stay engaged with the broader aerospace community to understand emerging test methods, standards, and technologies relevant to spacecraft environmental validation.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Person as defined by export control regulations, due to the access required to controlled data and technology.
• Possess a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field, or have equivalent practical experience.
• Bring a minimum of 8 years of hands-on experience in environmental testing within the aerospace or space systems industry.
• Demonstrate strong knowledge of established aerospace testing standards, including but not limited to MIL-STD-461, GSFC-STD-7000, SMC-S-016, and MIL-STD-810.
• Have proven experience operating and maintaining a range of environmental testing equipment, understanding the capabilities and limitations of each system.
• Show familiarity with instrumentation commonly used in environmental testing, such as thermocouples, accelerometers, and data acquisition hardware.
• Exhibit excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex test data and make sound technical decisions.
• Possess strong written and verbal communication skills, enabling clear coordination with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Thrive in a collaborative, multidisciplinary team environment, working effectively with peers across functions and locations.
• Maintain a meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that test results are accurate, reproducible, and well documented.
• Be comfortable following strict procedures while also identifying opportunities for process improvement.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage multiple test campaigns concurrently while adhering to strict project timelines.

Nice to have

• Hold relevant aerospace or environmental testing certification(s) that align with industry standards.
• Have direct experience with avionics functional testing and/or pneumatic pressure testing for spacecraft components.
• Be proficient in programming languages such as Python or LabVIEW to automate test procedures or data analysis.
• Bring experience in high-volume environmental testing, having implemented methods to increase test throughput and efficiency.
• Possess deep knowledge of data acquisition and analysis software platforms used in engineering validation.