Senior Test Engineer

About the role

Starpath is at the forefront of developing the essential infrastructure for human habitation on the Moon and Mars. Our focus is on creating robotic systems that facilitate the production of vital resources such as water, power, and oxygen. Within this innovative environment, the Starlight team is dedicated to advancing space solar power technologies to support our mission and the wider space industry. As a Senior Test Engineer, you will play a crucial role in verifying the flight readiness of solar hardware, overseeing everything from individual solar cells to complete arrays.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Oversee extensive testing programs for solar hardware used in space applications, ensuring thorough evaluations from cell-level electrical assessments to full array environmental qualifications.
• Define the testing methodologies, requirements, and acceptance criteria necessary for the development, qualification, and acceptance stages of solar hardware.
• Construct and set up test configurations, fixtures, and data acquisition systems tailored for a variety of testing scenarios.
• Lead environmental qualification initiatives, which include conducting thermal vacuum tests, thermal cycling, vibration assessments, shock tests, and humidity evaluations, while managing the associated review processes.
• Execute electrical characterization of solar hardware, employing techniques such as LIV/flash testing, electroluminescence imaging, and degradation analysis to assess performance.
• Analyze test failures and anomalies, working closely with design engineers to troubleshoot issues and enhance hardware reliability.
• Develop and evaluate test procedures, plans, and reports to ensure compliance with customer requirements and regulatory standards.
• Contribute insights into hardware design to improve testability, focusing on aspects such as instrumentation access and alignment features.
• Mentor and guide test engineers and technicians, enhancing the technical skills of the team as the program evolves.
• Optimize testing setups and procedures, eliminating unnecessary complexities and redundant verification processes to improve efficiency.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree or higher in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, materials science, physics, or a related engineering or scientific discipline.
• At least six years of experience in test engineering, with a proven track record of managing test programs from inception to completion.
• Demonstrated experience in overseeing qualification or acceptance testing campaigns for production or flight hardware.
• Strong leadership skills with experience in coordinating technical efforts across various teams, including design, manufacturing, and quality assurance.

Nice to have

• A Master's degree in an engineering or scientific field.
• Hands-on experience in testing photovoltaic hardware, including solar cells, strings, panels, or arrays, particularly multi-junction (III-V) cells designed for space or high-reliability applications.
• Familiarity with operating and maintaining solar simulators and analyzing LIV/flash test data.
• Knowledge of electroluminescence imaging, dark IV analysis, and other diagnostic techniques for solar hardware evaluation.
• Experience leading environmental qualification campaigns (thermal vacuum, thermal cycling, vibration, shock) and correlating results with analytical models.
• Understanding of aerospace testing standards such as GEVS, MIL-STD-1540, AIAA S-111, AIAA S-112 for solar cells, as well as NASA TVAC and dynamics standards.
• Proficient in data acquisition and analysis using tools like LabVIEW, Python, or MATLAB, including the ability to build custom data acquisition systems.
• Experience in designing precision test fixtures and stands that include thermal and electrical interfaces.
• Background in statistical analysis of test data, including Weibull/life modeling or accelerated life testing methodologies.
• Previous experience in mentoring or leading teams of test engineers and technicians.
• Exposure to environments involving aerospace, space, or other high-reliability hardware.

Skills & tools

• Proficient in LabVIEW, Python, and MATLAB for data acquisition and analysis.

Practical notes

• Some travel may be necessary for this role.
• Benefits include paid time off (PTO) and comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Due to U.S. Government export regulations, candidates must be U.S. citizens or nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, or asylees, or must be eligible to obtain the necessary authorizations.