Senior Spacecraft Qualification Engineer

Location

Burlingame, CA

Full time

On-site

Engineering Mechanical

• $140K – $170K
  • Offers Equity

The final job level and salary will be determined based on a range of factors including the candidate’s education, qualifications, knowledge, skills, abilities, and relevant experience. The listed salary range is provided to offer insight into potential compensation, but it’s not a guarantee of the final offer. While we include the full range to be transparent, offers most often fall within the middle portion rather than the top.

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

We are seeking a Senior Spacecraft Qualification Engineer team focused on designing complex mechanical fixtures and GSE, building out test infrastructure, and planning and executing vibration, thermal vacuum (TVAC), and development tests.

This is a senior, hands-on role within the Mechanical Engineering department. You will own fixture design end-to-end concept, CAD, analysis, build, checkout and collaborate across mechanical, thermal, electrical, and software teams to ensure our spacecraft and subsystems are thoroughly and efficiently qualified for launch. In addition to test infrastructure, you will also have opportunities to design spacecraft flight hardware. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on both precision mechanical design and high-stakes test execution.

• Fixture & Test Infrastructure Design

  • Design, analyze, prototype, and iterate mechanical fixtures and GSE for environmental tests (vibration, TVAC), solar array deployment/alignment, allowable testing, and spacecraft handling.

  • Develop mass simulators, shipping/transport containers, lifting hardware, deployment jigs, and other custom mechanical tooling.

  • Build out test facility infrastructure: lab spaces, R&D shop equipment, torque/load test setups, structured DAQ systems, and supporting processes.

• Environmental Test Engineering & Execution

  • Own development of spacecraft-level and subsystem-level environmental test plans and procedures.

  • Plan, coordinate, and execute vibration, TVAC, and functional development tests with internal teams and external vendors.

  • Lead anomaly response and root-cause analyses during testing, including fixture/hardware debugging.

• Instrumentation & Data Acquisition

  • Specify, procure, and integrate sensors (accelerometers, load cells, thermocouples, displacement sensors).

  • Implement DAQ systems to deliver clean, reliable, and traceable test data.

  • Support data reduction and reporting to inform design closure and qualification.

• Launch Integration Support

  • Develop and maintain launch integration toolkits, procedures, and rehearsal plans.

  • Support spacecraft mechanical operations during launch site campaigns.

• Process Development & Documentation

  • Create and maintain test procedures, proof-test records, vibe/thermal reports, and configuration tracking.

  • Build repeatable processes for environmental test planning, readiness, execution, data review, and closeout to support Xona’s rapid development cadence.

• Required

  • BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.

  • 3+ years experience in spacecraft or aerospace mechanical design, test engineering, or environmental qualification.

  • Strong proficiency with CAD (Solid Works or similar) for fixture/GSE design.

  • Demonstrated experience participating in or leading vibration and/or TVAC test campaigns.

  • Ability to coordinate across disciplines and vendors, with strong organizational and documentation skills.

  • Ability to work onsite with occasional travel to test vendors and launch sites.

• Preferred

  • Experience designing mechanical test infrastructure in a fast-moving, resource-constrained environment (startup or skunk works).

  • Familiarity with vibration control software, vibration table operation, test parameters and tolerances for…