Sr. Test Technician

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. Virgin Galactic is seeking a talented and motivated technical person to join our Test & Evaluation team to help get our next generation of spaceships to space! Guided by our values, “Safety above All,” we proactively manage the risks inherent in human spaceflight through our daily actions in all of our testing activities.

As a Senior Test Technician in the Test & Evaluation Department, you will help build and operate test equipment that will verify component, subsystems and systems of our spaceships, often as the last step before they are installed for flight. You will support the company strategy by holding ourselves and one another accountable for getting the work done. This is an exciting opportunity to step up, bringing your experience, knowledge and enthusiasm to help us make future astronauts!

• Set up, calibrate, and fabricate test components and carry out laboratory, component, assembly and vehicle testing
• Strongly influence the design of test systems, fixtures and setups
• Adhere to set directions and guidelines from team leader to support collaboration across teams to complete project
• Provide usage feedback of test systems to engineering for process improvement
• Fabricate test article instrumentation, electro‑mechanical assemblies, fluid and test equipment wire harnesses
• Operation and the supervision of operation of test equipment (custom, materials, environmental chambers, altitude chambers, thermal vacuum chambers, vibration tables, and more)
• Collect test data and report results to designated managers and engineers
• Prepare and conduct tests of composites for mechanical properties
• Bonding and machining of test coupons
• Monitor and control maintenance of test assets (custom, materials, environmental chambers, altitude chambers, thermal vacuum chambers, vibration tables, and more)
• Assist engineers and other technicians on production and R&D test projects
• Work collaboratively to achieve goals and/or complete assigned tasks
• Execute other duties as required by Virgin Galactic senior leadership to support company and program objectives

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in testing components, subsystems and/or systems required or equivalent industry
• Ability to read and interpret drawings, blueprints, and/or models on paper or digital
• Experience with:
• cable harness fabrication from wire diagrams, layout drawings, parts lists
• mechanical assembly fabrication from 3D models, 2D mechanical drawings, parts lists
• test asset instrumentation with strain gages, load cells, pressure transducers
• Experience with:
• the operation of saws, lathes, mills and/or other mechanical tools
• the operation of soldering irons, DMMs, scopes, function generators, power supplies, wire cutters/strippers/crimpers and/or other electrical tools
• Structural and/or Systems test experience
• Experience executing tension/compression test machines and related software
• Shop floor manufacturing and inspection technologies knowledge
• Must possess excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills
• A hands‑on mentality and an emphasis on continuous improvement is needed to support the airframe and systems test lab successfully
• Strong safety work ethic – recognizes the importance of properly handing hazardous materials and tools, as well as working around highly energized systems
• Ability to troubleshoot and solve problems
• Demonstrated ability to use computer applications to follow work instructions
• Experience in an Agile work environment
• Execute other duties as required by Virgin Galactic senior leadership to support company and program objectives

• Experience conducting environmental testing per DO-160, SMC‑S‑016 or MIL‑STD‑810 environments (e.g. vibration, thermal, humidity, TVAC, waterproofness, proof pressure)
• Familiarity with data acquisition and/or control hardware, NI cDAQ/cRIO/PXI preferred
• Familiarity with NI Flex Logger
• Familiarity with precision measurement tools
• J‑STD‑001 or NASA‑STD‑8739.3 certification
• Familiar with quality assurance processes, including non‑destructive testing…