Spacecraft Environmental Test Technician

Spacecraft represent the most pressing unmet need across the entire aerospace industry. As more launch vehicles come online and the cost to orbit decreases, more companies launching payloads to space continue to emerge.

For the first time in history, this influx of payload companies combined with reduced launch costs has resulted in a massive increase in need for commercial spacecraft platforms, known as satellite buses. These buses hold the payloads of our customers and are flown on launch vehicles.

Apex manufactures these satellite buses at scale using a combination of software, vertical integration, and hardware that is designed for manufacturing. Our spacecraft enable the future of society: ranging from earth observation to communications and more.

We’d love for you to join us on our mission of providing humankind access to the galaxy beyond our planet.

Apex is seeking an Environmental Test Technician to support qualification and acceptance testing of spacecraft flight hardware. In this role, you will work directly with Test, Mechanical, Electrical, and Integration Engineers to validate spacecraft performance in simulated launch and space environments. You will be responsible for setting up, executing, and maintaining environmental test campaigns including thermal vacuum, thermal cycling, vibration, and shock testing.

The ideal candidate is highly hands‑on, mechanically inclined, adaptable, and thrives in a fast‑paced hardware development environment.

Responsibilities:

• Assemble, instrument, and test spacecraft flight hardware throughout development, qualification, and production test campaigns.
• Set up, operate, monitor, and maintain environmental test equipment including thermal vacuum chambers, thermal chambers, vibration systems, shock equipment, and supporting infrastructure.
• Install, troubleshoot, and maintain instrumentation including thermocouples, accelerometers, strain gauges, pressure transducers, and associated harnessing.
• Support spacecraft integration, activation, and functional testing before, during, and after environmental test campaigns.
• Monitor test article and facility performance, identify anomalies, and support troubleshooting and root cause investigations.
• Collaborate closely with engineers to develop, improve, and execute test procedures, tooling, fixtures, and test infrastructure.
• Support the build, activation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of test racks, data acquisition systems, and automated test equipment.
• Perform mechanical assembly, disassembly, and rework activities on spacecraft hardware and test systems.
• Maintain accurate documentation of test configurations, procedures, results, discrepancies, and hardware status.
• Ensure compliance with quality standards, contamination control requirements, and safety protocols throughout all testing activities.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that increase test throughput, reliability, and operational efficiency.

Requirements:

• U.S. Person status is required as this position requires access to export‑controlled data.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 3+ years of hands‑on experience working with aerospace, mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, automotive, or test systems.
• Experience operating, maintaining, or supporting environmental test equipment, laboratory equipment, or production test systems.
• Experience using electronic test equipment such as multimeters, oscilloscopes, power supplies, or data acquisition systems.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, work instructions, procedures, and technical documentation.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and hands‑on troubleshooting skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to quality workmanship.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary engineering and production team.

Preferred:

• Experience supporting spacecraft, satellite, launch vehicle, aviation, defense, or other high‑reliability hardware programs.
• Familiarity with thermal vacuum (TVAC), thermal cycling, vibration, shock, acoustic, HALT, or HASS testing.
• Experience installing and troubleshooting instrumentation including thermocouples, accelerometers, strain gauges, and pressure…