Avionics Test Engineer; Hardware

Overview

Compensation: $105,000 - $175,000 / year

Department: Assembly, Integration & Test

Location: Redondo Beach

Description

As an Avionics Test Engineer (Circuit Boards), you will develop and execute test plans for avionics circuit boards and associated flight electronics. Your work will focus on validating board-level hardware through all phases of development, from early prototypes through production. You will design, build, and maintain test systems and fixtures to support electrical testing, debugging, and verification of avionics hardware.

You’ll collaborate closely with avionics hardware engineers, as well as propulsion, GNC, production, and test teams, to ensure robust and reliable flight electronics. This role offers exposure across the full spacecraft lifecycle—from initial design and development through production and on-orbit operations.

Open to all levels. Leveling will be commensurate with experience.

• Develop end-to-end test systems to validate flight electrical hardware, with a primary focus on avionics circuit boards
  , as well as optical devices and electromechanical assemblies
• Own the setup, operation, and troubleshooting of electrical test equipment and ground support hardware
• Design and implement automated test solutions to collect, analyze, and document test data
• Build, maintain, and improve test systems, racks, and fixtures for component-level testing and integrated testbeds
• Provide actionable feedback to hardware design engineers to improve reliability, testability, and overall avionics architecture
• Collaborate closely with avionics, propulsion, GNC, software, and integration teams to ensure comprehensive test coverage for new and existing systems
• Support launch site activities by traveling with the spacecraft and executing pre-launch electrical tests

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field
• 2+ years of hands-on experience testing electrical systems, with a strong focus on circuit boards and board-level hardware
• Proficiency with Altium Designer for circuit board design, review, or modification
• Experience designing, building, and owning test systems from concept through implementation
• Demonstrated experience executing tests in support of product development and prototyping efforts
• Ability to work closely with hardware design engineers to anticipate test needs and derive requirements for under-defined or early-stage systems
• Strong organizational and communication skills, including the ability to lead meetings, plan projects, and clearly document decisions and rationale

• 5+ years of experience contributing to a vehicle program of any kind (e.g., spacecraft, rockets, aircraft, drones, automotive, marine)
• Experience designing and building test stands, fixtures, and hardware racks
• Experience developing and executing test plans in a production or manufacturing environment
• Hands-on experience with NI hardware such as cRIO, cDAQ, or similar platforms
• Experience safely operating and testing hazardous systems (e.g., high voltage, high pressure)
• Familiarity with aerospace test equipment, including vibration tables, thermal chambers, or similar environmental test systems
• Working knowledge of spacecraft systems and participation in system-level test campaigns
• Demonstrated success performing root cause analysis and failure investigation

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.