Environmental Test Engineer - Space Technologies

Worker Type

Job Description

Summary

AV is seeking an experienced Environmental Test Engineer for multiple programs within the Space Technologies division. The Space Technologies division has been developing the techniques, systems, subsystems, and design elements required to implement high reliability opto-mechanical and electrical systems.

The Environmental Test Engineer will be a key member of an integrated, multidisciplinary engineering team operating in a dynamic development environment. This position will support the definition and execution of verification and validation (V&V) activities, environmental test planning, automated test development, data acquisition, and overall systems support across multiple programs.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with environmental test systems and spaceflight hardware, including vibration tables, thermal chambers, thermal vacuum chambers, cleanroom operations, and associated instrumentation. The candidate will also have experience developing automated test hardware and software to improve test efficiency, repeatability, data quality, and reporting.

Position Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, execute, and document environmental tests - including vibration, thermal, thermal vacuum, shock, and EMI/EMC testing - for spaceflight components, subsystems, and systems in accordance with applicable standards and customer requirements

• Develop, design, integrate, and maintain hardware and software for automated environmental test equipment and laboratory control systems

• Develop reusable test automation scripts and tools for test sequencing, equipment control, data acquisition, real-time monitoring, limit checking, abort logic, post-processing, and automated reporting

• Integrate automated test systems with vibration controllers, thermal chambers, thermal vacuum chambers, data acquisition systems, instrumentation, facility control systems, and other specialized test equipment

• Support the development and integration of hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), software-in-the-loop (SIL), and system-level automated test environments

• Work with systems and multidisciplinary engineering teams to refine requirements, verification statements, verification methods, and verification cross-reference matrices to ensure requirements are complete, measurable, and testable

• Develop and execute environmental test plans, procedures, scripts, AI&T documentation, test readiness materials, and formal test reports

• Prepare and verify test configurations, instrumentation plans, test limits, abort criteria, sensor calibration, facility readiness, and test article setups prior to test execution

• Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot vibration tables, thermal chambers, thermal vacuum chambers, autocollimators, data acquisition systems, and other specialized environmental test equipment

• Analyze test data using automated data reduction, signal-processing, visualization, and reporting tools to identify anomalies, trends, and performance issues

• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, systems, software, manufacturing, quality, and operations teams to troubleshoot hardware, test equipment, facility, and data-related issues

• Support failure investigations, root-cause analysis, anomaly resolution, corrective actions, regression testing, and technical reviews; assume technical responsibility for assigned environmental test activities across one or more programs

• All other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline, with 2 - 5 years of experience

• Experience testing spaceflight hardware, satellite systems, spacecraft components, or other high-reliability aerospace systems

• Experience planning, preparing, executing, and documenting environmental tests

• Experience with automated control and measurement systems

• Experience developing or maintaining automated test equipment, test scripts, data acquisition software, or laboratory control systems

• Experience with system design, verification, and validation

• Experience testing hardware or systems in a cleanroom or controlled laboratory environment

• Experience developing integration and test plans, procedures, scripts, and reports

• Experience with environmental testing and associated test instrumentation

• Experience with signal processing, data acquisition, or automated test-data analysis

• Experience with vibration testing, thermal testing, thermal vacuum testing, or related environmental test activities

• Working knowledge of Python, MATLAB, Simulink, LabVIEW, Java, or comparable programming and test automation tools

• Must be a U.S. Citizen

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline with 4 - 8 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree with 2 - 5 years of relevant experience

• More than two years of environmental test engineering experience

• Direct experience conducting environmental tests for spaceflight hardware or satellite systems in a cleanroom environment

• Experience developing automated environmental test systems and reusable test automation frameworks

• Experience integrating automated test software with vibration controllers, thermal vacuum chambers, thermal chambers, facility control systems, and data acquisition systems

• Experience with National Instruments hardware, including PXI, DAQ systems, high-speed digitizers, switching systems, and instrumentation

• Experience with MATLAB, Simulink, Python, LabVIEW, Java, or equivalent engineering software

• Competencies

• Strong environmental test engineering, instrumentation, and troubleshooting skills

• Demonstrated ability to develop reliable, maintainable, and reusable test automation

• Strong understanding of environmental test methods, test equipment, instrumentation, and data acquisition

• Ability to interpret test requirements, specifications, drawings, interface control documents, and system-level documentation

• Strong data analysis and signal-processing skills

• Ability to identify and isolate hardware, software, instrumentation, facility, and test-setup issues

• Strong leadership, organization, and communication skills

• Ability to assume technical responsibility for assigned test activities or multiple programs

• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary engineering teams and technicians

• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, mission-focused environment

• Work Environment

• This position operates primarily in a professional, secure office, laboratory, cleanroom, and integration-and-test environment. The position routinely uses computers, electronic test equipment, environmental test equipment, laboratory instrumentation, and other equipment necessary to support engineering and test activities.

• The work may involve exposure to operating vibration systems, thermal chambers, thermal vacuum chambers, high-power electrical equipment, compressed gases, vacuum systems, and other specialized laboratory equipment. Appropriate training and safety procedures will be provided and must be followed.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, talk or hear.

The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Travel

Travel is primarily local during the business day, although some out-of-area and overnight travel may be required.

Clearance Level

The salary range for this role is:

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.

About AV:

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology-we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian-but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters-with speed, scale, and purpose-there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR