Avionics Test Automation Engineer

About PLD Space

PLD Space is an international company on a mission to transport satellites into space, vertically integrating the engineering, testing, manufacturing, and operations of its reusable and sustainable rockets. Headquartered in Elche (Spain) and founded in 2011 by Raúl Torres and Raúl Verdú, PLD Space has established itself as a global benchmark in the small satellite launch sector. Its family of MIURA launchers and LINCE crewed capsule position the company as a leader in European technological sovereignty for space transportation, covering the full spectrum of space missions.

PLD Space operates over 188,000 m² of facilities in Elche, Teruel (Spain), Kourou (French Guiana), and Duqm (Oman), enabling the company to provide comprehensive satellite and payload launch services into space.

Teamwork, courage, determination and ambition enable PLD Space to guarantee an autonomous, independent satellite space access capability, based on reliability at a globally competitive price. The company is able to offer best-in-class launch services to commercial satellite operators, institutions, space agencies and national and international governmental entities

Mission

The Avionics Test Automation Engineer is responsible for developing and maintaining the automated test capabilities required to execute avionics verification, validation, acceptance, qualification and integration activities in a repeatable, reliable and traceable way.

This role combines software development, test engineering, instrumentation control, data acquisition and avionics hardware understanding. The Avionics Test Automation Engineer transforms test execution needs into automated sequences, software tools, instrument interfaces, data processing utilities and reporting capabilities that improve test efficiency, reduce human error and support recurrent production.

The position requires a hybrid technical profile with strong programming skills, practical understanding of electronic test environments, and the ability to work closely with test operations, V&V, test hardware, facilities and product engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Review test specifications, AIT plans, procedures and recurrent test needs to identify opportunities for automation.
• Define the automation approach for avionics test activities, including automated sequences, instrument control, data acquisition, result processing and reporting.
• Develop, maintain and document automated test sequences, scripts, drivers, libraries and software tools for PCBA, unit, subsystem, and system-level validations.
• Develop APIs for EGSE/SCOE and laboratory instrumentation such as power supplies, electronic loads, switching systems, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers and other test and measurement equipment.
• Integrate automated test software with physical benches, EGSE/SCOEs, and avionics units under test.
• Implement data acquisition, logging and telemetry recording capabilities required during test execution.
• Validate automated test tools and sequences before operational use, ensuring correct behavior, safe error handling, proper data capture and compatibility with the intended setup.
• Support test readiness activities, ensuring that software versions, configuration files, and data recording tools are ready before execution.
• Support AIT engineers during test execution by ensuring automated tools operate correctly and by troubleshooting automation-related issues.
• Ensure configuration control of test automation assets.
• Develop data processing and reporting utilities to support V&V assessment.
• Contribute to the standardization of test automation practices, reusable software libraries, coding guidelines and common frameworks for avionics testing.
• Capture lessons learned and improve automated sequences, data tools, reporting methods, usability and maintainability for recurrent test activities.

Necessary Requirements

• Engineering degree in Computer Engineering, Electronics, Telecommunications, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering with software, electronics or automation specialization, or similar.
• Strong programming skills in Python, C/C++, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or similar languages/tools, with the ability to develop structured, reliable and maintainable software.
• Good understanding of software development fundamentals, including modular design, version control, debugging, documentation, error handling and code maintainability.
• Ability to translate defined test sequences, procedures or operational needs into automated scripts, software tools or test applications.
• Good understanding of electronics and laboratory test equipment, including power supplies, electronic loads, oscilloscopes, multimeters, process calibrator, signal generators, DAQs, or logic analyzers among others.
• Understanding data acquisition, logging, file handling, data parsing and automated processing of test results.
• Experience developing APIs to interface with external devices, instruments or systems through communication protocols such as serial communication, Ethernet, CAN, TCP/IP, UDP, USB or similar.
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills.
• Analytical mindset, attention to detail and ability to work with complex technical systems.
• Strong communication skills in fast-paced technical environments.
• Language - fluent English and Spanish, written and spoken.

Desired Competencies

• Previous experience developing software tools, scripts or applications for test automation, data acquisition, instrumentation control or laboratory test environments.
• Experience in aerospace, launch vehicles, satellites, aircraft, defense, automotive, railway or other safety-critical industries.
• Experience automating test environments at different product levels, from PCBA test benches to system-level platforms, including EGSE, SCOEs, flatsats, HIL environments.
• Familiarity with instrument control and communication technologies, including SCPI commands, VISA-based APIs, and protocols such as LXI, GPIB, USB, Ethernet, TCP/IP, UDP or serial communication.
• Experience developing reusable software libraries, test automation frameworks, operator interfaces or automated reporting tools.
• Experience with data acquisition, telemetry recording, data parsing, data visualization or structured storage of test results.
• Familiarity with configuration management and release processes for software, including version control, and change tracking.

Benefits

Health & Wellness

• Physiotherapy within our facilities
• 50% discount on your health insurance
• You can sign-up your family members with health insurance at a competitive price.
• Healthy snacks and lots of fruit

Find balance

• 23 days of paid vacation plus December 24th and 31st
• Flexible work schedule

Never stop learning

• We encourage practical learning
• We promote professional development through internal mobility and teamwork

Focus on your financial future

• Childcare flexible contributions
• Restaurant tickets
• Transport flexible contributions
• Training support

Values

We have five critical beliefs that guide the way PLD Space is shaping the future of space launch technologies.

• Teamwork.
• Hard work.
• Dynamism.
• Commitment.
• Keep it simple.

Join us to reinvent how rockets are built!