Avionics System Test Operations Engineer at Vast

<div class="content-intro"><p>At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is developing next-generation space stations to ensure a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station. Haven Demo’s 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the world’s first commercial space station when it launches, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.</p></div><p>Vast is looking for an&nbsp;<strong>Avionics System Test Engineer (Operations)</strong>, reporting to the<strong> Manager, Avionics System Test,&nbsp;</strong>to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.&nbsp;</p> <p>This will be a <strong>full-time</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>exempt</strong> position located in our&nbsp;<strong>Long Beach</strong>&nbsp;location.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Responsibilities:&nbsp;</strong></p> <ul> <li>Work with Responsible Engineers and System owners across the organization to capture test design criteria for avionics test systems.</li> <li>Lead test methodology discussions with key stakeholders (e.g. Flight Software, Mission Operations) to develop test procedures for Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL / HIL) test assets.</li> <li>Develop system level test cases, implement them on test systems and validate their outputs with internal stakeholders.</li> <li>Day-to-day planning of system test operations, including.&nbsp;</li> <li>Develop automation tools (e.g. python, ground software scripts) to increase efficiency and quality of test planning, test execution, data analysis, and verification tracking.</li> <li>Serve as first point of contact for anomaly resolution: documentation, driving root cause analysis, disposition, and prevent recurrence activities.&nbsp;</li> <li>Support Mission Operator training activities which utilize system test HITL assets.</li> <li>Support anomaly resolution activities for issues encountered on-orbit.</li> <li>Support design of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL / HIL) test assets to provide system level validation of Haven-1 avionics, including closed-loop simulation of relevant test cases.</li> <li>Work with subject matter experts to support development, implementation, and verification of interfaces to co-simulation strategies for Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) applications.</li> <li>Produce documentation for test systems and support handover to test operators.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Minimum Qualifications:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or other hard science.</li> <li>2+ years of post bachelor’s experience working with or developing hardware test systems.</li> <li>2+ years’ experience building and maintaining hardware test systems.</li> <li>Experience operating and maintaining Linux systems, including confident use of command line tools.</li> <li>Experience with power supplies, electronic loads, oscilloscopes, and digital multimeters.</li> <li>Experience designing and/or maintaining computer networks.</li> <li>Familiarity with basic electrical and wiring concepts including grounding and electrical safety.</li> <li>Demonstrated expertise in root cause analysis methodologies and problem-solving within avionics or complex hardware environments.</li> <li>Strong documentation skills, with the ability to produce detailed, accurate technical reports and communicate findings effectively.</li> <li>Familiarity with python programming.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Preferred Skills &amp; Experience:</strong></p> <ul> <li>&nbsp;Experience working with satellite communications or telemetry systems.</li> <li>Experience developing and executing requirement-driven test plans for avionics or electronics systems.</li> <li>Experience with automated test systems and hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) environments.</li> <li>Familiarity with C++</li> <li>Experience with embedded systems design and/or testing.</li> <li>Experience with testing protocols and standards relevant to space systems.</li> <li>Familiarity with Git, Cmake, and GNU tools.</li> <li>Knowledge of CI/CD and issue tracking tools such as the Atlassian Suite (JIRA, Bitbucket, Confluence) and Github.</li> <li>Familiarity with Docker (or other containerization software).</li> <li>Experience designing and building systems with a modular DAQ ecosystem (e.g. NI, Weidmuller, Bechoff).</li> </ul> <p><strong>Additional Requirements:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones.</li> <li>Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Pay Range:</strong>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>System Test Engineer (Operations) Level II: $120,540 - $171,108</li> </ul><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="title">Pay Range: California</div><div class="pay-range"><span>$120,540</span><span class="divider">&mdash;</span><span>$171,108 USD</span></div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion"><div style="line-height: 1;"><strong>COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS</strong></div> <div style="line-height: 1;">&nbsp;</div> <div style="line-height: 1;"> <div> <div data-qa="message_pane"> <div> <div id="message-list"> <div id="message-list"> <div data-qa="slack_kit_scrollbar"> <div> <div data-qa="slack_kit_list"> <div id="message-list_1770163429.476589" data-qa="virtual-list-item" data-item-key="1770163429.476589"> <div data-qa="message_container" data-qa-unprocessed="false" data-qa-placeholder="false" data-msg-ts="1770163429.476589" data-msg-channel-id="D1T52LDR4"> <div data-qa-hover="true"> <div> <div> <div> <div data-qa="message_content"> <div> <div data-qa="message-text"> <div data-qa="block-kit-renderer"> <div> <div> <div>Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee &amp; onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="message-list_bottomSpacer" data-qa="virtual-list-item" data-item-key="bottomSpacer"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div>&nbsp;</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div style="line-height: 1;"> <p><strong>U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS</strong></p> The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-22/section-120.62">22 C.F.R. § 120.62</a> or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.</div> <div style="line-height: 1;">&nbsp;</div> <p style="line-height: 1;"><strong>EQUAL OPPORTUNITY</strong></p> <div style="line-height: 1;">Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast 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.</div></div>