Senior Avionics Test Engineer

About the role

Muon Space is seeking an experienced and hands-on Senior Avionics Test Engineer to join our team in San Jose, CA. In this role, you will own the architecture, development, and scaling of the test infrastructure that ensures we continue to have zero hardware failures at launch. You will drive the test strategy for satellite avionics, design test racks and and when required custom PCBs or fixtures.

This is our first electrical test role so you will help define the standards of the team going forward and set the bar for our electrical test infrastructure. You will collaborate with the test and reliability org that maintains the overall software infrastructure and will be part of the electrical engineering team so test development starts with PCBA development.

This position is onsite and requires working in our San Jose, CA office five days per week.

Responsibilities

• Work with test and reliability to define a common set of hardware and software to create automated test racks for avionics modules (primarily PCBAs)
• Define the overarching validation strategy, test plans/methodologies for spacecraft avionics (flight computers, power systems, RF/communication payloads).
• Partner with hardware design engineers early in the product lifecycle to implement Design for Test (DFT) and Design for Manufacturability (DFM) requirements.
• Write and maintain python scripts based on the software test framework used throughout the hardware org.
• Create methods for rack self test and preventative maintenance so racks can be monitored and maintained by the production team.
• Guide and mentor junior test and hardware engineers, establish engineering best practices for the test team, and lead technical design reviews for test infrastructure.
• Create custom electrical or mechanical fixturing when required to make tests fast and easy to run

Qualifications

• Prefer, but don't require B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in hardware test engineering, 8+ years of total relevant software/hardware engineering experience
• Strong knowledge of electronic components, circuits, and test equipment (e.g., oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies).
• Familiarly with schematic capture and PCB layout software (e.g., Altium, Cadence/Orcad).
• Understanding of microcontrollers and common communication interfaces (e.g., UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, Ethernet).
• Experience with embedded systems, embedded programming concepts and comfortable in a Linux development environment
• Strong knowledge of scripting/python and use of AI to expedite the development of those scripts
• Knowledge of Git or other change control systems
• Strong problem-solving skills and a hands-on approach to engineering challenges.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• A strong desire to learn and contribute in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Nice-to-have Skills

• Experience with electronics for space applications
• Experience with FPGAs, SoC, or embedded linux platforms
• Knowledge of high speed digital interfaces like PCIE, DRAM, CSI, 25G Ethernet
• Experience with RF test equipment and test methodologies (Spectrum analyzers, VNAs, power meters, frequency generators etc)
• Familiarity with aerospace test and quality standards such as SMC-S-016
• Previous startup experience or experience working in a fast paced environment

Salary

The salary range for this role is $184,000 - $208,000, plus a competitive equity grant and comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be determined based on skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location as assessed during the interview process.

Muon is currently registered and able to hire in the following states

AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IA, ID, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA

ITAR/EAR Requirements

This position requires access to export controlled information.

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations applicable to that information, applicant must either be (A) a U.S. person, defined as a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, (B) eligible to access the export controlled information without a required export authorization, or (C) eligible and reasonably likely to obtain the required export authorization from the applicable U.S. government agency.

The Company may, for legitimate business reasons, decline to pursue any export licensing process.