Principal Integration & Test Engineer

Los Angelesfull timeOn Site

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senior

$140k–$175k

H1B: no

K2 Space The Principal Integration & Test Engineer leads ground-side test campaigns and ensures satellite vehicle performance from power-on through on-orbit activities. This role mentors team members and manages customer and launch vehicle provider relationships.

Responsibilities

You’ll sit at the heart of bringing our satellites to life. You’ll lead critical ground-side test campaigns, guide cross-functional teams, and shape the systems and processes that ensure every vehicle performs flawlessly from first power-on through on-orbit activities.
If you thrive at the intersection of engineering rigor, system-level thinking, and high-stakes operations, this role puts you in a unique position to shape the future of production test at K2 Space.
Operate spacecraft (interpret telemetry, send commands) during system tests at the factory, test facilities, launch sites, and during pre-launch operations
Collaborate with design and systems engineers to define test plans with pass/fail criteria for vehicle checkouts
Mentor more junior members of the team
Interface with customers to scope testing performed on their payloads, based on expected functions and failure modes of interest
Manage relationships with launch vehicle providers, including contractual deliverables such as interface control documents and environmental test plan justifications
Assess risks associated with different integration and test approaches, justify test reductions and optimize vehicle build/test flows for at-rate production
Own and maintain HITL table configuration and build out, including the test racks
Influence the design of the vehicle’s flight software and the supporting in-house tools that operators use daily
Understand vehicle operations and become an expert for multiple subsystems on the vehicle
Support pre-launch activities at the launch provider’s payload processing facility

Qualification

Bachelor’s degree in electricalExperience with environmental testingProficient in Python and/or RustExperience with Linux systems

Required

Bachelor’s degree in electrical, aerospace, mechanical, computer, or other relevant engineering discipline
5+ years of experience in an integration/test/automation engineering role
3+ years of experience testing and troubleshooting spacecraft and their related components and systems, including subsystem checkouts and system acceptance testing
Experience with environmental testing, such as thermal vacuum or random vibration
Experience working in a clean room and with ESD-sensitive equipment
Hands-on experience using electrical test equipment (PSU, Oscilloscope, DMM, etc.)
Hands-on experience with HITL or Flatsat software verification testbeds
Excellent conflict resolution and negotiation skills

Preferred

Background in designing test architectures or building automated test frameworks
Proficient in Python and/or Rust
Experience with Linux systems
Experience managing contractual interfaces (e.g. customer, launch vehicle)