Ready to help build electronics tough enough for space?
A VC-backed space technology startup in Seattle is seeking a Lead Radiation Effects Engineer to own radiation assurance for advanced spaceborne radar systems. You’ll shape the strategy, lead test campaigns, and influence the design decisions that keep mission-critical hardware reliable in orbit.
What you’ll do:
• Own the radiation assurance strategy • Model mission radiation environments and calculate margins • Plan and execute SEE, TID, and displacement-damage testing • Analyze results and recommend radiation mitigations • Guide component selection, derating, and system architecture • Build analysis and test-automation tools • Support reliability reviews and on-orbit investigations
What we’re looking for:
• 5+ years in radiation effects or high-reliability electronics • Hands-on radiation test and qualification experience • Knowledge of tools such as OMERE, SPENVIS, or CREME96 • Understanding of spacecraft electronics and schematics • Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or a related field • Python or MATLAB experience is a plus • FPGA, ASIC, PCB, or system-reliability experience is highly valued
Seattle, WA — on-site $185,000–$215,000 base salary + equity Some travel required
Our client is an innovative aerospace company developing a new orbital launch vehicle and associated propulsion systems.
The organisation brings together experienced engineers from leading aerospace, space, propulsion and advanced manufacturing companies.
Its mission is to develop a reliable and scalable launch capability, with an engineering philosophy focused on practical design, proven technologies, rapid development and extensive hardware testing.
The company is well funded and is expanding its engineering team as it progresses through engine and vehicle development.
About the Role
We are looking for a Manufacturing & Materials Engineer / Specialist to support the development and production of advanced propulsion hardware.
The position will be responsible for the selection, qualification and control of metallic materials and manufacturing processes, helping turn engineering designs into reliable, production-ready hardware.
Sitting at the intersection of materials science, design engineering, manufacturing, quality, production and supply chain, this individual will support material selection, process development, fabrication planning, producibility, inspection and failure investigation.
You will work closely with propulsion, turbomachinery, mechanical and fluids engineers to select and qualify metallic materials, develop fabrication methods, establish process controls and resolve manufacturing challenges as hardware progresses from development into production.
Key Responsibilities
Define and execute materials and manufacturing strategies for complex propulsion hardware.
Support material selection, process development, fabrication planning, producibility and industrialisation.
Develop and maintain material specifications, process specifications, qualification plans and associated workflows.
Characterise and evaluate metallic material behaviour relevant to design and manufacturing.
Develop, optimise, qualify and control fabrication and manufacturing processes.
Develop manufacturing plans, travellers, work instructions, build sequences and process flows.
Lead or support Design for Manufacture (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) activities.
Work closely with design engineers to ensure hardware concepts align with manufacturing capability, material availability and production constraints.
Support the development and maturation of critical manufacturing methods.
Work with operations and supply-chain teams to identify and qualify suppliers for raw materials, forgings and fabricated components.
Evaluate material pedigree, traceability, source availability, lead times, certifiability and scalability.
Lead or support failure analysis and manufacturing investigations.
Resolve production issues including non-conformances, rework, process escapes, yield issues and fabrication anomalies.
Contribute to technical reviews, trade studies and development planning relating to materials, manufacturing methods, production scaling and hardware risk.
Required Experience
Experience in manufacturing engineering, materials engineering or process engineering involving metallic aerospace hardware or another highly demanding hardware environment.
Strong understanding of metallic material systems and alloys, including how product form, temper, heat treatment and processing history influence performance and manufacturability.
Experience developing, supporting or optimising fabrication processes such as:
machining
welding
forming
joining
heat treatment
assembly
Strong understanding of how manufacturing processes affect strength, fatigue performance, residual stress, distortion, crack initiation, dimensional control and inspectability.
Experience developing manufacturing documentation such as process flows, work instructions, manufacturing plans and fabrication/build sequences.
Strong understanding of manufacturing process capability, material behaviour and producibility.
Ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, production, quality, operations and suppliers.
Strong technical judgement with the ability to balance performance, manufacturability, schedule, scalability and cost.
Preferred Experience
Experience with propulsion systems, launch vehicles, spacecraft, turbomachinery, pressure vessels, tanks, manifolds or other high-performance aerospace hardware.
Experience working with aluminium alloys, nickel alloys, titanium or other aerospace metallic systems.
Experience with welded assemblies, machined components, formed structures, manifolds, pressure-containing hardware or thermally demanding components.
Experience developing or qualifying welding, brazing or other joining processes.
Experience with both metal additive manufacturing and conventional machining/joining processes.
Experience qualifying suppliers for metallic raw materials and specialist fabrication processes.
Familiarity with NDT/NDE methods.
Familiarity with aerospace quality and manufacturing frameworks such as AS9100, NASA, ECSS or equivalent standards.
Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or a related discipline.
Professional engineering registration/licensure may be required where the individual assumes responsibility for engineering work affecting public safety.
Compensation: Competitive base salary + package + equity
What if your next manufacturing leadership role wasn't about improving an established production line — but building the capability that will help put a new reusable rocket into orbit?
EVONA has partnered with one of the most ambitious launch companies in the world, developing a next-generation reusable medium-to-heavy lift rocket designed to compete at the very top of the commercial launch market.
The company is moving towards first flight, and one of the most critical challenges now is taking sophisticated avionics hardware from development into reliable, scalable, high-rate production.
That's where you come in.
The Mission
As Director of Avionics Manufacturing, you'll own the end-to-end manufacturing and test organisation responsible for the electronics that power, control and connect the launch vehicle.
Flight computers.
PCBs and PCBAs.
Wire harnesses.
Sensors.
Integrated avionics units.
Environmental and functional testing.
This isn't simply about managing an existing factory operation.
You'll help determine how this hardware gets built, how it gets tested, how production scales and how the organisation develops as the vehicle moves towards flight.
You'll lead across manufacturing engineering, production operations and environmental & functional test, working directly with design engineering, systems, vehicle integration, supply chain and quality.
What You'll Own
You'll have responsibility for the entire journey from engineering development through production readiness.
You'll:
Own manufacturing and test for the vehicle's avionics hardware
Build and scale multidisciplinary manufacturing and operations teams
Develop scalable, high-reliability processes for PCBAs, wire harnesses and integrated avionics
Build the test infrastructure required to support production
Drive the transition from development into higher-rate manufacturing
Improve yield, reliability, throughput and cycle time
Introduce automation, digital production tools and lean manufacturing practices
Ensure hardware is manufacturable, testable and ready for vehicle integration
Work across engineering, test, quality, supply chain and vehicle integration to remove production bottlenecks
Ultimately ensure the avionics organisation can deliver flight hardware at rate and at the required quality
This is a role with genuine ownership rather than a narrow piece of a much larger manufacturing machine.
Who We're Looking For
We're looking for a senior manufacturing leader who understands avionics manufacturing, not simply avionics design.
You'll ideally have 10+ years within aerospace, space, automotive, electronics or another high-reliability manufacturing environment, including significant leadership responsibility.
Most importantly, you'll understand what it takes to manufacture and test complex electro-mechanical hardware.
Experience we're particularly interested in includes:
You should also have experience building and developing teams and be comfortable operating in an environment where priorities move quickly and schedules are aggressive.
Even Better If…
You've worked directly with spaceflight avionics or other flight-critical electronics.
Experience with IPC standards, EMC testing, automated test development, GSE, battery manufacturing, Lean/Six Sigma or standing up new production and test lines would all be highly relevant.
Why This One Is Different
There are plenty of senior manufacturing jobs where you're recruited to inherit something that's already been built.
This isn't one of them.
You'll join while the vehicle and its manufacturing capability are still evolving, giving you the opportunity to influence the processes, infrastructure, technology and team that will ultimately manufacture its flight avionics at scale.
The wider ambition goes far beyond a single launch vehicle: the company wants to build a major commercial launch business while pushing the boundaries of large-scale additive manufacturing, with a long-term vision extending to establishing industrial capability beyond Earth.
Competitive salary on offer, alongside equity and a wider benefits package.
If you've built avionics rather than simply designed them, led manufacturing teams, and want the opportunity to put your fingerprints on a new launch vehicle before its first flight, then this opportunity is for you.
Location: London & Toronto, Canada Experience: 5+ years preferred; academically strong candidates with less experience will also be considered
The client is looking for an experienced, genuinely hands-on mechanical technician to support the assembly, installation and testing of a 725 kN liquid rocket engine and its associated test hardware.
The strongest candidates do not necessarily need rocket experience. The priority is finding people who have spent years physically building, assembling and maintaining complex mechanical hardware—particularly engines, tubing and fluid systems.
The client is also open to candidates with less hands-on experience where they have a strong academic foundation, relevant technical training and clear practical potential.
What We Really Need
The biggest priorities are:
5–10+ years hands-on technician/mechanical experience preferred; less experience may be considered for academically strong candidates with relevant practical training
Strong tubing experience with cutting, bending, routing, fitting and connecting tubing
Experience with AN/MS/JIC fittings, Swagelok or similar
Engine assembly or engine maintenance experience is highly desirable
Comfortable assembling/disassembling complex mechanical systems
Experience with torque procedures, fasteners, fittings and mechanical interfaces
Able to read engineering drawings, schematics and technical instructions
Experience with pressure/leak testing and mechanical inspection
Comfortable using hand tools, torque wrenches, calipers, micrometers and precision equipment
Strong safety culture and disciplined approach to procedures
Best Backgrounds to Target
Aviation / Aircraft Maintenance should now be one of the strongest sourcing pools. Think aircraft mechanics, AMEs, engine technicians, propulsion technicians, MRO technicians and people who have worked on aircraft engines, fuel/hydraulic/pneumatic systems and aircraft tubing.
Military is also particularly attractive, especially technicians who have maintained aircraft, helicopters, engines, vehicles or complex mechanical systems. Military candidates can bring exactly the procedural discipline, safety culture and hands-on maintenance background the client wants.
Other strong backgrounds include aerospace/space, gas turbines, oil & gas, industrial gas, high-pressure systems, turbomachinery, heavy mechanical maintenance and engine manufacturing/testing.
Major Advantage / Nice to Have
Experience with cryogenics, high-pressure gas/fluid systems, rocket engines, propulsion test stands, turbomachinery, valves/regulators, instrumentation, hydraulics/pneumatics, pressure vessels, oxygen systems, welding/brazing, rigging or cranes would move someone closer to the ideal profile.
Location: Westminster, Colorado and Austin, Texas Employment Type: Full-time Working Pattern: On-site Sector: Space & Aerospace / Quality Assurance
EVONA is partnering with a fast-growing aerospace and space technology company seeking an experienced Supplier Quality Manager to lead its supplier quality engineering function.
This is a key leadership position responsible for managing and developing a team of Supplier Quality Engineers while driving supplier qualification, development, performance, compliance, and corrective action across a complex aerospace and defense supply chain.
You'll work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure suppliers consistently meet stringent AS9100, customer, contractual, and regulatory requirements.
What You'll Be Doing
Lead, manage, and develop a team of Supplier Quality Engineers.
Own supplier quality staffing, workload allocation, performance management, and resource planning.
Drive supplier compliance with AS9100, QMS, customer, industry, and regulatory requirements.
Lead escalated supplier nonconformance investigations and root cause corrective actions.
Manage and drive closure of Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCARs).
Oversee supplier site audits and source inspections.
Partner with Engineering on design-for-manufacturability (DFM) considerations.
Establish and monitor supplier KPIs, including defect rates, nonconformances, on-time delivery, rework/scrap costs, and SCAR resolution.
Use supplier performance data to improve supplier capability and build strategic supplier relationships.
Drive continuous improvement across supplier quality processes and systems.
What We're Looking For
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, or another relevant technical discipline.
7+ years of relevant quality or supplier quality experience.
1–3+ years of leadership or management experience, including direct supervision of quality or supplier quality engineers.
Strong knowledge of AS9100 and ISO 9001.
Experience with supplier qualification, PPAP and AS9102 First Article Inspection.
Strong root cause and structured problem-solving experience, including 8D, 5-Why and Fishbone methodologies.
Knowledge of statistical process control (SPC) and quality inspection methods.
Understanding of ITAR/EAR and DFARS requirements within aerospace and defense.
Experience working with ERP/MRP and QMS systems.
Strong supplier management and cross-functional leadership skills.
Ability to travel domestically and occasionally internationally, up to approximately 50%.
Preferred
ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
Certified Quality Manager (CQM)
Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
Compensation & Benefits
$136,000–$167,000 base salary, depending on experience, education, skills, and other relevant factors.
The wider package includes stock options and benefits covering health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability, and retirement plans.
Export Control Requirements
Due to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, conditional resident, asylee or refugee as defined under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain the required U.S. Department of State authorizations.
Interested? Apply through EVONA to learn more about the opportunity and hiring process.
Test Stand Design Engineer – Launch Vehicle Propulsion
Location: London, Canada (Relocation Opportunity)
Compensation: Competitive base salary + package
Build the facility where a new rocket engine will come to life.
We are partnering with an ambitious space launch company developing the next generation of launch vehicle technology in Canada.
Backed by significant funding and led by engineers from some of the world’s most successful aerospace and launch organisations, the company is now building the infrastructure required to develop, test and ultimately launch its vehicle.
And that starts with the test stand.
This isn’t a role where you’ll inherit a mature facility and simply keep it running.
You’ll help create it.
From the high-pressure fluid systems and cryogenic plumbing through to thrust structures, instrumentation and controls, you’ll design and commission the infrastructure that will ultimately enable full-scale rocket engine testing.
Your work will sit at the point where propulsion, structures, avionics, flight software, ground software and test operations all come together.
If you want to look back in several years and say “I helped build Canada’s first facility capable of doing this” — this is that opportunity.
The experience we really need
Above everything else, we are looking for someone with strong high-pressure systems experience.
You don’t necessarily need to have spent your entire career in rockets.
You could come from rocket propulsion, aerospace testing, cryogenic systems or another highly demanding high-pressure engineering environment.
What matters is that you genuinely understand the engineering behind high-pressure fluid systems — sizing and routing, valves, regulators, relief devices, pressurisation, instrumentation, pressure testing, leak checking, commissioning and safe operation.
Experience with cryogenic fluids, LOX/LCH4 or rocket propulsion would make you particularly interesting.
Your mission
You’ll take ownership of the test capability from concept through commissioning and ultimately hot-fire operations.
You’ll:
Design and build test stands capable of firing and validating rocket engines.
Engineer high-pressure propellant and pressurant systems, including cryogenic plumbing.
Design thrust frames, engine mounts and other load-bearing structures.
Develop P&IDs and define fluid, pneumatic and ignition-system sequencing.
Select and integrate instrumentation measuring thrust, pressure, temperature, flow and vibration.
Work alongside controls and software engineers to develop automated test sequences and abort logic.
Lead pressure testing, leak checking, system shakedowns, cold-flow testing and commissioning.
Develop hazard analyses, safety interlocks and operating procedures.
Support live test campaigns and troubleshoot problems when the hardware doesn’t behave as expected.
Use test data to continuously improve reliability, performance and turnaround time.
What you’ll bring
We’re looking for an engineer who enjoys being close to real hardware.
Ideally you’ll have 5+ years of experience designing mechanical and fluid systems, with significant exposure to high-pressure applications.
You’ll understand P&IDs, pressurised hardware, instrumentation and component selection, and you’ll have experience taking engineered systems through build, commissioning, checkout and operation.
You’ll also be comfortable using CAD tools such as SolidWorks, Siemens NX or Creo and understand structural loads and the safe operation of high-energy systems.
Most importantly, you should be someone who is comfortable moving between the CAD model, the test stand and the hardware itself.
Why this opportunity is different
Very few engineers get the opportunity to build a major test capability from a blank sheet of paper.
You’ll have significant ownership, work alongside experienced launch engineers and directly influence how an entire launch vehicle programme tests and qualifies its propulsion hardware.
This isn’t maintaining somebody else’s test facility.
It’s building Canada’s first facility of its kind.
Are you passionate about shaping the future of humanity's presence in space? Our client, Lunar Outpost, an industry leader in space robotics and planetary vehicles, invites you to join our team! Lunar Outpost is dedicated to creating a permanent presence in space, while also driving positive impacts here on Earth.
We are currently seeking a Senior Assembly, Integration, and Test Engineer to contribute to our mission in a dynamic startup environment. As a Senior Assembly, Integration, and Test Engineer for the Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services (LTVS) program, you will be responsible for supporting the Assembly, Integration, and Test (AI&T) team in planning and executing test and qualification campaigns, facilitating development, execution, and reporting of Integrated Product Teams (IPT) testing, and developing and operating various vehicle testbed and prototype platforms.
Take the #NextLeap with Lunar Outpost and work on the Pegasus LTV, which will carry NASA astronauts farther than they've ever been before on the lunar surface!
Key Responsibilities:
Create, develop, refine, and map test requirements to test plans and procedures and their appropriate test reports
Plan and execute component, subassembly, and subsystem qualification campaigns
Lead efforts to design, build, and test dedicated vehicle test platforms and prototypes
Lead development of qualification and test campaign schedules in accordance with the AI&T Plan and execute campaigns on schedule to drive program progress
Write test procedures and processes to support qualification at the component, subsystem, and vehicle level
Provide expert inputs to program schedules and budgets as well as regular status of campaign execution
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering or related discipline
4–8 years of experience in developing and executing test and qualification campaigns for NASA Class A and/or human-rated vehicles
Experience as a systems engineer or acting in a systems engineering role in support of a cislunar or lunar spaceflight mission
Demonstrated experience leading and executing engineering test efforts to support requirement verification and validation
Familiarity with NASA standards for AI&T that cover testing, qualification, workmanship, etc. (i.e. SMC-S-016, NASA-STD-8739)
Clear understanding of NASA verification and validation processes
Strong test documentation writing skills, such as test plans, procedures, reports, etc.
Knowledge of systems engineering processes and best practices
Strong Microsoft Office skills, especially Excel and Project
Self-motivated, focused, and driven to meet critical deadlines
Excellent organization and time management skills
Excellent written and oral communication skills
U.S. Person
Preferred Qualifications:
Ability to execute cross-disciplinary engineering from a systems perspective, in areas such as Mechanical, Electrical, Software, etc.
Familiarity with executing human hazard assessments to support NASA Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs)
Experience testing and/or qualifying vehicle mobility systems, such as suspensions, drivetrains, wheels/tires, etc.
Experience with designing and building unique test support equipment, such as offload rigs, mechanism actuators, structure mockups, etc.
Familiarity with Python scripting
Familiarity with Atlassian suite (JIRA/Confluence), JAMA for requirement generation and tracking
Compensation & Benefits: Compensation level and base salary are competitively structured and thoughtfully determined based on factors such as relevant skills, experience, education, and the scope of the role.
Comprehensive health coverage: Medical, dental, and vision benefits, with 70% of premiums covered by the employer
Paid time off: Three (3) weeks per year of vacation
Retirement plan: Up to 4% employer match on 401(k) contributions
Paid holidays: 11 company-recognized holidays
Parental leave
Educational reimbursement opportunities to support company objectives, continued learning, and career development
Lunar Outpost Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Lunar Outpost Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. All employees, including executives and human resources personnel, are expected to conduct themselves with professionalism and treat others with dignity and respect in accordance with this policy.
Location: Northern Virginia (Washington DC metro), on-site Type: Permanent, full time Base salary: $150,000 – $175,000 plus equity (stock options), annual bonus potential and full benefits Eligibility: US Citizen or Green Card holder
The Company
A venture-backed space company building the first fully commercial satellite navigation service, a complete alternative to legacy GPS designed from a clean sheet.
Positioning underpins almost everything in modern life, yet the incumbent system is slow to fix, unencrypted, and trivially jammed or spoofed. That is not good enough for the applications coming next: autonomous vehicles, drone logistics, urban air mobility, augmented reality, and safety-critical government timing. This business exists to fix it, delivering higher accuracy, dramatically faster time to first fix, and genuine anti-jam and anti-spoof protection.
The architecture spans a constellation of small satellites, a global ground station network, and next generation receiver technology. The GNSS hardware, software and services market sits at roughly $260 billion a year, and the company intends to take a serious share of it.
The Role
This is an RF-led hardware seat. You will own the radio chain across the full PNT stack, from the transmit payload on orbit through to the ground station receive path and the next generation user receiver. Front ends, RFICs, antennas, filtering, link budgets, and the board-level electrical design that carries all of it.
The company wants someone whose instinct is RF but who is entirely comfortable owning the wider electrical design rather than throwing it over a fence. You will work directly alongside the Chief Engineer and the wider engineering group, turning proprietary satellite and RF technology into hardware that flies and hardware that ships.
This is an early engineering hire. The company is explicit that the path to manager and director level is open and short for the right person.
What you will be doing
Designing and developing RF front ends and signal chains for space payloads, ground stations and receiver hardware
Selecting and integrating RFICs, LNAs, PAs, mixers, synthesisers, filtering and antennas, then proving the performance in the lab
Owning RF performance analysis: link budgets, noise figure, gain and phase, spurious and harmonics, EVM, sensitivity and interference rejection
Designing analogue, RF and digital PCBs, including layout partitioning, grounding, shielding and controlled-impedance routing for high frequency work
Managing the boundary between the RF front end and the digital back end, including high-speed ADC and DAC interfacing and clocking
Defining the test approach and validating it through simulation, bench characterisation, hardware in the loop and field demonstration
Working with software defined radios and RF test equipment (VNAs, spectrum and signal analysers, signal generators) day to day
Supporting productisation as technology moves from prototype to a manufacturable product, including design for test and design for manufacture
Supporting the operations team on system commissioning, operations automation, and anomaly investigation and resolution
Working with engineering and commercial teams to pull out and pin down requirements
What you will need
BS in Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline (MS preferred)
3 to 5 years designing RF hardware for GNSS, space, satcom or wireless communications
Demonstrable RF front end design experience, taking a signal chain from architecture through schematic, board and bring-up to measured performance
Solid analogue and digital PCB design capability alongside the RF work
Working understanding of RFICs, FPGAs, SoCs and antenna behaviour
Hands-on experience with software defined radios and RF test and measurement
Genuine strength in problem solving and the underlying maths and physics
Familiarity with newspace satellite and payload technology
Self-directed, comfortable operating without close supervision
Clear, confident written and verbal communication, and organised working habits
US Citizenship or Permanent Resident status
Willingness to travel up to 10%
Nice to have
GNSS-specific RF experience, whether payload transmit chains or receiver front ends
Experience with RF simulation and EM tools
Exposure to modern wireless standards (4G, 5G, WiFi, SATCOM, IoT)
Familiarity with mainstream SoC and FPGA toolchains and development environments
Space environment design experience: radiation, thermal vacuum, qualification and screening
Previous startup experience
Active US security clearance
The kind of person who does well here
Someone who genuinely enjoys the startup setting rather than tolerating it. Positive, straightforward communicator with a sense of humour. Thinks strategically but executes tactically. Comfortable working across every function in the business, not just engineering. Happy to roll sleeves up and get stuck into whatever the week demands.
I'm working with an innovative space technology company that's developing next-generation satellite communications systems and is looking for an experienced Lead Systems Engineer to join its growing engineering team.
This is an opportunity to lead complex aerospace programs from concept through verification, working across multidisciplinary engineering teams on cutting-edge space technology.
Key Responsibilities
Lead systems engineering activities across the full development lifecycle.
Own requirements, architecture, verification & validation, and technical baselines.
Develop and manage technical budgets (mass, power, link, schedule).
Drive new mission concepts and system architectures.
Collaborate across RF, software, electrical and mechanical engineering teams.
Support proposals, technical planning and customer engagements.
Lead technical reviews including SRR, PDR and CDR.
Mentor junior engineers and help shape systems engineering best practices.
What We're Looking For
7+ years of Systems Engineering experience.
Previous experience leading systems engineering on complex aerospace, satellite or defence programmes.
Strong understanding of systems engineering lifecycle processes.
Experience with requirements management tools (DOORS, Jama or similar).
Experience with MBSE (Cameo), MATLAB/Simulink or STK is advantageous.
Excellent communication and leadership skills.
Experience within space, satellite communications or defence is highly desirable.
If you're looking to work on technology that's redefining global connectivity, I'd love to hear from you.
Please send me a direct message or apply with your CV for a confidential discussion.
Build the Team. Build the Capability. Build the Future.
Our Client is entering an exciting new phase of growth in the United States, establishing a major new 100,000+ sq. ft. satellite manufacturing facility in Los Angeles.
This facility will provide the capability to assemble, integrate and test increasingly sophisticated spacecraft and will become a critical part of Our Client's global manufacturing operations.
But before satellites can roll through the facility, someone needs to help build the capability behind them.
We are looking for an experienced Head of Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T) to do exactly that.
This is not an opportunity to inherit an established department.
You will build it.
The Opportunity
As Head of AI&T, you will take responsibility for establishing and leading the Assembly, Integration & Test capability within the new Los Angeles operation.
You'll help determine how spacecraft move through the facility, how they are assembled and integrated, what equipment and infrastructure are required, how cleanroom operations should function and how spacecraft are ultimately tested and prepared for delivery.
You'll also build the team around you.
Working closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, programme and operations teams, you will create an AI&T organisation capable of supporting the company's ambitious US growth plans.
What You'll Build & Lead
You will:
Establish the US AI&T organisation from the ground up, including processes, procedures, workflows and operating standards.
Recruit, develop and lead a high-performing team of AI&T engineers and technicians.
Define spacecraft assembly, integration and test processes from subsystem through full spacecraft level.
Establish cleanroom workflows, tooling, equipment and infrastructure requirements.
Lead spacecraft integration activities across mechanical, electrical, avionics, payload and subsystem interfaces.
Oversee functional testing and environmental qualification campaigns.
Support testing including TVAC, vibration, shock and EMI/EMC.
Establish manufacturing and test readiness processes and reviews.
Ensure AI&T activities meet programme requirements for quality, schedule, cost and safety.
Develop KPIs and operational metrics to measure performance, quality and throughput.
Work closely with engineering and programme leadership to identify and mitigate integration and test risks.
Coordinate with external suppliers and specialist test partners where required.
Drive continuous improvement as spacecraft volumes and complexity increase.
Ensure lessons learned from integration and test campaigns are fed back into engineering and manufacturing.
What We're Looking For
We are looking for someone who has spent their career close to the hardware.
You'll understand what it takes to move a spacecraft from individual subsystems through assembly, integration, environmental testing and ultimately flight readiness.
Ideally, you'll bring:
8+ years' experience within spacecraft Assembly, Integration & Test or a closely related discipline.
Significant experience working within satellite or spacecraft manufacturing.
Experience building, scaling or significantly improving an AI&T capability.
Strong understanding of spacecraft assembly and integration processes.
Hands-on knowledge of environmental testing, including thermal vacuum and vibration testing.
Experience working within cleanroom environments.
Understanding of high-reliability aerospace manufacturing and quality requirements.
Experience working across engineering, manufacturing, quality and programme organisations.
Strong programme, schedule, resource and risk-management capabilities.
Degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering or another relevant engineering discipline.
Why This Opportunity Is Different
Many senior AI&T positions involve taking responsibility for an organisation, facility and processes that have existed for decades.
This one doesn't.
You'll join at the point where the decisions being made today will determine how spacecraft are assembled and tested in Los Angeles for years to come.
You'll influence the facility.
You'll select and develop the team.
You'll shape the processes.
You'll establish the culture.
And you'll ultimately see spacecraft move through an AI&T capability you helped create from the ground up.
For someone who has spent years building and testing spacecraft and has always thought, “I know how I'd build this if I had the opportunity” — this could be that opportunity.
Get in touch
I am from a company and we are hiring now, or in the future
Register interest or book a call to discuss your hiring requirements.
