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Spacecraft Test Engineer

Xona· Engineering
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Burlingame, California$145k - $175k + equityFull-timePosted 1w ago

About the role

We are looking for a Spacecraft Test Engineer to own mechanical and environmental testing across the spacecraft development lifecycle, from early R&D and design de-risking through first-article spacecraft qualification. The role spans spacecraft design, mechanical engineering, materials, environmental testing, and systems engineering, delivering tests to identify failure modes, establish margins, and demonstrate readiness for launch.

Responsibilities

  • Identify high-risk mechanical, structural, thermal, material, and process risks early in the spacecraft development cycle.
  • Design and execute coupon-, component-, and subassembly-level tests to characterize materials, interfaces, processes, and hardware before design freeze.
  • Develop test-derived allowables and engineering data for critical mechanical interfaces, including bonded joints, structural interfaces, and other spacecraft hardware.
  • Perform material and process characterization to validate assumptions before they become embedded in flight designs.
  • Develop rapid mechanical and thermal tests to investigate potential failure modes and inform design decisions.
  • Partner directly with mechanical, structures, thermal, payload, electrical, and systems engineers to translate test results into actionable design changes.
  • Build and expand internal capabilities for advanced mechanical and materials testing.
  • Develop test methods for mechanical strength, tensile testing, optical properties testing, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), thermal characterization, and other specialized testing.
  • Design and build test fixtures, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems required to execute these tests.
  • Establish repeatable test methods, procedures, calibration practices, and internal engineering databases.
  • Use physical testing to validate and improve analytical and simulation models.
  • Identify opportunities to replace outsourced testing with faster, more responsive in-house capabilities.
  • Own the planning and execution of first-article spacecraft vibration testing, from test definition through final reporting.
  • Develop spacecraft vibration test plans and procedures in coordination with structures, systems, mechanical, electrical, and test teams.
  • Define test configurations, instrumentation, accelerometer placement, interface requirements, fixture requirements, and pre/post-test functional checks.
  • Design and/or oversee the design of spacecraft vibration fixtures and associated ground support equipment.
  • Coordinate with external vibration facilities and test operators to execute test campaigns safely and effectively.
  • Monitor test data in real time, identify anomalies, and make engineering decisions during test execution.
  • Perform pre- and post-test inspections, functional testing, and data analysis.
  • Lead investigation and root-cause analysis of test anomalies and drive corrective actions back into spacecraft design and manufacturing.
  • Develop and improve Xona's spacecraft test methodologies as the Pulsar fleet scales, including coupon, materials, preload, vibration, thermal, and TVAC.
  • Support spacecraft-level thermal vacuum (TVAC) test campaigns, including planning, instrumentation, execution, and post-test analysis.
  • Coordinate spacecraft configuration, GSE, chamber interfaces, thermal instrumentation, and test facility requirements.
  • Execute thermal cycling and thermal vacuum testing while monitoring spacecraft performance and identifying unexpected thermal behavior.
  • Work closely with thermal engineers to correlate thermal models against physical test data and identify model deficiencies.
  • Support early thermal characterization and model correlation to reduce surprises during formal spacecraft TVAC.
  • Analyze temperature, functional, and other test data to identify thermal or mechanical issues and recommend design improvements.
  • Lead post-TVAC inspections, functional testing, anomaly resolution, and test reporting.
  • Develop spacecraft-level verification strategies that connect early R&D testing with formal qualification and acceptance testing.
  • Define test objectives, success criteria, instrumentation, and data requirements.
  • Support PDR/CDR and other design reviews by providing test-derived evidence of mechanical and environmental performance.
  • Develop and maintain test plans, procedures, reports, and verification documentation.
  • Lead test readiness reviews and coordinate closure of test prerequisites and open technical issues.
  • Support qualification, acceptance, and flight hardware testing throughout the spacecraft lifecycle.
  • Drive lessons learned from testing into spacecraft design standards, manufacturing processes, and future vehicle builds.
  • Serve as a technical point of contact between spacecraft test and the broader engineering organization.
  • Work closely with mechanical, structures, thermal, electrical, payload, GNC, systems engineering, manufacturing, and operations teams.
  • Provide early, test-driven feedback to designers rather than waiting for formal qualification to discover problems.
  • Work directly with vendors and external test laboratories when specialized facilities or capabilities are required.
  • Mentor engineers and technicians in spacecraft test methods, environmental testing, instrumentation, and hardware handling.
  • Establish scalable test processes and standards as Xona increases spacecraft production.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
  • 3+ years of relevant engineering experience, with demonstrated ownership of hardware testing and verification.
  • Experience developing and executing mechanical or environmental tests on complex hardware.
  • Direct experience with one or more spacecraft environmental tests such as vibration, thermal vacuum, thermal cycling, shock, or structural testing.
  • Strong understanding of mechanical engineering fundamentals, including structural mechanics, materials, thermal effects, fasteners, joints, and interfaces.
  • Experience developing test fixtures, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems.
  • Ability to interpret test data, identify anomalies, and perform root-cause analysis.
  • Strong technical writing skills and experience producing engineering test plans, procedures, and reports.
  • Ability to work hands-on with flight hardware and test equipment.
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively across multiple engineering disciplines.
  • Demonstrated ability to take ownership of ambiguous problems and drive them to completion.

Skills

Required:Mechanical and environmental testingTest planning and reporting
Nice to have:Vibration testingThermal vacuum testing
Last updated Oct 14, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Xona

Next Era Navigational Intelligence | Xona

Xona is the navigation infrastructure company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

Location servicesPulsarGNSSNavigationPNTsatellites
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