Avionics System Test Operations Engineer

<div class="content-intro"><div style="font-family: 'Instrument Sans', 'Segoe UI', Trebuchet MS, Tahoma, sans-serif;"> <p style="line-height: 1.4;">Vast is developing next-generation <strong>space stations and space infrastructure</strong> using an incremental, hardware-rich, and low-cost approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station 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. 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 in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced <strong>Vast Satellite</strong>, a high-power satellite product line leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo.</p> <p style="line-height: 1.4;">Headquartered in<strong> Long Beach, California</strong>, and with more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital, Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate America’s next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for the Moon and Mars, dedicated space stations for government partners, and other crewed systems that will unlock the expanding long-term space economy.</p> </div></div><p>Vast is looking for a <strong>Avionics System Test Operations Engineer,</strong> reporting to the <strong>Senior</strong> <strong>Manager, Avionics System Test,</strong> to support the development and operation of the automated testing systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.</p> <p>This will be a <strong>full-time</strong>, <strong>exempt</strong> position located in our <strong>Long Beach</strong> location.</p> <p><strong>Responsibilities:</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 </li> <ul> <li>Perform troubleshooting and debug of avionics test systems</li> <li>Perform checkout testing of system test assets and support sign-off reviews</li> </ul> <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</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 & Experience:</strong></p> <ul> <li>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&gt