- Location
- Seattle, WA
- Department
- IT
- Seniority
- Lead
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Source
- PCRecruiter
Description
We are an ambitious space startup in Seattle redefining how the industry approaches rapid orbital delivery. We’re looking for a Senior Software Test Engineer to own the validation of our next-generation spacecraft platform.
This isn't a "check-the-box" QA role. You will bridge the gap between development and mission operations—building high-fidelity Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) environments, writing sophisticated test code, and integrating complex vendor baselines into a unified, flight-ready stack. You are the final line of defense for software reliability, ensuring our assets perform flawlessly in the harshest environments imaginable.
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Your Impact
· Own the Stack: Lead the software and firmware integration from first power-on to flight-ready status, ensuring every subsystem is validated and synchronized.
· Build the Lab: Design and expand our HITL environments to support edge cases, fault injection, and full end-to-end mission simulations.
· Architect Reliability: Review and influence software architecture—including state machines and ICDs—to bake reliability into the code from day one.
· Automate Everything: Partner with Avionics to build out CI/CD pipelines and automated regression frameworks that allow us to move fast without breaking things.
· Solve the Hard Problems: Debug deep-system firmware issues across avionics and payloads, driving root-cause resolution with internal teams and external vendors.
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What You Bring
· 5–7+ Years of Experience: You’ve spent significant time in the trenches developing or testing embedded systems for mission-critical applications (Space, Aerospace, or Robotics).
· HITL Mastery: You have "hands-on-hardware" experience with embedded bring-up and complex test environments.
· Code Proficiency: You are highly proficient in C/C++ and Python for both embedded development and sophisticated test automation.
· Startup DNA: You thrive in high-autonomy, fast-paced environments where you are expected to take full ownership of your domain.
Bonus Points
· Direct experience with spacecraft subsystems (ADCS, Power, or Avionics).
· Familiarity with RTOS, embedded Linux, or flight software frameworks (cFS, FreeRTOS).
· Knowledge of aerospace protocols: CAN, UART, Ethernet.
· Strong opinions on how to build world-class FDIR (Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery) systems.
· A Master’s degree or a track record of mentoring junior engineers