AIT Engineer Verified today

About the Role

The success of every mission depends on flawless execution. Your job is to make flight hardware ready for launch.

As AIT Engineer, you will be responsible for the assembly, integration, testing, and qualification of Dcubed's solar array products. From incoming inspection and mechanism assembly to deployment testing, environmental qualification, and customer integration campaigns, you will ensure that hardware is built, tested, documented, and delivered to the highest standards.

In addition to supporting flight hardware programs, you will play a key role in establishing Dcubed's US production and test capabilities. You will help commission a new facility, develop manufacturing and test processes, design Ground Support Equipment (GSE), install and qualify equipment, and contribute to the creation of a scalable production line for solar array manufacturing.

This is a hands-on role for an engineer who enjoys building hardware, improving processes, solving problems under pressure, and taking responsibility for successful integration and test activities.

Location: This role will start in Johnstown, Colorado with travel to Munich, Germany for onboarding. The permanent location will be at a new Dcubed facility north of Denver.

Responsibilities

• Assemble, integrate, and test solar array flight hardware, including structures, mechanisms, electrical harnesses, and photovoltaic assemblies.
• Perform incoming inspection, functional testing, troubleshooting, and verification activities throughout the product lifecycle.
• Develop test plans, procedures, reports, and other AIT documentation.
• Plan and execute qualification and acceptance test campaigns, including vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, deployment, and functional testing.
• Design, build, commission, and maintain Ground Support Equipment (GSE) used for assembly, transportation, protection, handling, and testing of flight hardware.
• Support the development of custom test rigs, tooling, fixtures, and equipment used in manufacturing, integration, and qualification activities.
• Support the setup, commissioning, and continuous improvement of Dcubed's US manufacturing, integration, and test facility.
• Develop and improve assembly, inspection, integration, and test processes to increase quality, efficiency, repeatability, and production readiness.
• Support facility layout, equipment installation, workflow development, and production-line commissioning activities.
• Participate in customer integration campaigns and external test campaigns, including travel to customer and test-facility locations.
• Investigate anomalies, perform root-cause analysis, and drive corrective actions to successful closure.
• Maintain hardware traceability and ensure compliance with safety, cleanliness, quality, and configuration-management requirements.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, manufacturing, and product assurance teams to deliver flight-ready hardware.

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT), manufacturing, testing, industrialization, or development of complex hardware systems.
• Experience with aerospace, space, defense, automotive, robotics, or other high-reliability products.
• Experience supporting environmental test campaigns such as vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, deployment, or functional testing.
• Experience setting up new manufacturing, integration, or test capabilities is highly desirable.
• Willingness to travel for test campaigns, customer integration activities, and training.

Technical Skills

• Hands-on experience assembling, integrating, and testing mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical systems.
• Experience developing test plans, procedures, reports, work instructions, and verification documentation.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex hardware, integration, and test issues using a structured problem-solving approach.
• Experience designing and building tooling, fixtures, prototypes, and Ground Support Equipment (GSE).
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, electrical schematics, test procedures, and technical documentation.
• Proficiency with CAD tools (Solidworks preferred).
• Expertise with GD&T and engineering drawing generation.
• Proficiency with workshop tools and rapid prototyping techniques, including machining, CNC equipment, laser cutting, milling, 3D printing, or similar fabrication methods.
• Experience developing, documenting, and improving manufacturing or test processes.
• Familiarity with cleanroom operations, ESD/FOD control, traceability, and configuration management.
• Knowledge of ECSS, NASA, MIL-STD, or equivalent aerospace standards is an advantage.

Personal Attributes

• Strong sense of ownership, accountability, and attention to detail.
• Practical, hands-on engineer who enjoys building, testing, and improving real hardware.
• Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills, particularly under time pressure.
• Confident decision-maker, capable of taking responsibility during critical test and integration activities.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams, suppliers, customers, and external test facilities.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and excitement about helping build a new facility, production line, and operational capability from the ground up.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Willingness to work in shifts when required to support integration, production, and test activities.
• Willingness to travel for business, including Dcubed GmbH offices in Munich, Germany, as well as to test campaigns and customer sites.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range: $110,000 - $140,000 per year (based on experience and qualification).
• Flexible PTO and sick leave.
• Generous parental leave.
• Hybrid work flexibility when applicable.
• Premium Coffee, Beverage, and Snack Bar at the office.
• Dog friendly environment.
• Team events.
• Opportunities for professional growth with a rapidly scaling aerospace company.
• For full-time employees: Competitive health insurance (medical, vision, dental), 401(k) plus company matching, and discounted Pet Health Insurance.