Test Engineer - Space Solar Verified today

The Mission

Starpath develops and manufactures technologies that enable humans to live on the Moon and Mars. The Starlight team focuses on dramatically improving space solar power. Starlight manufactures the lowest cost and highest performance space solar, which will power the majority of new satellites built on Earth and all of Starpath's equipment on the Moon and Mars.

The Role

As a Test Engineer on the Starlight team, you will plan, build, and execute the tests that prove solar hardware is ready for flight. From electrical characterization of individual cells through panel-level environmental testing, you will stand up test stands, write procedures, run campaigns, and analyze data that drives hardware decisions.

Responsibilities

• Execute test programs for space solar hardware from cell-level electrical characterization through panel and array environmental testing
• Build and operate test stands, fixtures, and data acquisition systems for electrical, thermal, mechanical, and environmental testing
• Run environmental tests including thermal vacuum (TVAC), thermal cycling, vibration, shock, and humidity testing
• Perform electrical characterization of solar hardware including LIV/flash testing, electroluminescence imaging, dark IV, and degradation analysis
• Investigate test failures and anomalies; partner with design and manufacturing engineering to close issues
• Write and execute test procedures and contribute to qualification reports
• Influence hardware design from a testability perspective by flagging instrumentation access, alignment features, and design choices
• Simplify test setups, eliminate redundant verification, and cut overhead where it does not add value

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, materials, physics, or a related engineering or science discipline
• 1 or more years of hardware test engineering experience (internship and academic research applicable)
• Hands-on experience with test instrumentation and data acquisition

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in an engineering or science discipline
• Direct experience testing photovoltaic hardware including solar cells, strings, panels, or arrays, ideally multi-junction (III-V) or perovskite cells for space or high-reliability applications
• Hands-on experience operating solar simulators such as Spectrolab or AAA-class and interpreting LIV/flash test data
• Familiarity with electroluminescence imaging, dark IV analysis, and other diagnostic techniques for solar hardware
• Experience supporting environmental test campaigns including TVAC, thermal cycling, vibration, and shock
• Familiarity with aerospace test standards such as GEVS, MIL-STD-1540, AIAA S-111/S-112 for solar cells
• Proficiency with LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB, or equivalent for data acquisition and analysis
• Experience with test fixture and stand design, including thermal and electrical interfaces to hardware under test
• Exposure to aerospace, space, or other high-reliability hardware environments

Compensation and Benefits

• Location: Hawthorne, CA
• Competitive salary plus equity package; compensation scales with candidate experience
• PTO and health, dental, and vision coverage
• Generous benefits including retirement plans
• Paid time off, holidays, and flexible policies
• Professional growth opportunities through training and development

US Person Requirement

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, you must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.