AstroTalentSpace Jobs

Avionics Test Manager Verified today

Ursa Major · Longmont, CO · Electronics · first seen 2026-09-30
Apply at Ursa Major →

About the role

Mission-critical avionics require equally capable test systems to verify performance, reliability, and production readiness. You will lead and contribute directly to the design, development, integration, and maintenance of Special Test Equipment (STE) and Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) used to develop, qualify, and produce advanced aerospace and defense avionics.

This role combines technical and managerial responsibilities. Approximately half your time will be hands-on senior test engineering: designing interface electronics, fixtures, and test architectures, troubleshooting complex issues, and participating in design reviews. The other half focuses on leading a small test engineering team, managing priorities and schedules, coordinating across programs, and driving test strategy and process improvements.

Technical responsibilities (approximately 50%)

  • Design, develop, integrate, and maintain ATE, STE, and EGSE for avionics development, qualification, and production.
  • Create and review schematics, wiring diagrams, cable assemblies, interface electronics, fixtures, and harnesses for automated test systems.
  • Select, integrate, and configure laboratory instrumentation and communication interfaces into automated test solutions.
  • Support HIL, qualification, environmental, and production acceptance testing for processor-based, FPGA-based, and mixed-signal avionics assemblies.
  • Troubleshoot complex hardware and hardware/software integration issues; lead bring-up, verification, and validation of new test equipment.
  • Lead technical reviews, trade studies, and failure investigations related to test systems.

Leadership and program execution (approximately 50%)

  • Lead and mentor a small test engineering team, balancing hands-on contributions with coaching, task assignment, and performance feedback.
  • Plan and prioritize test engineering work across multiple programs; own test hardware schedules, deliverables, risk management, and status communication.
  • Collaborate with Test Software, Flight Software, FPGA, Electrical Design, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Program Management to deliver integrated and production-ready test solutions.
  • Drive Root Cause and Corrective Action for test equipment and product issues and ensure clear documentation and communication of findings.
  • Establish and improve standards, processes, and metrics for test hardware design, documentation, configuration management, and equipment reliability.
  • Champion continuous improvement in test capability, automation, reuse, and throughput; support audits and reviews related to test systems and processes.

Required qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related technical discipline.
  • 6 years of experience developing electrical test equipment, laboratory instrumentation systems, or automated hardware test solutions, including significant experience with ATE/STE/EGSE for complex electronics.
  • Demonstrated hands-on expertise in:
  • Mixed-signal circuit design and test hardware (analog/digital, signal integrity, grounding, power distribution, PCB layout principles).
  • Integrating commercial instrumentation (oscilloscopes, DMMs, power supplies, loads, signal generators, switching systems, DAQ) into automated test systems.
  • Developing schematics, wiring diagrams, cable assemblies, and interface control documents.
  • Troubleshooting complex electrical hardware and hardware/software integration issues in automated test environments.
  • Knowledge of communication interfaces such as SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, Ethernet, USB, RS-422/485, PXI, and/or GPIB.
  • 1-3+ years of experience in a leadership capacity (technical lead, project lead, or direct people manager) with evidence of successful project delivery and team development.
  • Proven ability to balance personal technical contributions with planning, coordination, and stakeholder communication responsibilities.
  • Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills, including the ability to explain technical tradeoffs and risk clearly and concisely.
  • Must be a U.S. Person with the ability to perform work subject to ITAR/EAR regulations and applicable program requirements.

Desirable experience

  • Developing ATE, STE, or EGSE for aerospace or defense systems.
  • Supporting FPGA-based electronics, embedded systems, or mission-critical avionics hardware.
  • High-reliability electronic hardware qualification, acceptance testing, and environmental testing.
  • Designing custom interface electronics, relay switching matrices, signal conditioning circuits, and power control hardware.
  • Schematic capture and PCB layout tools such as Altium Designer, KiCad, Cadence Allegro, or equivalent.
  • IPC Class 3 workmanship standards and aerospace manufacturing practices.
  • EMI/EMC testing and hardware qualification to military or aerospace standards.
  • Collaborating with automated test software development teams using LabVIEW, TestStand, Python, C#, or similar technologies.
  • Active U.S. Department of Defense Security Clearance or the ability to obtain one.

Compensation and employment

Base compensation range: $132,000 to $165,000, determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Full-time Exempt. Benefits include unlimited PTO, paid parental and adoptive leave, medical/dental/vision insurance, HSA/FSA, employer-paid disability and life insurance, 401k with company match, and equity grants.