Avionics Software Test Engineer Verified today
About Vast
Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and low-cost approach. Haven Demo's 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Haven-1 is expected to become the world's first commercial space station when it launches in 2027. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Vast has over 1,000 employees and has raised over a billion dollars in private capital.
The Role
You will work as an Avionics Software Test Engineer reporting to the Staff Avionics Software Test Engineer, supporting the development of systems required for the design and build of human-rated space stations. This is a full-time, exempt position located in Long Beach.
Responsibilities
- Design and implement Python software for automated testing of flight-critical avionics hardware
- Manage the complete software lifecycle for avionics test systems, from initial development through qualification and acceptance testing of production hardware
- Integrate test equipment with avionics hardware under test, collaborating with Test Engineers and Avionics Responsible Engineers to resolve automation challenges
- Partner cross-functionally with hardware, test, and avionics teams to define test requirements and recommend test equipment solutions
- Create clear, comprehensive documentation and user guides for test engineer and technician handover
- Enhance and extend the existing Python test automation framework with new capabilities and tooling
- Diagnose and troubleshoot test anomalies, providing root cause analysis and resolution
- Conduct code reviews and drive accountability in following core software engineering principles
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering or other engineering or physical science discipline
- Proficiency in Object-Oriented Programming with Python
- Experience writing software to interface with instrumentation hardware (e.g. power supplies, measurement equipment, etc)
- Experience using Data Acquisition (DAQ) systems such as National Instruments or similar modular DAQ solutions
- Familiarity with software version control such as GitHub
- Experience with software unit testing and CI/CD
- Strong documentation and communication skills
- Proficiency in leveraging AI coding assistants and workflows to accelerate development, debug complex issues, and improve code quality
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Familiarity with NASA SMC-S-016 test requirements and standards
- Experience with AWS services and cloud-based development tools
- Practical experience operating power supplies, electronic loads, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and digital multimeters
- Knowledge of electronic instrumentation drivers using SCPI and pyVISA
- Comfortable working in Linux environments with understanding of kernel software and device drivers
- Experience with embedded systems and C++ programming
- Experience with network protocols and communication standards (TCP/UDP, DHCP, Ethernet) for instrument control and data acquisition
- Experience building web-based user interfaces or dashboards for test visualization and control (React, Angular, or similar frameworks)
Additional Requirements
- Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
Compensation
Base salary: $135,300 to $226,980 USD, depending on experience and demonstrated capability. Full-time employees receive company equity and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage; 20+ days vacation for exempt staff; paid parental leave; disability and life insurance; 401(k) retirement plan; ClassPass credits; mental healthcare through Spring Health; free snacks, coffee, and dinner; and subsidized lunch.
Export Control Compliance
The selected candidate will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore must either be a U.S. person as defined by 22 C.F.R. 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.