Spacecraft Test Engineer

The posting, as Xona Space Systems wrote it

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

About the Role

We are looking for a Spacecraft Test Engineer to own mechanical and environmental testing across the spacecraft development lifecycle, from early R&D and design de-risking through first-article spacecraft qualification.

This role sits at the intersection of spacecraft design, mechanical engineering, materials, environmental testing, and systems engineering. You will develop and execute tests that identify failure modes early, establish engineering margins through physical data, and ultimately demonstrate that our spacecraft are ready for launch.

This role will also drive first-article spacecraft environmental testing, including vibration and thermal vacuum testing. You will lead these campaigns from test planning and fixture/instrumentation development through execution, data review, anomaly resolution, and final test reporting.

The ideal candidate is equally comfortable developing a novel coupon test in the lab, working directly with a spacecraft on the integration floor, troubleshooting a test setup, and presenting test results across teams.

What You'll Do

Early-Stage R&D and Design De-Risking

• Identify high-risk mechanical, structural, thermal, material, and process risks early in the spacecraft development cycle.
• Design and execute coupon-, component-, and subassembly-level tests to characterize materials, interfaces, processes, and hardware before design freeze.
• Develop test-derived allowables and engineering data for critical mechanical interfaces, including bonded joints, structural interfaces, and other spacecraft hardware.
• Perform material and process characterization to validate assumptions before they become embedded in flight designs.
• Develop rapid mechanical and thermal tests to investigate potential failure modes and inform design decisions.
• Partner directly with mechanical, structures, thermal, payload, electrical, and systems engineers to translate test results into actionable design changes.

In-House Test Capability Development

• Build and expand Xona's internal capabilities for advanced mechanical and materials testing.
• Develop test methods for mechanical strength, tensile testing, optical properties testing, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), thermal characterization, and other specialized testing.
• Design and build test fixtures, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems required to execute these tests.
• Establish repeatable test methods, procedures, calibration practices, and internal engineering databases.
• Use physical testing to validate and improve analytical and simulation models.

[…]
test instrumentation.

• Experience with data acquisition systems and test automation.
• Familiarity with Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or similar tools for test automation and data analysis.
• Experience working with external test facilities and vendors.
• Experience with spacecraft integration, test, and launch operations.

Why This Role Matters

This role will establish a critical capability at Xona: using physical testing to find and eliminate spacecraft failure modes before they become expensive problems during qualification or launch campaigns.

You will have the opportunity to shape how Xona tests its spacecraft - from the first material or coupon test through the first article spacecraft's vibration and TVAC campaigns and turn those lessons into repeatable processes for a growing fleet.

This is a highly hands-on role with significant technical ownership. You'll see your work directly influence spacecraft designs, manufacturing processes, qualification decisions, and ultimately hardware that flies in space.

For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).

For Canada Roles: Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.