Astrolab

Designs modular lunar rovers for exploration

Lead Avionics Test Engineer

AvionicsUpdated on Nov 13

Full-timeHawthorne, CA, USA$160k - $240k /yrHybrid

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics-related field is required.
At least five years of experience in avionics development, hardware test, manufacturing, or test automation, including hardware and software responsibilities, is required.
Experience leading engineers and developing automated test solutions for high-reliability electronics, including test equipment, automation software, and validation activities, is required.

Responsibilities

Build and lead a team of avionics test engineers, including hiring, setting technical direction, executing priorities, and fostering a culture of ownership, craftsmanship, and collaboration.
Own the full lifecycle of avionics unit test systems, including architecture definition, rack design through DCR, PDR, CDR, and TRR, implementation, validation, and production sustainment.
Partner with design teams to implement Design for Test feedback, evaluate test coverage, and develop test plans.
Design and develop automated test systems, including commercial off-the-shelf equipment selection, custom printed circuit board assemblies and harness design, and test software to verify unit under test functionality, exercise failure modes, and interface with manufacturing execution systems and test data archives.
Set team standards for test system development, validation, documentation, and quality in compliance with the Astrolab Software Development Process and related standards.
Root-cause test anomalies and production failures, drive corrective actions to closure, and support vehicle-level failure investigations as needed.

Desired Qualifications

Experience designing and validating automated test racks, including custom printed circuit board assemblies, signal conditioning, instrumentation selection, and wire harness design.
Experience writing test automation software using Python, C or C++, LabVIEW, or similar programming languages.
Familiarity with SMC-S-016, MIL-STD-810, or other environmental testing standards, including shock, thermal, burn-in, thermal vacuum, vibration, and electromagnetic interference/electromagnetic compatibility testing.
Experience with avionics hardware such as power electronics, motor controllers, guidance, navigation, and control sensors, optics, radio frequency devices, or communication interfaces including Ethernet, RS-422, RS-485, and CAN.
Experience with schematic capture, printed circuit board layout, or wire harness design using Altium Designer or equivalent tools.
Experience with embedded software development, firmware integration, and nonconformance, material review board, or corrective action processes in a flight hardware production environment.

Astrolab is The Lunar Operations Company. We design and build the systems and hardware the lunar economy will come to depend on — rovers, power, and data networks for sustained operations on the Moon. We are focused on the problems that must be solved before the next chapter of human exploration can scale. The Moon does not forgive untested assumptions. The people who work here know that, and they wouldn't have it any other way.

The Lead Avionics Test Engineer will build and manage a team of test engineers responsible for the avionics test architecture, automated test system development, and manufacturing test infrastructure that verifies every rover avionics unit before it leaves the factory. You will define how avionics hardware gets tested at Astrolab, setting standards, shaping testable designs, and building the systems and team to execute at production scale.

Build and lead a team of avionics test engineers including hiring, setting technical direction, executing priorities, and fostering a culture of ownership, craftsmanship, and collaboration
Own the full lifecycle of avionics unit test systems: architecture definition, rack design (DCR, PDR, CDR, TRR), implementation, validation, and production sustainment
Partner with design teams to implement Design for Test (DFT) feedback, evaluate test coverage, and develop test plans
Design and develop automated test systems including COTS equipment selection, custom PCBA and harness design, and test software to verify UUT functionality, exercise failure modes, and interface with production data platforms (MES and test data archive)
Set team standards for test system development, validation, documentation, and quality in compliance with the Astrolab Software Development Process and related standards
Root cause test anomalies and production failures, drive corrective actions to closure, and support vehicle-level failure investigations as needed

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) related field
5+ years of experience in avionics development, hardware test, manufacturing, or test automation, including hardware and software responsibilities
Experience leading engineers and developing automated test solutions for high-reliability electronics, including test equipment, automation software, and validation activities

Preferred Qualifications

Experience designing and validating automated test racks, including custom PCBAs, signal conditioning, instrumentation selection, and wire harness design
Experience writing test automation software using Python, C/C++, LabVIEW, or similar programming languages
Familiarity with SMC-S-016, MIL-STD-810, or other environmental testing standards, including shock, thermal, burn-in, TVAC, vibration, and EMI/EMC testing
Experience with avionics hardware such as power electronics, motor controllers, GNC sensors, optics, RF devices, or communication interfaces including Ethernet, RS-422, RS-485, and CAN
Experience with schematic capture, PCB layout, or wire harness design using Altium Designer or equivalent tools
Experience with embedded software development, firmware integration, and nonconformance, MRB, or corrective action processes in a flight hardware production environment

About the Company

Astrolab

Designs modular lunar rovers for exploration

Astrolab designs and builds modular rovers for lunar and extraterrestrial surface missions. Its flagship FLEX rover is a modular, reusable vehicle that can transport cargo, equipment, and crew across the Moon. The system works by using interchangeable payload modules on a shared rover chassis, allowing rapid reconfiguration for different mission profiles—from cargo delivery to astronaut transport—without needing a new vehicle. The rover is designed to be compatible with existing and planned space infrastructure, including NASA’s Artemis program, enabling integration with governmental and commercial lunar operations. What sets Astrolab apart is its emphasis on a single, adaptable platform with modular payloads that can handle a range of tasks and mission profiles, rather than many specialized, single-use machines. The company aims to enable a sustained lunar presence and expanded human activity beyond Earth by providing reliable, flexible surface mobility.

Company size: 51-200
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: Hawthorne, CA
Founded: 2019

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