Solar Array Test Engineer

Vast is looking for a Solar Array Test Engineer. The team has one opening available at L2, Senior, or Staff level. This role will be reporting to the Principal Power Systems Engineer, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities:

Own the qualification program for non-space-heritage (terrestrial/COTS) photovoltaic cell technologies for space use

Develop, author, and maintain test plans, procedures, and reports for solar array hardware at the coupon, panel, wing, and system levels

Plan and execute test campaigns including thermal vacuum (TVAC), thermal cycling, vibration (sine, random), shock, acoustic, static load, deployment, and life-cycle testing

Plan and execute functional testing of solar array hardware, including flash testing, electroluminescence (EL) imaging, isolation resistance, and IV curve characterization

Define test success criteria, instrumentation requirements, data acquisition configurations, and test-as-you-fly rationale for all solar array verification activities

Coordinate and oversee testing at both internal facilities and external test labs

Analyze test data, document results, identify anomalies, and lead troubleshooting and root cause investigations when test failures occur

Determine  applicable standards including AIAA S-111 (space solar cell qualification), AIAA S-112, SMC-S-016, and program-specific verification requirements

Collaborate with solar array design, structures, thermal, power electronics, and mission assurance engineers to ensure test campaigns provide comprehensive design verification

Support the development and buildout of internal test capabilities, fixturing, and ground support equipment (GSE) for solar array testing

Present test readiness reviews, test results, and lessons learned at design reviews and to cross-functional stakeholders

Author and maintain verification documentation through the product’s design lifecycle

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, materials engineering, physics, or related engineering discipline

5+ years of experience in hardware testing for satellites, spacecraft, or high-reliability aerospace systems

Familiarity with data acquisition systems, instrumentation (thermocouples, strain gauges, accelerometers, LVDTs), and test automation

Hands-on experience planning and executing environmental testing (thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, or acoustic) on flight or qualification hardware

Demonstrated experience authoring test plans, procedures, and test reports

Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple parallel test campaigns and maintain meticulous documentation

Working knowledge of photovoltaic device physics and space-environment degradation mechanisms

Proficiency with data analysis and visualization tools such as MATLAB, Python, or equivalent

Effective communicator who thrives in a hands-on, hardware-rich environment and is comfortable working across engineering disciplines and with technician teams

Preferred Skills & Experience:

8+ years of experience in test engineering for satellite or spacecraft programs, with direct solar array or deployable structure test experience

Experience executing test campaigns in compliance with SMC-S-016, AIAA S112, AIAA S-111, or equivalent military/NASA environmental test standards (e.g., GEVS, MIL-STD-1540)

Experience with solar cell or photovoltaic module electrical characterization, including flash testing, IV curve analysis, and EL inspection

Direct experience with solar cell radiation degradation testing (proton/electron irradiation) and EOL performance prediction

Experience with AM0 solar simulator calibration

Experience qualifying a non-space-heritage or COTS component/material for spaceflight use

Experience developing custom test fixturing and GSE, including interfacing with machinists and technicians on fabrication

Working knowledge of solar array design, construction, and failure modes

Experience at a vertically integrated satellite company or fast-paced aerospace startup with high personal touch-time on hardware

Design or modeling experience with NX, Teamcenter, or similar CAD/PLM tools for fixture and GSE design

Pay Range: California

$112,340—$230,472 USD