Avionics Test Engineer, Hardware

Spacecraft represent the most pressing unmet need across the entire aerospace industry. As more launch vehicles come online and the cost to orbit decreases, more companies launching payloads to space continue to emerge.

For the first time in history, this influx of payload companies combined with reduced launch costs has resulted in a massive increase in need for commercial spacecraft platforms, known as satellite buses. These buses hold the payloads of our customers and are flown on launch vehicles.

Apex manufactures these satellite buses at scale using a combination of software, vertical integration, and hardware that is designed for manufacturing. Our spacecraft enable the future of society: ranging from earth observation to communications and more.

We’d love for you to join us on our mission of providing humankind access to the galaxy beyond our planet. 

We’re looking for an Avionics Test Engineer, Hardware to join our growing test team.

In this role, you’ll focus on developing the test hardware, infrastructure, and platforms used to ensure our spacecraft hardware is built and performs to specification. You’ll work closely with electrical, mechanical, RF, software, and systems engineers to establish test requirements, develop test strategies, and troubleshoot flight hardware throughout development, qualification, production, and integration.

This is a highly hands-on role for an engineer who is comfortable owning technical work independently, enjoys working directly with flight hardware and integrated test environments, and wants to have a significant impact on how Apex tests spacecraft at scale.

• Own the design, build, integration, and maintenance of bus-level and component-level avionics test racks, including harness design, rack component selection, circuit design, and test infrastructure.

• Develop and maintain FlatSats and avionics testbeds, including electrical interfaces, emulators, EGSE, harnessing, and supporting infrastructure.

• Lead hardware integration activities including harnessing, fixturing, rack integration, and mechanical/electrical interface validation.

• Define test architecture and strategies in collaboration with electrical, mechanical, RF, software, and systems engineering teams.

• Troubleshoot flight hardware and test setup failures using laboratory instrumentation including oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, DAQ systems, VNAs, and vector signal analyzers/generators.

• Perform hardware bring-up, interface validation, signal integrity troubleshooting, and end-to-end system checkout.

• Develop test fixtures, breakout boxes, interface electronics, and other custom test hardware as needed.

• Support component qualification, acceptance, regression, and spacecraft-level testing.

• Investigate test failures and hardware anomalies, determine root cause, and work with responsible engineering teams to drive issues to resolution.

• Improve test infrastructure and processes to increase coverage, reliability, repeatability, and throughput.

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field.

• 5+ years of professional experience in aerospace hardware, avionics, electronics, or integrated hardware testing.

• Hands-on experience with laboratory instrumentation and hardware bring-up.

• Experience troubleshooting integrated electrical systems and complex test setups.

• Strong understanding of hardware integration, verification, and validation workflows.

• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, interface control documents, and technical requirements.

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to independently drive technical issues to resolution.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder) in accordance with ITAR requirements.

• Experience integrating or testing spacecraft, launch vehicles, avionics, or other flight electronics.

• Experience with:

  • Harness design and fabrication

  • Test fixturing

  • Environmental testing

  • Vibration testing

  • Component acceptance and qualification testing

• Experience in fast-paced aerospace production, manufacturing, or integration environments.

• Experience designing PCBs or developing prototype electronics.

• Experience conducting sensor functional testing, avionics channelization, or electrical interface validation.

• Familiarity with embedded communication interfaces such as CAN, RS-422/485, UART, SPI, I2C, or Ethernet.

• Basic Python or scripting experience for test support, data collection, and automation.

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Apex Technology, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.