Senior Automation & Controls Engineer
Core
Design, build, and maintain bespoke test infrastructure and ground support equipment (GSE) to qualify spaceflight hardware for orbit.
Role type
Senior IC automation & controls engineer (aerospace test systems)
Builds
Propulsion test stands, environmental qualification chambers, spacecraft-level integration test systems, and custom PLC/EtherCAT tooling.
Domain
Aerospace / Industrial Automation / Test Infrastructure
Required skills
PLC programming (TwinCAT 3, IEC 61131-3), EtherCAT integration, electrical design, cabinet wiring, real-time control implementation, hardware debugging, system commissioning
Preferred skills
Hard real-time control loops (sub-millisecond), Python orchestration, time-series data acquisition (Grafana, InfluxDB), spacecraft qualification standards, high-pressure gas/fluid systems, propulsion test stand development
Technologies
Beckhoff, EtherCAT, TwinCAT 3, Modbus, RS-232/485, Python, Grafana, InfluxDB
Responsibilities
Design and build test systems and GSE for flight hardware qualification; Integrate with external hardware (thermal vacuum chambers, pressure systems, data acquisition); Develop internal PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling; Contribute to architecture decisions on real-time control implementation; Build cabinets, wire panels, and own systems end-to-end; Partner with propulsion, avionics, and manufacturing teams
Seniority
Senior, hands-on IC
