Senior Test Engineer at Accion Systems

Senior Test Engineer

Accion Systems, Boston (Charlestown)

ACCELERATING THE FUTURE OF SPACE

About Accion Systems

At Accion [pronounced AX-ee-on], we're working to change the world by making outer space more affordable and accessible. We come to work every day to build next-generation ion engines and other cool technologies for spacecraft. Our younger selves would be very proud of us.

Our team is excited about our mission and we work AND play hard together to achieve it. We offer competitive salary and benefits (including health, dental, 401(k) with match, gym membership reimbursement, and unlimited vacation), and we engage our team through activities including an annual retreat, weekly lunches, monthly team outings, and the chance to travel to and present at industry events. We strongly value self-motivated, enthusiastic employees and we work hard as a group to nurture growth mindsets in company and personal goals.

About This Position

We’re seeking a senior test engineer to lead and execute critical testing activities on spacecraft hardware. This role is hands-on and crucial to the successful and timely development of our propulsion system products. In addition to hands-on test execution, duties will include leading test planning and design as well as oversight of technicians and test engineers. Duties also include electrical and mechanical ground support equipment design, facility development, assisting with setup, data collection and analysis. It is important that this candidate possesses strong technical skills in two or more of the following: electronics, computer, software or aerospace engineering. Ideally, each candidate has experience with harsh environment testing, specifically aerospace-related testing. A strong emphasis will be on development of test equipment and facilities. Nearly all work involves advanced aerospace technologies such as vacuum chambers, ion beams and high voltage electronics.

Key Responsibilities

Leading critical hardware testing
Creating test plans including verification and validation tables
Test design and sensor implementation
Hands-on oversight of complex, aerospace, environmental, vacuum and R&D testing
Hands-on oversight of test set-up, fixture assembly and mounting
Support of troubleshooting activities
Test station design, build-up, calibration, purchasing and maintenance
Documentation of key activities such as test reports, quality control and failures
Oversight of test personnel
Test procedure development and deployment

Required Competencies

Vacuum chamber experience (<1 micro-Torr pressures)
Experience with test instrumentation such as DAQs, DMMs, power supplies, oscilloscopes, thermocouples/temp sensors, pressure sensors, accelerometers
Hands-on testing
Experience with environmental testing and proper mechanical test fixturing
Experience with measurement accuracy and sources of measurement error
Experience working with ESD sensitive hardware
Experience with testing for harsh environments such as vibration, radiation, shock, thermal vacuum and humidity
Strong written and oral communication skills
Proficiency with MS Word & Excel

Desired Competencies

Experience working in clean environment
Aerospace environmental testing
Military and other high-reliability requirements
High-voltage (up to 5 kV) rated equipment
Electronics or software design
Automated test equipment and data acquisition
Any of the following: LabVIEW, Matlab, Omnify, Altium, SolidWorks, Python, C/C++

The position is full-time, on-site, and available to be filled immediately.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicants must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents of the U.S., or protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or any other protected factor.

About Accion Systems

Accion Systems is pioneering scalable electric propulsion technology that will completely transform what spacecraft can do in and beyond Earth's orbit. We removed the heavy tanks, pumps, valves, toxic propellants, external cathodes and ionization chambers found in conventional electric propulsion systems and created a new ion engine: one that's lighter, more efficient, more powerful — and manufactured hundreds of units at a time. Accion Systems was founded to accelerate the exploration of space. To fulfill this mission, our experienced team develops in-space propulsion technologies that optimize scalability, performance and efficiency. Accion’s flagship product, TILE, uses proprietary electrospray thrusters, bringing electric propulsion to satellites of all sizes and redefining in-space capabilities for the 21st century. Accion Systems was founded in 2014 by two MIT engineers, Natalya Bailey and Louis Perna, and is based in Boston, MA.