Blacksky
Principal Engineer, Spacecraft Test Development
Tukwila, WA · Principal · Full-time
Work authorization required$200k-$230kDetected 19 days ago
Systems EngineeringMechanical DesignTest AutomationCommunication
About the role
- BlackSky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly.
- This role is critical to enabling reliable and repeatable high-rate satellite production.
- This position is on-site in our Tukwila, WA office and reports to the VP, Spacecraft Engineering.
Responsibilities
- Own the transition of test campaigns from engineering development to production-ready execution.
- Plan, manage, and task cross-functional team members supporting test development.
- Lead cross-functional effort to develop comprehensive test plans, procedures, scripts, and automation frameworks to enable repeatable, low-variance execution.
- Partner with engineering, program management, and production to ensure comprehensive and efficient end-to-end validation of satellite test from plan through design and execution.
- Define requirements for and oversee the design and build of test Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and other test infrastructure.
- Coordinate cross-functional engineering inputs to ensure test readiness and maintain execution schedules during new product test campaigns.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
- At least 12 years of experience in spacecraft integration and test, development, or similar hardware test environments.
- Hands-on experience with spacecraft system test procedures, automation, and execution.
- Hands on experience with scripting / coding to automate satellite testing.
- Experience working across multiple engineering disciplines, including electrical, mechanical, and software systems.
- Strong understanding of spacecraft AIT principles, including test-as-you-fly, NASA and DoD standards, and build verification strategies.
Nice to have
- Background in high-rate production environments or programs with repeated test execution.
- Extensive experience with spacecraft Ground Support Equipment (GSE) design, build, and validation.
- Experience in introducing test campaigns for new products, and maturing them over time.
- Experience and comfort with using tools such as DOORS or Jama for requirement and verification tracking.
- 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match
- Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
- Employer matching donations
- Professional development
Compensation
- The anticipated salary range for Principal level candidates in Tukwila, WA is $200,000-$230,000 per year.
- We may be open to more junior candidates (at the Staff level) with a salary range of $170,000-$195,000.
Benefits
- BlackSky for full-time benefits-eligible employees includes:
- Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance
- BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses!
- 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Employee Stock Purchase Program
- The final compensation package offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on specific background and education.
Company info
- BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company.
- We own and operate the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets, and events from around the globe.
- BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy.
- Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.
- The ideal candidate brings deep, hands-on experience from multiple spacecraft build and test campaigns and applies strong engineering judgment to develop test systems that minimize risk while maintaining efficiency.
- The Satellite Test Development Engineer responsible for transitioning satellite tests from engineer-driven 'new product' tests to routine, highly automated, efficient test processes that ensure every satellite off the production line is repeatably and robustly tested before shipping and launch.
- This role leads the development of end-to-end satellite qualification and acceptance test plans, then develops production test strategies, plans, procedures, automation, and supporting Ground Support Equipment (GSE) in preparation for handoff to a Production AI&T team to execute.
- The position works cross-functionally with Systems Engineering, Production AI&T, and all spacecraft subsystem teams (EPS, ADCS, Communications, C&DH, Flight Software, etc.) to meld verification requirements with real-world system performance variability and constraints into robust, executable test campaigns that minimize test-to-test variability and risk for human error.
- They are responsible for transforming early, engineering-driven test approaches into mature, production-ready systems that reduce operator variability, limit reliance on subject matter experts, and ensure consistent, high-confidence outcomes across every vehicle.
Equal opportunity
- https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf
- https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/OFCCP_EEO_Supplement_Final_JRF_QA_508c.pdf
Visa & Work Authorization
- citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U
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