Solar Array Test Engineer at Impulse Space

Job description

Solar Array Test Engineer Department: Assembly, Integration & Test Employment Type: Full Time Location: Redondo Beach Compensation: $110,000 - $150,000 / year Description As a Solar Array Test Engineer at Impulse, you will play a critical role in designing, planning, and executing testing of solar array systems and subassemblies. This role owns test development from requirements through data review, focusing on electrical performance, mechanical integrity, environmental durability, and flight readiness. You’ll work closely with solar array design, power electronics, systems engineering, and manufacturing teams to ensure robust, compliant, and high-performing solar hardware. Responsibilities • Define and execute electrical performance tests for solar arrays, including I-V characterization and efficiency measurements • Plan and run environmental and durability tests such as thermal cycling, UV exposure, vibration, or shock as applicable • Develop test plans and procedures from system and component requirements, including acceptance criteria • Design, build, and validate test fixtures, harnessing, and high-power setups • Partner with design, manufacturing, and suppliers to close test gaps and improve reliability and performance • Participate in anomaly troubleshooting, root-cause investigations, and re-test plans Minimum Qualifications • B.S. in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering, or related field • 3+ years of direct experience in hardware test engineering • Working knowledge of photovoltaic behavior, electroluminescence, and solar array performance drivers • Experience with electrical and thermal instrumentation and DAQ systems • Familiarity with environmental and mechanical test methods and lab safety practices • Strong data reduction and analysis skills in Python, MATLAB, or similar • Clear communicator with solid technical documentation skills Preferred Skills and Experience • Master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline • Direct experience testing solar arrays or photovoltaic hardware • Familiarity with PV and aerospace qualification standards relevant to solar array testing, including IEC, UL, MIL-STD, NASA, and ECSS standards • Experience with thermal-vacuum testing, radiation or UV degradation testing, or arc-fault characterization • Demonstrated ability to drive cross-functional closure of test anomalies and design improvements Additional Information: Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options , and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan . Impulse Space’s spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here . Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, 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.

Requirements

Must-haves

Solar Array Test Engineer
Department: Assembly, Integration & Test
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Redondo Beach
Compensation: $110,000 - $150,000 / year
Define and execute electrical performance tests for solar arrays, including I-V characterization and efficiency measurements
Plan and run environmental and durability tests such as thermal cycling, UV exposure, vibration, or shock as applicable
Develop test plans and procedures from system and component requirements, including acceptance criteria
Design, build, and validate test fixtures, harnessing, and high-power setups
Partner with design, manufacturing, and suppliers to close test gaps and improve reliability and performance
Participate in anomaly troubleshooting, root-cause investigations, and re-test plans
B.S. in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
3+ years of direct experience in hardware test engineering
Working knowledge of photovoltaic behavior, electroluminescence, and solar array performance drivers
Experience with electrical and thermal instrumentation and DAQ systems
Familiarity with environmental and mechanical test methods and lab safety practices
Strong data reduction and analysis skills in Python, MATLAB, or similar
Clear communicator with solid technical documentation skills
Master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline
Direct experience testing solar arrays or photovoltaic hardware
Familiarity with PV and aerospace qualification standards relevant to solar array testing, including IEC, UL, MIL-STD, NASA, and ECSS standards
Experience with thermal-vacuum testing, radiation or UV degradation testing, or arc-fault characterization
Demonstrated ability to drive cross-functional closure of test anomalies and design improvements

Nice-to-haves

Preferred Skills and Experience

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Keywords to mirror

python

Platform: career-feeds
Effort: medium

Benefits

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Dental

Vision

401(K)