Job description

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs and manufactures first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS' expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions support critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide. At GA-EMS – Optical Sensor Systems, we design, build, and test advanced electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) space payload that power next-generation remote-sensing systems. You’ll join a multidisciplinary team tackling technically challenging problems in a collaborative, hands-on environment. We value innovation, rigor, and accountability—offering opportunities for growth and leadership based on technical excellence. We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Optical Payload Integration & Test (I&T) engineer to join our Optical Payload Integration & Test (I&T) team. This role focuses on electro-optical system integration, test automation, and verification & validation of complex EO/IR payload subsystems. You will work closely with systems, software, and electrical engineers to plan and execute integration activities, automate test workflows, and ensure performance and reliability requirements are met. Candidates should be comfortable working in laboratory and cleanroom environments with test hardware, software interfaces, and data analysis tools. This is a full-time position located in Acton, MA. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: • Define and implement test strategies for payload functional, performance, and environmental verification, ensuring full requirements coverage • Lead cross-discipline coordination between optical, electrical, software, and systems teams during integration and test campaigns • Develop and maintain automated test infrastructure and Python-based test frameworks supporting electrical, software, and optical subsystem verification • Collaborate with the Flight Software and Systems Engineering teams to assess, debug, and verify C-based embedded code behavior through hardware-in-the-loop testing • Perform electrical and software integration of payload components, including command-and-telemetry interfaces, sensors, and power systems • Oversee operation and integration of optical test equipment • Support verification and validation (V&V) efforts across prototype, qualification, and flight hardware • Analyze telemetry, images, and environmental test data to evaluate system performance and stability • Establish data management and analysis workflows for test results, ensuring reproducibility, traceability, and configuration control • Document test procedures, configurations, and results in accordance with engineering and quality processes • Support anomaly investigation and corrective action implementation during integration and environmental campaigns • Serve as a technical mentor for early-career engineers and test operators, promoting disciplined processes and sound engineering judgement We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply Job Qualifications: • Typically requires a bachelors or masters degree in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and two or more years of engineering experience with a bachelors degree. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education. • Experience with system-level integration and testing of complex hardware or embedded systems • Experience leading multidisciplinary integration efforts involving optical, electrical, and software subsystems • Understanding of electro-optical system design and test processes • Familiarity with optics and optical test equipment, including Collimators, Integrating Spheres, Blackbodies, Lasers, and stages • Proficiency in Python for test automation, data handling, hardware control, and analysis • Ability to read and understand C code, particularly for diagnostics and interface verification • Familiarity with Linux environments, command-line tools, and version control (Git) • Strong technical writing, documentation, and communication skills • Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance is required Preferred Qualifications: • Experience developing automated test frameworks for electrical and embedded systems • Familiarity with space-borne or high-reliability payloads, especially EO/IR imaging or sensing systems • Background in instrument control, data acquisition, hardware communications protocols (Ethernet, serial, CAN, SPI, etc.) • Knowledge of image processing, calibration, or optical system performance assessment • Experience performing requirements verification and validation (V&V) and contributing to test readiness reviews or data packages • Familiarity with C++, hardware-in-the-loop testing, or continuous integration (CI) workflows • Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, hands-on lab environment with minimal supervision • Willingness to support off-shift or extended testing during major integration or environmental test milestones Job Category: Engineering Experience Level: Entry-Level (0-2 years) Workstyle: Onsite Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time Salary Pay Range Low: 69,500 Pay Range High: 116,375 Travel Percentage Required: 0% - 25% Relocation Assistance Provided?: Yes US Citizenship Required?: Yes Clearance Required?: Desired Clearance Level: Secret

Requirements

Must-haves

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: • Define and implement test strategies for payload functional, performance, and environmental verification, ensuring full requirements coverage
Lead cross-discipline coordination between optical, electrical, software, and systems teams during integration and test campaigns
Develop and maintain automated test infrastructure and Python-based test frameworks supporting electrical, software, and optical subsystem verification
Collaborate with the Flight Software and Systems Engineering teams to assess, debug, and verify C-based embedded code behavior through hardware-in-the-loop testing
Perform electrical and software integration of payload components, including command-and-telemetry interfaces, sensors, and power systems
Oversee operation and integration of optical test equipment
Support verification and validation (V&V) efforts across prototype, qualification, and flight hardware
Analyze telemetry, images, and environmental test data to evaluate system performance and stability
Establish data management and analysis workflows for test results, ensuring reproducibility, traceability, and configuration control
Document test procedures, configurations, and results in accordance with engineering and quality processes
Support anomaly investigation and corrective action implementation during integration and environmental campaigns
Serve as a technical mentor for early-career engineers and test operators, promoting disciplined processes and sound engineering judgement
We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply
Experience with system-level integration and testing of complex hardware or embedded systems
Experience leading multidisciplinary integration efforts involving optical, electrical, and software subsystems
Understanding of electro-optical system design and test processes
Familiarity with optics and optical test equipment, including Collimators, Integrating Spheres, Blackbodies, Lasers, and stages
Proficiency in Python for test automation, data handling, hardware control, and analysis
Ability to read and understand C code, particularly for diagnostics and interface verification
Familiarity with Linux environments, command-line tools, and version control (Git)
Strong technical writing, documentation, and communication skills
Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance is required
Familiarity with space-borne or high-reliability payloads, especially EO/IR imaging or sensing systems

Nice-to-haves

Preferred Qualifications: • Experience developing automated test frameworks for electrical and embedded systems

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Keywords to mirror

python

Platform: brassring
Effort: medium

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