Satellite Systems Test Engineer

Satellite Systems Test Engineer

Stevenage – 12 month duration – Pay rate £37.80 p/h PAYE basic (£43.30 including holiday pay) or £50 p/h Umbrella

We are looking to recruit a Systems Test Engineer to work for our client on complex satellite and space projects. Your primary duties will be the preparation of test procedures and test sequences for Satellite systems and instrument testing during ambient and environmental test campaigns. Preparing, debugging and executing complex test sequences on flight spacecraft. Writing test reports and supporting test and non-conformance reviews.

Responsibilities:

• Designing and performing electrical and functional tests on a variety of subsystems (power, comms, data handling, AOCS, system control and FDIR) on test benches and spacecraft.
• Interpretation of electrical, functional and system test requirements from test specifications
• Provide test solutions to meet the test specification requirements, from planning and kick-off meeting, through test sequence coding, procedure preparation and debug to execution.
• Close out tests with Post Test Review and Test Report
• To provide technical inputs to project test reviews (Test Readiness Reviews, Post Test Reviews, Test Review Boards and Non-Conformance Review Boards)
• Development and debug of Automatic Test procedures (ATP)
• Preparing and executing spacecraft system investigations in line with actions from Non-Conformance Review Boards (NRBs).
• Support Spacecraft systems functional and performance tests during environmental test (Reference test, TVAC, Magnetic, EMC, functional and performance tests).
• Work to company and departmental procedures including quality and security.
• Use Digital Design and Manufacturing Systems (DDMS) to prepare and execute work instructions to support the testing.

Requirements:

• Proven ability of writing test sequences/scripts, these will be used for execution of spacecraft tests from the Central Checkout System (CCS).
• Test sequence writing and debugging in a bespoke language (C and Java knowledge would be an advantage).
• Competent in the use of various test equipment used for electrical measurements, e.g. DMM, oscilloscope, current probes, Data acquisition unit, data bus monitors (1553 MilBus probes/analysers) would be an advantage.
• Knowledge of the operation of a variety of spacecraft subsystems and overall system (power, comms, data handling, AOCS, system control and FDIR).
• Knowledge of spacecraft systems and subsystem testing is essential, e.g. Data Handling, Packet Utilisation Standard, Data Bus Communications – 1553, SpaceWire, CAN bus, Power systems, FDIR.
• Working knowledge of Satellite TMTC Databases.
• Familiar with the Windows and Linux operating systems.
• Awareness of ‘cleanroom' disciplines.
• Willing to support shifts and travel on test campaigns essential.

Desirable

• Programming and scripting languages, particularly writing, and debugging Linux/Unix bash scripts is an advantage.
• Knowledge of a programming language such as C, Java, python, TCL, VBA would be useful but not essential.
• Spacecraft electrical and harness knowledge would be an advantage but not essential.

Additional information:

This role shall work inside IR35. Due to the security requirements for this role all candidates must be capable of gaining a full UK MOD SC clearance. Our client will sponsor the application if you are not currently SC cleared and you will be able to start with the SC pending.