Principal Communications System Test Engineer - Verification and Validation
Summary
Leads integration, test, verification, and validation of satellite communication systems (phased-array payloads and end-to-end RF/digital links) at CesiumAstro, owning test strategy from development through qualification while staying hands-on in lab bring-up, RF characterization, troubleshooting, and automated test development. Core tech: RF/digital test equipment, Python & C++ scripting, FPGA-ba
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in space communications, systems engineering, and hands-on RF and digital communication system testing. In this position, you will serve as the technical lead for system integration, test, verification, and validation, with responsibility for demonstrating that our communication systems meet performance requirements and support their intended mission operations.
You will own the test strategy from early development through qualification and acceptance, while remaining actively involved in laboratory bring-up, test execution, troubleshooting, and performance characterization. You will coordinate activities across multidisciplinary engineering teams, identify and resolve technical issues, and communicate test results, risks, and system readiness to program leadership and internal stakeholders.
The successful candidate will communicate effectively with team members and internal stakeholders, both verbally and through written content.
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
-
Lead communication system integration and test. Define and execute test strategies across components, subsystems, phased-array payloads, and end-to-end communication links, including interfaces with ground systems.
-
Develop verification and validation plans. Translate system requirements and mission concepts of operations (CONOPS) into testable acceptance criteria, test cases, and operational scenarios. Maintain traceability between requirements, test procedures, results, and verification closure.
-
Own hands-on system bring-up and troubleshooting. Integrate RF hardware, antennas, digital processing, FPGA firmware, software, modems, and data interfaces. Diagnose and resolve issues that affect system functionality, interoperability, and performance.
-
Develop automated test capabilities. Create and maintain test scripts, software, procedures, and data-analysis tools to support repeatable characterization, regression testing, qualification, and acceptance testing.
-
Characterize RF and communication-link performance. Measure and analyze transmit power, receiver sensitivity, gain, noise figure, linearity, modulation quality, spectral performance, and bit/packet error rates. Compare measured results with link budgets, gain lineups, cascade analyses, and system models.
-
Verify phased-array performance. Develop and execute conducted and over-the-air tests to evaluate beam steering, beam-pointing accuracy, radiation patterns, sidelobes, polarization, and performance across frequency, scan angle, and operating conditions.
-
Validate modem and data-layer operation. Test configurations, interoperability, synchronization, throughput, latency, and error recovery under nominal, degraded, and boundary conditions.
-
Develop representative test environments. Define and configure laboratory test benches, hardware-in-the-loop setups, and channel-emulation capabilities to evaluate system behavior under mission-representative conditions, including attenuation, propagation delay, Doppler, and interference.
-
Lead failure analysis and corrective-action verification. Investigate anomalies, isolate root causes across hardware and software interfaces, document findings, and verify corrective actions through targeted testing and regression coverage.
-
Support environmental qualification and acceptance. Coordinate communication-system testing with environmental and electromagnetic compatibility teams, and assess functionality and performance before, during, and after testing, as applicable.
-
Lead test readiness and results reviews. Establish entry and exit criteria, assess test coverage and data quality, document limitations and residual risks, and produce technical reports that support system acceptance and readiness decisions.
-
Drive testability and program execution. Work with design teams, component developers, and vendors to improve observability, diagnostic capabilities, and interface test coverage. Define test scope, equipment, facilities, resources, schedules, and risks for proposals and program planning.
JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.
- 11+ years of experience in space communications, including substantial hands-on experience in communication system integration, testing, verification, and validation
- Very strong background in communication theory, with the ability to connect measured system behavior to modulation, coding, synchronization, channel effects, and link performance.
- Deep understanding of RF concept, impairments, and their effects on communication performance, with demonstrated experience characterizing and troubleshooting RF signal chains.
- Hands-on experience with RF and digital test equipment, such as spectrum and vector signal analyzers, signal generators, network analyzers, power meters, oscilloscopes, and communication test sets. Understanding of calibration, measurement uncertainty, and test repeatability .
- Experience developing test plans, procedures, acceptance criteria, verification matrices, and technical reports, including requirements management, flow-down, and traceability.
- Experience with at least one scripting and one programming language (ideally Python & C++) for test automation, equipment control, data collection, and analysis.
- Practical experience integrating, testing, and debugging FPGA-based systems and modern vector processing engines.
- Experience with satellite communication standards, including NR NTN, DVB-S2X, and CCSDS, and the ability to translate applicable requirements into test cases and verification evidence.
- Experience working with classified communication systems and red/black architectures, as well as experience with optical communication systems
- Ability to hold a security clearance.
- Excellent written and verbal technical communication skills.
- Ability to define work direction, track milestones, and demonstrate progress on large open-ended projects.
- Sense of urgency, with the ability to work well under pressure.
- The ability to work well in teams, with peers and management.
Skills
As published by lever · 9 questions
Basics
Resume/CV, Full name, Email, Phone, Current location, Current company, LinkedIn URL
Short answers (2)
- If yes, please specify the individual(s) and the department or location in which they work: optional
- Full Legal Name
Pick from a list (7)
- As a result of the work performed by CesiumAstro, all eligible candidates must be a U.S. Person or able to obtain an export license. U.S. Persons include U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, conditional residents, asylees, and refugees. Are you a U.S. Person or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State?
- Do you now or will you in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status? Please select "Yes" if you will require the Company to commence ("sponsor") an immigration or work permit case in order to employ you, either now or at some point in the future. Otherwise select "No".
- Do you have a family member that is currently employed with CesiumAstro?
- Please indicate the highest level of education you have completed.
- Please select which of the following security clearances and/or access you currently hold. optional
- By submitting your application you hereby certify that the facts set forth in the above employment application are true and complete to the best of your knowledge. I certify that the information on this application is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and agree to have any of the information verified by CesiumAstro (the “Company”). By my signature below, I authorize any references submitted by me to the Company in support of this application to provide any and all information concerning my previous employment and any other pertinent information that they may have. I understand that I may be required to authorize the Company to obtain a consumer report or investigative consumer report, in accordance with applicable law, which authorization is contained in a separate document. Further, I release the Company and any other parties, agents, or persons from any and all liability or claims arising out of the disclosure or use of references or other information provided to the Company during the process of verifying the statements made in this application. I understand that any misrepresentation, falsification, or material omission of information on this application may result in my failure to receive an offer or, if I am hired, will result in my dismissal from employment. Furthermore, if hired, in consideration of my employment I agree to conform to the policies, rules and standards of the Company, including applicable safety rules, and agree that my employment can be terminated “at will” at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice, either at my option or at the option of the Company. I understand that no employee or representative of the Company to which I am applying, has the authority to enter into any agreement for employment for any specified period of time, or to enter into any express or implied agreement to the contrary of at-will employment, except for a written agreement signed by me and the Chief Executive Office of the Company. I agree that this shall constitute a final and fully binding integrated agreement regarding the at-will nature of my employment relationship if I am hired. In addition, I understand that, if hired, I may be required as a condition of employment to take and pass drug and alcohol tests during employment to the extent required by policies of the Company consistent with applicable law. I acknowledge that I have personally completed this application, I have read all of the above statements, and understand them and agree to the terms and conditions therein. I confirm that I understand that my application may be subject to security checks under government regulations applicable in the aerospace and defense industry sectors. optional
- I have applied for employment with CesiumAstro, Inc. (the “Company”). In consideration of the Company's accepting and evaluating my application for employment, I hereby agree that I will comply with and be legally bound by the following terms and condition of this Agreement: 1. MAINTAINING THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF COMPANY PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. I understand that CesiumAstro, Inc. is an innovative company engaged in research and development, and that the Company's innovations and other Proprietary Information (as defined below) provide the Company with a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Accordingly, I agree to hold in strictest confidence, and not to disclose or make any use of at any time, any of the Company’s Proprietary Information which I may acquire or learn during my interview(s) or the application process for employment. The term “Proprietary Information” shall mean any and all trade secrets, confidential knowledge, data or any other proprietary information pertaining to any business of the Company or any of its customers, vendors, consultants, licensees or affiliates. 2. MAINTAINING CONFIDENTIALITY OF PROPRIETARY INFORMATION OF FORMER EMPLOYERS OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRED BY ME PRIOR TO MY EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY. I represent and agree that I will not breach any agreement to keep in confidence any third-party proprietary information, knowledge or data acquired by me in confidence or in trust prior to my application for employment with the Company. I will not improperly use, disclose or bring to the Company, or induce the Company to use, any confidential or proprietary information, documents or materials belonging to any previous employer or third parties. 3. NEW EMPLOYEE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND INVENTION AGREEMENT. I understand that if I am offered employment by the Company, and as a condition of my new employment, I will be required to enter into an attached New Employee Proprietary Information and Invention Agreement. Prior to any future employment with the Company, I acknowledge the opportunity to consult with legal counsel or other necessary advisors regarding the Agreement. optional
