General Atomics ยท 2 days ago
Payload Integration & Test Engineer
Acton, MA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
$106K/yr - $190K/yr
7+ years expGeneral Atomics is a leading resource for high-technology systems development, particularly in the field of advanced electro-optical and infrared space payloads. The Senior Optical Payload Integration & Test Engineer will focus on system integration, test automation, and validation of complex EO/IR payload subsystems, collaborating with various engineering teams to ensure performance and reliability requirements are met.
EnergyEnergy EfficiencyManufacturingWireless
No H1B
Security Clearance RequiredU.S. Citizen Only
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
Qualification
Required
Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; nine or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, seven or more years of experience with a masters degree, or four or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education
8+ years of experience with system-level integration and testing of complex hardware or embedded systems
Experience leading multidisciplinary integration efforts involving optical, electrical, and software subsystems
Deep 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
U.S. Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S Security Clearance
Preferred
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
Company
General Atomics
General Atomics is a defense and technology company specializing in research and technology development.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$6.76MKey Investors
US Department of Energy
2023-08-14Grant
2023-05-09Grant
2022-09-19Grant
Leadership Team
Wayne Solomon
Vice President, Magnetic Fusion Energy
Recent News
Gulf Times
2025-12-22
thepeninsulaqatar.com
2025-12-21
2025-11-11
Company data provided by crunchbase