Solar Array Test Engineer

Vast is looking for a Solar Array Test Engineer, reporting to the Principal Power Systems Engineer, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities:

• Develop, author, and maintain test plans, procedures, and reports for solar array hardware at the coupon, panel, wing, and system levels
• Own the qualification program for non-space-heritage (terrestrial/COTS) photovoltaic cell technologies for space use, including radiation (proton/electron) test campaigns, AM0 spectral characterization and calibration against AM1.5-rated cell data, UV and atomic oxygen exposure testing, and vacuum outgassing/materials compatibility screening — establishing flight-worthiness evidence where no space heritage exists
• Define cell-level qualification logic, test matrices, and success criteria distinct from panel/array-level qualification, including lot acceptance testing and statistical qualification to characterize lot-to-lot variability from non-space-qualified fabs
• Qualify solar cell suppliers' fabrication and process controls against space workmanship and process-control requirements, and own qualification of the coverglass/cell-interconnect-coverglass (CIC) build and adhesive stack used to convert bare cells into flight-ready assemblies
• Plan and execute environmental test campaigns including thermal vacuum (TVAC), thermal cycling, vibration (sine, random, shock), acoustic, static load, deployment, and life-cycle testing
• Plan and execute electrical performance testing of solar array hardware, including flash testing, electroluminescence (EL) imaging, isolation resistance, and IV curve characterization
• Plan and execute electrostatic discharge (ESD) and plasma arcing/charging test campaigns for high-voltage array strings (e.g., per ISO 11221 or equivalent), consistent with the bus's high-voltage power architecture
• Define test success criteria, instrumentation requirements, data acquisition configurations, and test-as-you-fly rationale for all solar array verification activities
• Coordinate and oversee testing at both internal facilities and external test labs (including radiation test facilities for proton/electron irradiation), serving as the responsible test engineer on the floor during execution
• Develop and manage test schedules, resource plans, and facility bookings to support aggressive program timelines
• Analyze test data, document results, identify anomalies, and lead troubleshooting and root cause investigations when test failures occur, including end-of-life (EOL) power prediction from radiation degradation data (e.g., displacement damage dose/NIEL, remaining factor curves)
• Ensure all test activities comply with applicable standards including AIAA S-111 (space solar cell qualification), AIAA S112, SMC-S-016, and program-specific verification requirements
• Collaborate with solar array design, materials, structures, thermal, power electronics, and mission assurance engineers to ensure test campaigns provide comprehensive design verification
• Support the development and buildout of internal test capabilities, fixturing, and ground support equipment (GSE) for solar array testing
• Present test readiness reviews, test results, and lessons learned at design reviews and to cross-functional stakeholders
• Author and maintain verification cross-reference matrices (VCRMs) and ensure traceability from requirements through test evidence

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, materials engineering, physics, or related engineering discipline
• 5+ years of experience in hardware testing for satellites, spacecraft, or high-reliability aerospace systems
• Hands-on experience planning and executing environmental testing (thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, or acoustic) on flight or qualification hardware
• Demonstrated experience authoring test plans, procedures, and test reports for complex electromechanical assemblies
• Working knowledge of photovoltaic device physics and space-environment degradation mechanisms (radiation, UV, thermal cycling) sufficient to define qualification logic for a cell technology without existing space heritage

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• 8+ years of experience in test engineering for satellite or spacecraft programs, with direct solar array or deployable structure test experience
• Experience executing test campaigns in compliance with SMC-S-016, AIAA S112, AIAA S-111, or equivalent military/NASA environmental test standards (e.g., GEVS, MIL-STD-1540)
• Experience with solar cell or photovoltaic module electrical characterization, including flash testing, IV curve analysis, and EL inspection
• Direct experience with solar cell radiation degradation testing (proton/electron irradiation) and EOL performance prediction across multiple cell technologies (e.g., III-V multijunction, silicon, thin film, or emerging technologies such as perovskite)
• Experience with AM0 solar simulator calibration, reference cell traceability, and spectral mismatch correction for cells characterized under terrestrial (AM1.5) conditions
• Experience qualifying a non-space-heritage or COTS component/material for spaceflight use, including supplier process audits and lot acceptance test program design
• Familiarity with data acquisition systems, instrumentation (thermocouples, strain gauges, accelerometers, LVDTs), and test automation
• Experience developing custom test fixturing and GSE, including interfacing with machinists and technicians on fabrication
• Working knowledge of solar array design, construction, and failure modes—including cell cracking, interconnect fatigue, delamination, and deployment anomalies
• Experience at a vertically integrated satellite company or fast-paced aerospace startup with high personal touch-time on hardware
• Proficiency with data analysis and visualization tools such as MATLAB, Python, or equivalent
• Familiarity with spacecraft specifications such as NASA-STD-5001, NASA-STD-5019, and NASA-STD-7001/7002
• Design or modeling experience with NX, Teamcenter, or similar CAD/PLM tools for fixture and GSE design
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple parallel test campaigns and maintain meticulous documentation
• Effective communicator who thrives in a hands-on, hardware-rich environment and is comfortable working across engineering disciplines and with technician teams