Satellite Systems Test Engineer

Stevenage (onsite role) – 12 month duration – Pay rate 41.58 p/h PAYE basic (47.62 including holiday pay) or 55 p/h Umbrella

We are looking to recruit a Systems Test Engineer to work for our client on complex satellite and space projects. Your main duties will be the preparation of test procedures, writing and debugging test sequences for Satellite system testing during ambient and environmental test campaigns. Preparing, debugging and executing complex test sequences on flight spacecraft and test benches. Providing first-line support to the test operations team and supporting non-conformance reviews in a technical capacity. Writing test reports and supporting test reviews.

Responsibilities:

• Interpretation of electrical and functional 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.
• Provide first-line support to the test operations team executing tests on the flight spacecraft in the event of anomalies.
• 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) using a bespoke high-level S/W language (Open Center checkout system based on the Elisa language and Open Center Bridge based on JAVA) to test the spacecraft systems.
• 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 (TVAC, Magnetic, EMC), functional and performance tests.
• Work to company and departmental procedures and maintain adherence to company standards.

Requirements:

• Proven ability of writing test sequences/scripts, these will be used for execution of spacecraft tests including FDIR from the Central Checkout System (CCS). Knowledge of Elisa/C/or JAVA would be an advantage.
• Working knowledge of TMTC Databases.
• Able to prepare test procedure and sequences from test specifications, writing test reports and supporting test and non- conformance reviews.
• Spacecraft systems technical knowledge is desirable, e.g. Data Handling, Packet Utilisation Standard, Data Bus Communications – 1553, Spacewire, Attitude & Orbital Control, Star Trackers, Gyros, Momentum Wheels, power systems, batteries, Solar Arrays, Thermal Control, heaters, thermostats, FDIR, Spacecraft Configuration Vectors etc.
• 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.
• 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 and SpaceWire probes/analysers) would be an advantage.
• Spacecraft electrical and harness knowledge would be an advantage but not essential.
• Knowledge of electrical integration of equipment on a test bench or spacecraft (desirable, not essential).
• Knowledge of Electrical/Spacecraft Systems fault investigation and test sequence debug.
• Knowledge of environmental and launch test campaigns.
• Familiar with the Windows and Linux operating systems.
• Awareness of ‘cleanroom’ disciplines.
• Knowledge of system testing & Verification.
• Willing to support shifts/flexible working as required.

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.