Payload Integration & Test Engineer

Job Summary

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, are leading resources for high‑technology systems development. GA‑EMS designs and manufactures first‑of‑a‑kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems, supporting critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial and commercial customers worldwide.

At GA‑EMS – Optical Sensor Systems, we design, build, and test advanced electro‑optical and infrared (EO/IR) space payloads that power next‑generation remote‑sensing systems. This role focuses on electro‑optical system integration, test automation, and verification & validation of complex EO/IR payload subsystems.

The Senior Optical Payload Integration & Test (I&T) engineer will work closely with systems, software, and electrical engineers to plan and execute integration activities, automate test workflows, and ensure performance and reliability requirements are met. Candidates should be comfortable in laboratory and cleanroom environments with test hardware, software interfaces, and data analysis tools. The position is full‑time and located in Acton, MA.

• 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.

• Bachelor's degree, master's degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution, with progressive engineering experience: nine or more years with a bachelor's, seven or more years with a master's, or four or more years with a PhD. Equivalent engineering experience may substitute for 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, black bodies, 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 ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance.

• 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.

Job Type: Full‑Time Salary

Salary Range: $105,890 – $189,545