Instrument System​/Test Engineer II, Steward Observatory

Job Details

• Posting Number: req
  25217
• Department:
  Steward Observatory
• Location:
  
  Tucson Campus, Tucson, AZ USA

The University of Arizona's Steward Observatory invites you to apply to the role of Instrument System/Test Engineer II. As an Instrument System/Test Engineer II, you will support the development, integration, and testing of advanced instrumentation for both ground‑based and space‑based telescope programs, including a high‑visibility, privately funded space mission led by Steward Observatory. This role works closely with mechanical, electrical, optical, and software engineers to deliver complex, high‑precision optomechanical and spaceflight‑qualified systems.

The successful candidate will have hands‑on experience building, assembling, and validating hardware, along with a working knowledge across electrical, optical, mechanical, and software domains. This broad technical base is essential for supporting the development and integration of delicate space‑grade instrumentation and contributing to subsystem‑level performance and reliability.

Key responsibilities include supporting integration and test (I&T) activities, contributing to subsystem design baselines, executing test procedures, and generating technical documentation required for configuration control and mission assurance. In this role, you will participate in design reviews, test readiness activities, and engineering working groups, ensuring that integration and testing requirements are clearly defined, implemented, and validated.

Strong communication and teamwork skills are required, as you will represent the engineering team in internal and occasional external technical exchanges. This position also provides an opportunity for you to contribute to cutting‑edge astronomical instrumentation and space‑mission development while gaining experience in multidisciplinary system engineering practices.

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work‑life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocation services, please .

• Integration & Test (I&T) Execution – Support mechanical, optical, electrical, and software integration activities; perform subsystem and system‑level tests; execute test procedures; perform functional checkouts and collect test data.
• Space‑Grade Hardware Assembly – Assist in building, assembling, and validating precision optomechanical and spaceflight‑qualified components under cleanroom, ESD, and contamination‑controlled conditions.
• Subsystem Baseline Development – Contribute to the development and maintenance of subsystem design baselines, including drawings, interface control documents (ICDs), assembly procedures, and test documentation.
• Test Procedure Development – Help create, refine, and maintain test procedures, travelers, and checklists to support integration, environmental testing, and verification activities.
• Requirements Verification & Validation Support – Assist with verification planning, test execution, inspection, data review, and documentation to confirm that subsystem and system requirements have been met.
• Troubleshooting & Issue Resolution – Identify integration issues, perform basic diagnostic testing, and collaborate with senior engineers to resolve mechanical, optical, electrical, and software interface problems.
• Data Collection & Reporting – Record test data, prepare data summaries, and contribute to test reports and review packages for internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Engineering Review Participation – Participate in design, test readiness, and peer reviews; provide input based on I&T observations and hardware handling experience.
• Mission Assurance & Configuration Control Compliance – Follow configuration management practices to ensure accurate documentation of builds, test configurations, and as‑built states; adhere to contamination control, ESD, and mission assurance protocols appropriate for space‑hardware development.
• Cross‑Disciplinary Coordination – Interface with mechanical, electrical, optical, and software teams to coordinate integration needs, identify risks, and help implement mitigation…