Test Engineer

About Matter Intelligence

Matter Intelligence is building the future of vision AI: pairing a world-first sensor that sees molecular chemistry, temperature, and 3D shape with a Large World Model — the most powerful intelligence engine for the physical world. Our team has delivered technologies to Mars for NASA/JPL, co-founded infrastructure for OpenAI, designed sensors for U.S. Defense, and invented core algorithms for spectral and 3D imaging.

About the Role

This role sits at the boundary of Engineering and Operations. You’ll keep sensor platforms flight-ready, execute data collection campaigns, support flight software V&V, and perform electrical integration across airborne and ground-based systems. You will work directly with sensor engineers, satellite systems designers, flight software developers, and leadership. You own problems end-to-end — pre-flight checkout through data delivery through post-flight reporting. This is a field-forward role for an engineer with strong fundamentals who can operate with autonomy and deliver results scientists and customers depend on.

Key Responsibilities

UAS Operations & Sensor Deployment

• Deploy Lidar, VNIR, SWIR hyperspectral sensors on drone platforms for field campaigns.

• Maintain and operate DJI and Harris and Autel UAS platforms including pre-flight inspections, firmware updates, and hardware repairs.

• Design mission and flight plans including waypoints, sensor triggering, altitude, and overlap parameters.

• Coordinate post-collection data uploads, quality checks, and ground-truth field measurements.

Calibration, Test & Integration

• Support radiometric, geometric, and spectral calibration of imaging payloads.

• Perform integration, checkout, and acceptance testing of sensor payloads on UAS and ground-based test bed platforms.

• Troubleshoot hardware, software, and interface anomalies. Contribute to test procedures, test reports, and review boards per NASA or equivalent standards.

Flight Software V&V

• Support flight software verification and validation: test scope definition, planning, execution, reporting, and formal documentation.

• Debug flight software anomalies across software, firmware, and hardware interfaces. Maintain defect tracking and contribute to root cause analysis.

Electrical Integration

• Support cable harnessing, connector mating, power distribution, signal verification, and interface testing between sensors, avionics, and compute elements.

• Perform bench and system-level troubleshooting using oscilloscopes, multimeters, and logic analyzers. Read and interpret schematics, wiring diagrams, and ICDs.

Qualifications

Required

• B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering (accredited, 3.0+ GPA).

• 2+ years operating multi-rotor UAS platforms in field environments.

• Experience with Lidar, hyperspectral, or multispectral imaging sensors.

• Ability to read electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and ICDs.

• Familiarity with software V&V processes: test planning, execution, defect tracking, reporting.

• Clear communicator. Willing to travel up to 30% and work at remote field sites.

Preferred

• Experience with hyperspectral drone systems.

• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.

• Experience with mission planning software and GPS/RTK systems.

• Working knowledge of GIS or spectral processing tools (ENVI, ERDAS, QGIS).

• Prior NASA JPL, USGS, DOE, or DoD test bed or field campaign experience.

• Familiarity with NASA 7120 standards, TVAC, vibration, or EMI/EMC testing.

• Experience with embedded systems, RTOS, or flight software debug tools.

• Hands-on soldering, crimping, wire routing, and continuity testing.

• Active or obtainable U.S. security clearance.

What Success Looks Like

• Within 60 days, you’ve supported a full campaign from flight planning through data delivery and QA.

• Your calibration and test records are clean, traceable, and audit-ready.

• You’ve completed at least one flight software V&V cycle with documented results.

• The team trusts you to prep, fly, and deliver quality data without supervision.

Location & ITAR

El Segundo, CA. Onsite required; field deployments as needed. Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or eligible for U.S. Department of State authorization.

Benefits

• Compensation: Competitive total package.

• Equity: Early-stage equity in Matter’s growth.

• Health: 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision.

• Growth: Exposure across hardware, software, science, and commercial teams.