Senior Thermal Test Engineer
Xona Space Systems
Location
Burlingame, CA
Employment Type
Full time
Location Type
On-site
Department
Engineering
Compensation
- $120K – $170K • Offers Equity
The final job level and salary will be determined based on a range of factors including the candidate’s education, qualifications, knowledge, skills, abilities, and relevant experience. The listed salary range is provided to offer insight into potential compensation, but it’s not a guarantee of the final offer. While we include the full range to be transparent, offers most often fall within the middle portion rather than the top.
Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.
With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.
As we scale our hardware programs, we are seeking a Senior Thermal Test Engineer to support TVAC, test automation, and environmental qualification campaigns.
What You'll Do:
This is a hands-on test role supporting environmental testing. You will own and develop in-house Thermal Chamber (TC) and Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) test capability, help plan and execute thermal tests, and participate in all aspects of environmental testing, working closely with mechanical, thermal, electrical, and systems engineers. Ideal candidates have experience operating, troubleshooting, automating, and modifying thermal and TVAC chambers. Candidates must be organized, responsible, and comfortable working directly with hardware.
Key Responsibilities
Own the automation and implementation of thermal and TVAC testing at both unit-level and system-level.
Develop remote control capabilities for thermal and TVAC chambers, including adjustment of temperature, power, RF signal, and other test parameters.
Build and maintain alarm systems to ensure hardware safety during chamber operations.
Own and manage critical test hardware, including thermocouples, DAQs, heaters, harnesses, cables, chamber ports, port plates, and related equipment.
Ensure test data is properly logged, plotted, and easily accessible through tools such as Grafana dashboards.
Design chamber setups that support multiple simultaneous unit tests to maximize throughput.
Schedule shifts for yourself and other test engineers as needed.
Partner with TPMs and design engineers to maintain up-to-date test schedules and execution status.
Apply Continuous Improvement practices to increase yield, shorten test timelines, and reduce costs.
Develop test procedures and provide oversight and support to other test engineers.
Execute Thermal Cycling and TVAC testing at unit, subsystem, and spacecraft levels.
Collaborate with vendors and internal stakeholders to plan and run environmental test campaigns.
Lead or assist in anomaly response, debugging, and corrective actions.
Ensure all test execution is safe, efficient, and well-documented.
Required Qualifications
BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Test Engineering, or a related field.
Hands-on experience with hardware testing in a lab, environmental, aerospace, or similar setting.
Strong attention to detail, organization, and documentation skills.
Must be a U.S. Person (export control requirement).
Desired Qualifications
Experience with TVAC and thermal chamber testing.
Familiarity with environmental test standards such as GEVS, MIL-STD-1540, ECSS, or SMC-S-016.
Experience working with DAQs, sensors, instrumentation, and chamber control systems.
Background in scripting or programming for test automation or hardware control (Python, Node-RED, LabVIEW, PyVISA, SCPI, etc.).
Experience with data reduction, analysis, and reporting using Python or MATLAB.
Prior experience testing spacecraft, aerospace systems, or other high-reliability hardware.
For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).
For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).
For Canada Roles: Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.
We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
Compensation Range: $120K - $170K
