Senior Launch & Test Engineer

ABL Space Systems was founded in 2017 by veterans of SpaceX and Morgan Stanley to develop low-cost launch vehicles for the small satellite industry. More importantly, we’re building a launch system we are truly proud of – no gimmicks or over-design, just reliable, rapidly deployable launches. We’re an ambitious team with big goals and, together, we’re determined to prove that reaching space can be simple, efficient, and routine.

When launch day arrives, we want you by our side

Launch & Test Engineers are the end-users of ABL hardware and the final guardians of the rocket before flight.

From vehicle mates and checkout to ground systems to payload processing and integration, Launch & Test Engineers are responsible for the getting the vehicle to the pad and hardware onto the test stand. On launch day, they also command the vehicle during active operations, and on test days they will serve the same purpose on ABL's test stands. Launch & Test Engineers know the vehicle and ground-systems schematics by heart and can visualize operations ten steps ahead. When there's a problem, they know how to safe the hardware and begin troubleshooting.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Write and drive procedures to integrate hardware and validate software, avionics, and fluid systems on the launch vehicle. Examples of assemblies include: integrated stages, engines, navigation avionics, radio frequency (RF) transmitters and receivers, and valves
• After training and evaluation, serve as a Vehicle Controller (VC) to command the vehicle during powered and pressurized checkout operations
• Work alongside technicians to implement and execute operations hardware and infrastructure
• Specify and design fluid system Ground Support Equipment (GSE)
• Review test data against established criteria to make go/no-go call on vehicle integrity
• Perform final vehicle closeouts and verify hardware is go for flight
• Process customer satellites and encapsulate them into ABL's payload fairing

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• B.S. in an engineering discipline from an accredited university
• ‍6+ years of industry experience in a production, integration & test, or launch operations
• Experience with P&ID design and fluid instrumentation and control

PREFERRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

• Experience within an aerospace, aviation, or automotive manufacturing environment
• High degree of computer literacy and demonstrated ability to integrate technology to reduce costs and/or drive automation projections 
• Familiarity with Microsoft applications (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, and Project) 
• Experience with strategic planning, project scoping, budgeting, and scheduling for both a day-to-day tasks as well as overall strategic quarterly plans 
• Ability to work in a fast-paced/cross-functional environment while maintaining on-time project completion and driving process improvement 
• Demonstrate innovative and futuristic thinking to drive continuous improvement 

WHAT WE LOOK FOR:

• 1. Critical thinking: ABL engineers understand the "why" behind all design decisions, operational events and test outcomes.
• 2. Ability to deal with ambiguity: there is no roadmap and ABL engineers must be comfortable defining their own pathway to an objective. 
• 3. End-to-end ownership: projects are delivered fully complete and ready for flight; there is no one to pick up the slack of partially complete work. 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• This role must be willing to travel to launch and test sites to support integration and test work, especially on first-article products.
• Travel in excess of 50% to ABL's sites in Mojave, Edwards Air Force Base, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Shetland Space Centre, and beyond.

ITAR Requirement

This position requires access to information protected under US export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations. As such, US person status (including US citizens, U.S. permanent residents, individuals granted U.S. asylum status, or individuals admitted in U.S. refugee status) is a required qualification for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, genetics, or citizenship status (when otherwise legally authorized to work and access export-controlled data) and will not be discriminated against on the basis of such characteristics or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We encourage applicants of all ages.