CesiumAstro
Senior Software Engineer – Test Automation & Infrastructure
TLDR
Develop and scale automated test systems to support the validation of complex RF and satellite communications payloads, enhancing product quality and accelerating development cycles.
Please Note: To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.
We are looking to add a Senior RF Test Engineer I to our team. If you are great at what you do, enjoy working in a startup environment, and are passionate about developing critical test systems for leading-edge satellite, spacecraft, and aerospace communication systems, we would like to hear from you.
In this position, you are responsible for the design, analysis, and implementation of engineering test plans and procedures. The ideal candidate possesses a strong combination of hardware and software knowledge with proficiencies in RF measurements, test equipment (VSAs, VSGs, VNAs, etc.), test architectures, and automation. The successful candidate will work closely with multi-disciplinary teams to address company-wide hardware test needs. Experience with phased array testing is preferred.
Core day-to-day responsibilities include collaborating with design and test engineering teams to develop test requirements, mapping requirements to reusable test architectures and procedures, implementing test plans and procedures, and logging and presenting results to key stakeholders. Additional responsibilities include lab and equipment management and guiding key equipment purchase decisions.
Senior-level test engineers are distinguished by an ability to architect RF test systems, to draw insightful conclusions from test results, and to participate in “design for test” planning and review from the early stages of RF product development. Test engineers are core members of the Cesium technical team.
The successful candidate will present engineering design review materials to our customers and executive team, as well as participate in proposal-writing efforts. As such, excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.
KEY RESPONSIBILIES
Develop automated test software to control laboratory instrumentation such as signal generators, spectrum analyzers, power supplies, and network equipment.
Implement and maintain test sequences for both system-level and component-level validation.
Support integration and execution of tests across hardware and software environments.
Debug and troubleshoot test failures across software, hardware, and interface layers.
Ensure test systems produce accurate, repeatable, and reliable results.
Design and implement software for device under test (DUT) control, including command handling, telemetry ingestion, and state management.
Build reusable automation frameworks and scripts to streamline test development.
Apply best practices in software engineering, including modular design, version control, and code reviews.
Reduce manual intervention through efficient and scalable automation solutions.
Develop tools and utilities to enhance test engineering productivity.
Design and maintain scalable test automation infrastructure supporting multiple configurations and environments.
Enhance existing frameworks for improved reliability, maintainability, and scalability.
Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines where applicable.
Standardize tooling and infrastructure across teams to ensure consistency.
Contribute to shared libraries and reusable automation components.
Act as a technical bridge between software and test engineering teams.
Collaborate with systems, hardware, and software teams to ensure system testability.
Support integration of new components into existing test environments.
Translate system requirements into effective automation strategies.
Participate in design and integration reviews to ensure validation readiness.
Identify and implement improvements to test automation architecture and codebase.
Contribute to the evolution of next-generation test frameworks and infrastructure.
Drive simplification and standardization to reduce development cycle time.
Advocate for scalable, maintainable, and reusable design principles.
Continuously improve test processes, tools, and methodologies.
JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
5–8 years of experience in software engineering, test automation, or related roles.
Experience developing software that interfaces with hardware systems or laboratory instrumentation.
Strong experience in test automation framework and infrastructure development.
Proficiency in Python, C/C++, or similar.
Familiarity with Git, CI/CD tools, automated test frameworks.
Hardware/software integration and system-level testing expertise.
Instrumentation control and data acquisition knowledge.
Solid understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC) and best practices.
Proven debugging and root cause analysis skills across integrated systems.
Ability to design scalable systems and think architecturally.
Strong analytical skills with attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Effective communication skills across technical and non-technical audiences.
Comfortable working in a laboratory environment with electronic test equipment.
CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills. Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.
CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.
CesiumAstro develops innovative communication systems that deliver scalable solutions for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other airborne and space platforms. By pushing the boundaries of connectivity, we cater to government and commercial clients focused on enhancing their operational capabilities in air and space.
- Founded
- Founded 2017
- Employees
- 51-200 employees
- Industry
- Diversified Telecommunication Services
- Total raised
- $88M raised
Senior Software Engineer