Senior Simulation, Test and Validation Engineer

Poseidonaero
Alameda, US
On-site

Who this role is best for

Strong fit for engineers with system-level test experience who can architect hardware-in-the-loop and simulation frameworks, and who have led teams in aerospace or comparable domains.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with system-level test ownership experience and a background in aerospace or comparable vehicle domains
    — “Own the system test roadmap and the strategy for what is tested at component level”
  • Candidates with strong software and electrical engineering skills for embedded and safety-critical systems
    — “Strong software skills in Python and C or C++”

Things to consider

  • The candidate must be prepared to influence engineering decisions through test campaigns
    — “Planned and ran environmental, durability, or reliability test campaigns that changed engineering decisions”

How to stand out

  • Highlight your experience in defining test strategies for complex systems
    — “Own the system test roadmap and the strategy for what is tested”
  • Emphasize your hands-on experience in building hardware-in-the-loop systems
    — “Architected and brought up a hardware-in-the-loop or system test capability from scratch”
  • Showcase your ability to correlate ground tests with flight data and environments
    — “Develop new ways to reproduce flight loads and environments on the ground”
  • Demonstrate your expertise in fault injection and root cause analysis
    — “Design fault injection and rapid fault-finding campaigns driven by the vehicle failure mode analysis”
  • Position yourself as an expert in simulation infrastructure and model integration
    — “Own the simulation infrastructure, including software-in-the-loop, real-time simulation”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • system test roadmap
  • hardware-in-the-loop benches
  • simulation infrastructure
  • validator framework
Typical background
electrical engineeringmechanical engineeringaerospace engineering

Skills & requirements

Required

Hardware-in-the-loopSimulationTest And ValidationFlight TestSystem Test

Preferred

Uncrewed Aircraft TestReal-time Simulation Platforms

Stack & domain

PythonC++Electrical TroubleshootingHardware-in-the-loopSoftware-in-the-loopReal-time SimulationGNCFlight SciencesFMEAWeibull AnalysisAccelerated Life TestingDo-160Mi-17AerospaceAutonomous Cargo AircraftEmbedded SystemsUncrewed AircraftFly-by-wire Aircraft

About the role

Original posting from Poseidonaero via Ashby

ABOUT POSEIDON AEROSPACE:

Poseidon Aerospace is reimagining how the world moves goods. We build and operate full-size autonomous cargo aircraft - capable of carrying two tons of payload over a thousand nautical miles. From remote communities to contested logistics operations, our platforms unlock a new cost curve for air freight, making it faster, cheaper, and accessible anywhere it's needed. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area with locations in Washington DC, Oregon, and Maine; we're building something consequential.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Test and Validation finds problems on the ground before they show up in flight. As a Senior Test and Validation Engineer you will own how Poseidon does that. You will define the hardware-in-the-loop and simulation architecture, the validator framework, and the system test roadmap, and decide what gets tested at the component level, on the bench, on the aircraft, and in flight. You will build much of it yourself and lead the engineers and technicians who run it.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Own the system test roadmap and the strategy for what is tested at component level, in hardware-in-the-loop, in ground test, and in flight test
  • Architect and bring up hardware-in-the-loop benches with flight computers, actuators, sensors, and power hardware in the loop
  • Own the simulation infrastructure, including software-in-the-loop, real-time simulation, and integration of models from GNC and flight sciences
  • Define the validator framework and the criteria a software or hardware release must meet before it goes on the aircraft
  • Design fault injection and rapid fault-finding campaigns driven by the vehicle failure mode analysis
  • Work with flight software to define the test-mode features needed in flight code
  • Turn mission profiles into qualification and life-test plans, including stress levels and test duration
  • Develop new ways to reproduce flight loads and environments on the ground, and correlate test conditions to flight data
  • Develop health monitoring and anomaly detection from vehicle telemetry for use in test and on the aircraft
  • Lead environmental and durability test campaigns, including outside test labs
  • Present test evidence at flight readiness reviews and support certification evidence
  • Lead root cause investigations on faults found in test
  • Lead and mentor test engineers and technicians

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • B.S. in electrical, mechanical, aerospace, or computer engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience
  • 5+ years testing complex electromechanical or embedded systems on aircraft, spacecraft, automotive, or comparable vehicles
  • Architected and brought up a hardware-in-the-loop or system test capability from scratch
  • Owned the test strategy for a hardware and software program through to fielded operation or flight
  • Planned and ran environmental, durability, or reliability test campaigns that changed engineering decisions
  • Strong software skills in Python and C or C++
  • Strong electrical troubleshooting skills across embedded computers, actuation, power, and communications
  • Led test engineers or technicians

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Test experience on uncrewed aircraft or fly-by-wire aircraft
  • Experience with real-time simulation platforms such as Speedgoat, dSPACE, or NI
  • Experience with reliability methods including FMEA, Weibull analysis, and accelerated life testing
  • Experience qualifying hardware to DO-160 or MIL-STD-810
  • Experience building an iron bird or full-vehicle integration rig
  • Experience developing real-time controls for safety-critical systems
  • Experience with test evidence for certification or military airworthiness

WHY THIS ROLE

Every flight software release and every avionics box will pass through what you build before it reaches the aircraft. The test capability here is still being defined, and you will define it. How well you do it sets how fast the program can fly safely.

WHAT YOU GET FROM US

  • Competitive salary and meaningful early-stage equity
  • Relocation support if applicable
  • Employee Health Benefit Plans
  • 6% Retirement matching
  • Flexible PTO
  • Free lunches, snacks, and a stocked fridge at our offices
  • AI tools and subscriptions

Source: Poseidonaero careers (Ashby)

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