Real job — pulled straight from E-Space’s careers page · Verified July 19, 2026 · No reposts.
Job description
E-Space is hiring a Deployable Structures Test Engineer — a full-time, based in Saratoga, CA role. Apply directly on E-Space's careers page below.
Deployable Structures Test Engineer
Team: Engineering & Operations
Location: Saratoga, CA, Arlington, TX
Commitment: Full-Time
Workplace Type: onsite
Salary:
We are looking for a Deployable Structures Test Engineer to own the ground deployment test program for E-Space's large deployable antenna structure. This person will design and execute gravity-offload deployment test campaigns, characterize deployment kinematics and force profiles, establish ground-to-flight correlation, and verify deployment repeatability against aperture geometry requirements. This is a specialized role at the intersection of mechanisms, structural testing, and test facility engineering - for someone who has thought carefully about what it actually means to simulate zero-gravity deployment on the ground.
On-site in California or Texas. Hands-on test facility presence is required. Some travel between sites expected.
What you will do:
- Own the deployment test plan for the antenna assembly - from test requirements definition through gravity-offload rig design, test execution, and post-test correlation.
- Design or oversee design of gravity-offload and support fixtures appropriate for large flexible deployable structures, including friction budget analysis and rig compliance characterization.
- Execute deployment tests, capturing deployment force/torque profiles, deployable element tip trajectories, deployment timelines, and deployment-state shape measurements (photogrammetry or equivalent).
- Establish ground-to-flight correlation methodology: characterize offload rig artifacts, derive correction factors, and bound residual uncertainty in flight deployment prediction.
- Verify deployment repeatability run-to-run and characterize sensitivity to deployment sequencing, temperature, and lubricant state.
- Coordinate with the deployment mechanism team to characterize actuator force output and locked-state stiffness/backlash for use as structural dynamics boundary conditions.
- Coordinate with structural subsystem teams to characterize subsystem performance and define an integrated testing campaign.
- Feed deployment test data into the integrated structural model; participate in model-test correlation reviews with the IAS structures analyst.
Required qualifications:
- BS or MS or Ph.D. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent.
- Experience with deployment or mechanism testing of flight hardware - solar arrays, antennas, booms, or equivalent deployable structures.
- Hands-on experience with gravity-offload test setups for large flexible hardware.
- Experience with force/torque measurement, deployment kinematics instrumentation, and photogrammetry or optical shape measurement.
- Practical understanding of test-to-flight fidelity gaps for deployable structures in 1g.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience with composite boom deployment mechanisms or wrap-rib/coilable boom hardware.
- Familiarity with friction and lubrication behavior in space mechanisms across temperature ranges.
- Experience contributing to model-test correlation for deployment dynamics simulations.
- Knowledge of TVAC deployment testing and the additional instrumentation challenges it introduces.
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Frequently asked questions
What skills are required for Deployable Structures Test Engineer at E-Space?
The required skills for Deployable Structures Test Engineer at E-Space include: Mechanical Engineering.
What is the seniority level for Deployable Structures Test Engineer at E-Space?
Deployable Structures Test Engineer at E-Space is a Mid Level level position.
How do I apply for Deployable Structures Test Engineer at E-Space?
You can view the full description and apply for Deployable Structures Test Engineer at E-Space on EchoJobs: https://echojobs.io/job/e-space-deployable-structures-test-engineer-qn256.