Test Engineer - Space Solar at Starpath Robotics (Hawthorne, CA)
Starpath Robotics· Hawthorne, CA· $110k–$150k·
Role details
Equity Package · PTO · Health Insurance · Dental Insurance · Vision Insurance
Summary
Plan, build, and execute tests for space solar hardware, including electrical characterization and environmental testing. Build test stands, analyze data, and influence hardware design to ensure readiness for flight.
Job description
Test Engineer – Space Solar
Position Details Location: Los Angeles (Hawthorne), CA Employment Type: Full-time Department: Starlight Solar Travel: Occasional
About Starpath
Starpath develops and manufactures the technologies that will enable humans to live on the Moon and Mars. Today, we are building robotic systems that locally produce the essential commodities a lunar civilization will require at extreme scale: water, power, and oxygen. Our ultimate goal is to build and operate a self-sustaining city on Mars.
The Role
The Starlight team is focused on dramatically improving space solar power to support Starpath's core mission and the greater space economy. Starlight manufactures the lowest cost and highest performance space solar ever, which will power the majority of new satellites built on Earth and all of Starpath's equipment on the Moon and Mars.
As a Test Engineer on the Starlight team, you will plan, build, and execute the tests that prove our solar hardware is ready for flight. From electrical characterization of individual cells through panel-level environmental testing, you'll stand up the test stands, write the procedures, run the campaigns, and analyze the data that drives our hardware decisions.
Responsibilities
- Execute test programs for space solar hardware — from cell-level electrical characterization through panel and array environmental testing
- Build and operate test stands, fixtures, and data acquisition systems for electrical, thermal, mechanical, and environmental testing
- Run environmental tests — thermal vacuum (TVAC), thermal cycling, vibration, shock, and humidity — including test setup, execution, and post-test data review
- Perform electrical characterization of solar hardware — LIV/flash testing, electroluminescence imaging, dark IV, and degradation analysis
- Investigate test failures and anomalies; partner with design and manufacturing engineering to close issues
- Write and execute test procedures and contribute to qualification reports
- Influence hardware design from a testability perspective — flag instrumentation access, alignment features, and design choices that make hardware easier to qualify
- Push back on unnecessary complexity — simplify test setups, eliminate redundant verification, and cut overhead wherever it doesn't add value
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's or advanced degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, materials, physics, or a related engineering or science discipline
- 1+ years of hardware test engineering experience (internship and academic research applicable)
- Hands-on experience with test instrumentation and data acquisition
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in an engineering or science discipline
- Direct experience testing photovoltaic hardware — solar cells, strings, panels, or arrays — ideally multi-junction (III-V) or perovskite cells for space or other high-reliability applications
- Hands-on experience operating solar simulators (e.g., Spectrolab, AAA-class) and interpreting LIV/flash test data
- Familiarity with electroluminescence imaging, dark IV analysis, and other diagnostic techniques for solar hardware
- Experience supporting environmental test campaigns — TVAC, thermal cycling, vibration, shock
- Familiarity with aerospace test standards (e.g., GEVS, MIL-STD-1540, AIAA S-111/S-112 for solar cells)
- Proficiency with LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB, or equivalent for data acquisition and analysis
- Experience with test fixture and stand design, including thermal and electrical interfaces to hardware under test
- Exposure to aerospace, space, or other high-reliability hardware environments
Compensation & Benefits
- Location: Los Angeles (Hawthorne), CA
- Competitive salary plus equity package; compensation scales with candidate experience
- PTO & health/dental/vision coverage included
EAR REQUIREMENTS
- To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Equal Opportunity
Starpath is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Why work at Starpath Robotics
- Culture: Startup environment with a bold mission (“build a city on Mars”). High ownership and fast iteration – interns are expected to do “whatever needs doing.”
- Growth: Company growing rapidly (+73.7% YoY headcount); opportunities for early employees to take on significant responsibility.
- Technical depth: Team includes alumni from SpaceX, Boston Dynamics, Anduril, Astrobotic – strong engineering culture.
- Work location: Hawthorne, CA (HQ) with additional office in Burlingame, CA. Onsite presence expected (manufacturing and testing require hands-on work).
- Notable perks: Not explicitly listed, but startup equity and the chance to work on hardware that goes to the Moon and Mars.
- Recent hiring signals: Actively recruiting Technical Recruiter, software engineers, and rover engineers – indicating scaling phase.