Senior Simulation, Test and Validation Engineer

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 testArchitect and bring up hardware-in-the-loop benches with flight computers, actuators, sensors, and power hardware in the loopOwn the simulation infrastructure, including software-in-the-loop, real-time simulation, and integration of models from GNC and flight sciencesDefine the validator framework and the criteria a software or hardware release must meet before it goes on the aircraftDesign fault injection and rapid fault-finding campaigns driven by the vehicle failure mode analysisWork with flight software to define the test-mode features needed in flight codeTurn mission profiles into qualification and life-test plans, including stress levels and test durationDevelop new ways to reproduce flight loads and environments on the ground, and correlate test conditions to flight dataDevelop health monitoring and anomaly detection from vehicle telemetry for use in test and on the aircraftLead environmental and durability test campaigns, including outside test labsPresent test evidence at flight readiness reviews and support certification evidenceLead root cause investigations on faults found in testLead and mentor test engineers and technicians Required Qualifications B.S. in electrical, mechanical, aerospace, or computer engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience5+ years testing complex electromechanical or embedded systems on aircraft, spacecraft, automotive, or comparable vehiclesArchitected and brought up a hardware-in-the-loop or system test capability from scratchOwned the test strategy for a hardware and software program through to fielded operation or flightPlanned and ran environmental, durability, or reliability test campaigns that changed engineering decisionsStrong software skills in Python and C or C++Strong electrical troubleshooting skills across embedded computers, actuation, power, and communicationsLed test engineers or technicians Preferred Qualifications Test experience on uncrewed aircraft or fly-by-wire aircraftExperience with real-time simulation platforms such as Speedgoat, dSPACE, or NIExperience with reliability methods including FMEA, Weibull analysis, and accelerated life testingExperience qualifying hardware to DO-160 or MIL-STD-810Experience building an iron bird or full-vehicle integration rigExperience developing real-time controls for safety-critical systemsExperience 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 equityRelocation support if applicableEmployee Health Benefit Plans6% Retirement matchingFlexible PTOFree lunches, snacks, and a stocked fridge at our officesAI tools and subscriptions