Development Test Engineer

About Northwood:

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

Role:

Northwood is looking for an engineer to build the development systems that ensure our hardware performs reliably from early prototypes through operations. You’ll own development test including hardware-in-the-loop testbeds, development RF testbeds or ranges/chambers, and customer integration milestones for modem test. This is a highly hands-on role that sits at the intersection of electronics, software, and systems integration — ideal for someone who enjoys turning ambiguous problems into robust, repeatable test capabilities that help develop world-class systems.

Responsibilities:

• Lead integrated test development from concept through operations, including test strategy, requirements, and execution plans

• Own the path to certification for EMI/EMC and other applicable standards (e.g., MIL-STD-461, FCC/CE), including pre-compliance testing, design-for-compliance input to the hardware team, test lab coordination, and certification documentation

• Design hardware, wiring, and electrical systems to support electrical and RF testing for development and production (fixtures, harnesses, interfaces, rack integration)

• Create device and subsystem simulators for hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) and integrate testbeds into our CI/CD pipeline

• Own test maintainability and reliability across the lifecycle, defining calibration, upkeep, debugging, and continuous improvement of test assets

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, or related field

• Hands-on experience in Linux-based environment, and familiarity with basic computer networking

• Hands-on experience with electrical test equipment such as power supplies, DC loads, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and spectrum analyzers

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience root-causing issues in integrated electronics (mixed-signal, digital, RF-adjacent systems)

• Hands-on EMC test and troubleshooting experience, such as near-field probes, radiated emissions testing

• Familiarity with MIL-STD-461 EMI/EMC requirements and MIL-STD-810 environmental test methods, including vibration, shock, and thermal testing