Test Software Engineer, Xona Space Systems
$110-190k
Office located in Burlingame, CA
Satellite navigation system
Open for applications
Satellite navigation system
21-100 employees
Open for applications
$110-190k
Office located in Burlingame, CA
21-100 employees
Company mission
To remove the boundaries from modern technologies by providing precise and protected navigation services anywhere on Earth.
Role
Who you are
- You’re obsessed with software quality and reliability
- You have a knack for finding bugs and anticipating potential issues before they become problems
- You love building clever automation to make testing more efficient and effective
- You’re enthusiastic about getting hands-on with hardware, building and maintaining test setups, and debugging issues where software meets the physical world
- You’re excited by the idea of contributing to groundbreaking space missions and working with cutting-edge technology
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field, OR 2+ years of experience in software testing or quality assurance with a strong focus on test automation
- Proficiency in at least one scripting language (e.g., Python, JavaScript) and one compiled language (e.g., C++, Go, Rust)
- Experience with test automation frameworks and tools (e.g., Pytest, Selenium, Robot Framework)
- Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git)
Desirable
- Experience with testing real-time embedded systems or aerospace software
- Experience in hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing
- Experience with continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines
- Knowledge of communication protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP, CAN, SpaceWire)
- Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Experience with performance and load testing
What the job involves
- As a Test Software Engineer, you’ll play a critical role in bringing our cutting edge satellite technology to life, from the payload software to the ground control applications that bring it all together
- You’ll be instrumental in designing and building robust automated test solutions that validate the functionality and integrity of our software, with a strong focus on hardware-in-the-loop testing, directly contributing to the success of our space missions
- Design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks and test cases for software components and integrated systems
- Develop comprehensive test plans and strategies based on software requirements and design specifications
- Execute manual and automated tests, analyze results, and identify defects
- Architect, build, and maintain hardware-in-the-loop testbeds to rigorously validate our flight software against realistic hardware environments
- Collaborate closely with software developers to ensure thorough test coverage and timely issue resolution
- Develop and maintain clear and concise test documentation, including test plans, test cases, and test reports
- Participate in code reviews to ensure the testability and quality of software
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of testing processes and methodologies
- Troubleshoot complex issues and work with development teams to resolve them
- Integrate testing into our CI/CD pipelines
Our take
Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) is crucial for autonomy, tying vehicles to their environment and making autonomous operation possible. Xona Space Systems is developing a network of small satellites to provide high-precision PNT services, essential for modern technologies like autonomous vehicles and robotics.
The company has set its sites on pushing the limits of modern technology, setting itself apart in its space with its PULSAR service, which offers superior accuracy, availability, and security compared to traditional GPS. This makes it crucial for the widespread adoption of autonomous systems in unstructured environments.
The company has secured $150 million to date, the most recent round of which will accelerate the deployment of its low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. Its partnerships with the US Space Force and industry leaders highlight the growing confidence in its innovative approach, while future plans include the commercialisation of PULSAR, which will enable autonomous systems to operate effectively anywhere.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Company
Funding (last 2 of 9 rounds)
Jun 2025
$92m
SERIES B
Jun 2025
$20m
GRANT
Total funding: $166.3m
Company HQ
Baywood Park, CA
Leadership
Brian Manning
(Co-Founder & CEO)Previously worked as a Responsible Engineer on Thrust Structure for SpaceX, and an Engineering Manager for Power Solutions International.
Tyler Reid
(Co-Founder & CTO)Was also a Lecturer at Stanford University and a Research Engineer in Controls and Automated Systems at Ford Motor Company.
Adrien Perkins
(Co-Founder & VP of Engineering)Worked as a Research Assistant for Stanford University and was Lead Software Developer at Callsnapp.
Bryan Chan
(Co-Founder & VP of Corporate Strategy)Also the Co-Founder, President and CEO at Night Crew Labs. Previously Co-founded and was Technical Director for Mothership Communications.
Jerami Martin
(Co-Founder & Director of Payload Mechanical)Also works as a Mechanical Design and Systems Engineer at Pumpkin. Prior to this, they were an Engineer at Crosstrac Engineering.
Kazuma Gunning
(Co-Founder & Director of Navigation and Software)Previously worked as a GNSS Modeling and Simulation Engineer for Booz Allen Hamilton and was a Doctoral Student at Stanford University.
Paul Tarantino
(Co-Founder & Director of Integration and Test)After studying at Stanford University, they went on to work as a Propulsion and Fluid Flight Systems Engineering Intern for the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
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