Astranis Space Technologies

Vehicle Test Software Team Lead

Astranis Space Technologies · San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, CA $150K–$230K Posted 2026-10-01
Salary
$150K–$230K
Type
Full-time
Experience
5+ yr

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe – large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military.

With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts. Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization.

Astranis has raised over $1.2 billion from some of the world’s best investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Baillie Gifford, Blackrock, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, and Snowpoint, and employs a team of 500 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.

Team Lead, Vehicle Test Team

As the Team Lead of the Vehicle Test team, you will build and manage the team responsible for writing the test software to verify the Astranis spacecraft from panel integration through the final full spacecraft checkouts. In addition to the vehicle test software you will own the test frameworks, as well as the HITL testbeds that we use to verify our satellites work — and keep working — on orbit. Day to day, you'll drive architectural decisions and technical direction at the boundary of software and hardware, in close collaboration with other engineering teams.

This role will contribute to both commercial and US Government programs.

Role:

  • Directly support vehicle test execution across all integration phases, from panel-level through full spacecraft, covering Propulsion, Avionics, RF, Power, and more
  • Lead test framework, process, and architectural improvements for panel vehicle integration and test needs
  • Oversee HITL testbed development end-to-end: design, procurement, integration, validation, and long-term support — serving vehicle testing, mission operations, and flight software verification
  • Coordinate with cross-functional teams on testbed requirements, timelines, and budgets
  • Identify and drive opportunities to automate manual processes and improve test efficiency
  • Assist in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring additional teammates to our rapidly-growing team

Requirements:

  • Bachelors degree in CS, EE (or equivalent background knowledge)
  • 5+ years of experience in test engineering or related field
  • 2+ years of people management experience
  • Strong proficiency with Python
  • Experience with hardware test and production environments
  • Experience designing and implementing test frameworks, especially HITL systems
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Bonus:

  • Experience reading schematics and data sheets, and debugging circuits that interface with embedded software
  • Spacecraft or launch vehicle test experience

What we offer:

All our positions offer a compensation package that includes equity and robust benefits.

Base pay is just one component of Astranis’s total rewards package. Your compensation also includes a significant equity package via incentive stock options, high-quality company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement planning, flexible PTO, and free on-site catered meals.

Astranis pay ranges are informed and defined through professional-grade salary surveys and compensation data sources. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, and the level and scope of the position.

Base Salary
$150,000 — $230,000 USD

U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required

(To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))

Our mission and products are built for everyone, regardless of gender, race, creed, or background. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we invite all people to join our team and bring their unique perspectives to make us stronger.

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Python
$60K — 10th pctl $230K — 90th pctl
This role’s midpoint $190K vs. market median $130K for Operations roles
+45%
above median
Based on 18,000+ Operations roles with disclosed salary ranges tracked on NewJob.
Astranis Space Technologies

Astranis Space Technologies

Aerospace · Series E+ · San Francisco, USA

Stage & Valuation
Series E+ · $2.8B
Key Investors
Andreessen Horowitz, BAM Elevate, Snowpoint Ventures
Open roles on NewJob
Most hiring in
Engineering (38) · Operations (13) · BizOps (6)
Astranis develops small communications satellites designed for geostationary and other high Earth orbits. Their core product, MicroGEO, offers dedicated satellite broadband to help provide internet access globally.
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