Senior Hardware Test Automation Engineer

Who you are

• 6+ years of experience in a similar role
• Bachelor’s degree in electrical/computer engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field, or equivalent practical experience
• Experience with version control (Git) and CI/CD pipelines
• Experience with aerospace, defense, semiconductor, robotics, or other complex hardware systems
• Proficiency with hands-on hardware testing of electrical or mechanical systems, subsystems, or components
• Proficiency in Python for test scripting and automation
• Familiarity with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, power supplies, spectrum/network analyzers, etc.) and control interfaces (GPIB, Ethernet, USB)
• Strong problem-solving and debugging skills in a hardware-centric environment
• Ability to work hands-on with test setups, cabling, and instrumentation
• Experience testing aerospace or other high-reliability hardware systems
• Knowledge of Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing methodologies
• Knowledge of embedded systems interfaces and protocols (UART, SPI, I²C, CAN, SpaceWire, etc.)
• Experience with continuous integration systems and automated test execution pipelines (Gitlab preferred). Experience with version control (Git) and CI/CD pipelines
• Familiarity with data analysis libraries (NumPy, pandas, matplotlib) for test result processing
• Familiarity with data visualization or graphical interface libraries (Matplotlib, Plotly, PyQt, Grafana)
• Strong documentation and communication skills, with an emphasis on reproducibility and rigor
• The position you are applying for will require access to technology that is subject to U.S. export control and government contract restrictions. Employment with IonQ is contingent on either verifying “U.S. Person” (e.g., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum) status for export controls and government contracts work, obtaining any necessary license, and/or confirming the availability of a license exception under U.S. export controls. Please note that in the absence of confirming you are a U.S. Person for export control and government contracts work purposes, IonQ may choose not to apply for a license or decline to use a license exception (if available) for you to access export-controlled technology that may require authorization, and similarly, you may not qualify for government contracts work that requires U.S. Persons, and IonQ may decline to proceed with your application on those bases alone. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law

What the job involves

• As a Senior Hardware Test Automation Engineer on the Space Systems Development Test Engineering team, you will lead development of automated hardware test capabilities and execute verification and validation campaigns
• You will work closely with electrical, mechanical, and software teams to drive integrated test development and execution across every satellite subsystem. From power distribution to communications with autonomy and accountability
• Your contributions will directly support mission success by enabling rapid, repeatable, and reliable testing of hardware at scale
• Own automated test development from concept through deployment for new hardware
• Develop and maintain automated test capabilities (primarily in Python) to control lab equipment, run procedures, and verify and validate hardware behavior
• Create reusable frameworks and libraries for test automation across multiple hardware subsystems
• Collaborate with hardware engineers to design test cases that capture functional requirements, corner cases, and fault conditions
• Execute hardware test campaigns, analyze results, and identify root causes of anomalies
• Interface with flight software and ground software teams to ensure cohesive test interfaces
• Document test procedures, results, and configurations for traceability and reproducibility
• Contribute to continuous improvement of test infrastructure, tools, and processes