Manager, Electrical/Comm Test Engineering

Maxar Space is currently seeking a Test Engineering Manager in SAIT (Satellite Assembly, Integration and Test) to join our team in Palo Alto, CA.   This is a front-line management position responsible for the spacecraft level electrical test preparation and execution. We have a great team of Test Engineers looking for an equally enthusiastic leader. 

This group provides direct program support via test engineers matrixed to backlog spacecraft programs. You will be supported by system and subsystem engineers, quality engineering, the program office and other SAIT organizations to perform the planning and execution of spacecraft electrical testing in satellite AIT. With the support of this broader team, you will be delivering a fully validated electrical system that meets its program specifications, cost, schedule, and quality targets. The resources required to accomplish this will be available primarily within your own organization, although collaboration and support will be required/provided from the other support groups mentioned as well.

Your Responsibilities:

• Coordinate with Spacecraft Program Manager to ensure that test campaigns are properly planned
• Active management of risk and opportunities with timely escalation of EAC/Schedule/Support concerns
  • Provide recommendations to minimize impacts of unforeseen issues as they arise
• Measure and improve quality of Electrical SAIT output and deliverables.  Drive organizational performance improvement. 
• Recommend process improvements or cost reduction opportunities
  • Recommend test technology development opportunities in line with future business forecasts

Your Accountabilities:

• Deliver Electrical Systems fully validated with no Quality escapes
• Indirect cost account manager (CAM), including capital as applicable

Test Support

• Plan and execute SAIT level electrical testing
  • Provide cost/schedule/risk assessment for test plans exceeding facility capability
• Prepare and validate all procedures prior to the scheduled need date

Staffing

• Provide vehicle engineers who will be dedicated full time to a given program team per the Program Management Plan
  • Pre-emptively coordinate with PMOs for support level changes
• Maintain proper staffing to support Spacecraft Manager demand forecast, both quantities and required skillsets (includes future required skillsets as identified by program teams upon contract award)
• Employee development, training, coaching and career path planning
• Balance overall workload across projects and deconflict resources to support program schedules

Equipment, Process and Facility

• Identify and execute on process improvements or cost reduction opportunities
• Maintain ISO certification standards with all processes

Proposal Support

• Accuracy of the electrical SAIT cost/schedule models along with technical offering bounds (how to stay-within-the-box)
• Proposal review of technical offering (as requested by proposal team) to identify whether bid stays within the bounds of existing cost/schedule models, including any risk
• Provide vetted cost and schedule for development work, including recommended reserve positions to bound the risk

Measurements of Success:

• Accurate execution of required testing within allocated program schedule
• Maintain Indirect spend within budget
• Sufficient and qualified staff to support SAIT as well as dedicated program team support
• Flexible workforce that can adapt to new program architectures and testing requirements
• Compliance to internal and external audits
• Cost/schedule bid accuracy for test development efforts
• Identification and implementation of direct/indirect cost reduction techniques (cost or schedule); continuous improvement

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or STEM field. An additional four years of experience may be substituted for a degree
• 5 years of experience
• On-site support (Palo Alto, CA)
• Experience leading an operations group/project with a track record of execution: costs, schedule and technical performance

In support of pay transparency at Maxar, we disclose salary ranges on all U.S. job postings.  The successful candidate’s starting pay will fall within the salary r