Ait Lead Engineer

Title : AIT Lead Engineer – Small Sats Location : Basque Country, Spain Working Model : Hybrid – Onsite presence required during spacecraft integration and testing campaigns, with flexibility for remote working during planning, documentation and strategy activities.
Employment Type : Full-Time About the Company Xperior Global is partnering with an established European space engineering company specialising in the design, development, integration and testing of advanced satellite systems.
With nearly two decades of experience delivering complex engineering programmes, our client has developed and successfully operated its own satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), demonstrating proven capabilities across spacecraft platforms, subsystems and satellite operations.
The company is expanding its Small Sat capabilities and supporting the development of new satellite missions, including a multi-satellite constellation programme.
As part of this expansion, they are strengthening their Assembly, Integration, Testing and Verification (AIT&V) capabilities and are looking to appoint an experienced AIT Lead Engineer to take technical ownership of spacecraft integration and testing activities.
The Role Our client is looking for an experienced AIT Lead Engineer to lead the technical execution of spacecraft Assembly, Integration, Testing and Verification activities across its Small Sat missions.
Reporting to project and engineering leadership, you will act as the primary technical authority for AIT activities, taking responsibility for defining integration strategies, planning test campaigns, supervising cleanroom operations and ensuring spacecraft achieve flight readiness.
This is a hands-on technical leadership position, suited to someone who enjoys working directly with spacecraft hardware, solving complex engineering problems and making technical decisions in a lean, fast-moving environment.
Key Responsibilities Technical Leadership: Lead the technical execution of spacecraft assembly, integration, testing and verification activities across satellite programmes.
AIT Strategy & Model Philosophy: Define spacecraft AIT philosophy, model philosophy, integration sequences, verification approaches and overall test flows.
Planning & Documentation: Develop and maintain AIT plans, prepare high-level test plans and review or approve integration procedures, test specifications and technical reports.
Cleanroom Integration: Provide direct technical supervision of spacecraft mechanical and electrical integration activities within cleanroom environments.
Technical Problem-Solving: Lead troubleshooting, anomaly investigations and root-cause analysis, representing AIT engineering at Non-Conformance Review Boards (NRBs).
Technical Decision-Making: Take responsibility for key technical decisions during integration and testing, ensuring spacecraft meet verification and flight-readiness requirements.
Ground Support Equipment: Define GSE, EGSE and MGSE architecture, technical specifications and procurement requirements.
Oversee supplier activities and the development of equipment needed for integration and testing.
Environmental Testing: Plan, coordinate and technically supervise major environmental test campaigns, including thermal vacuum (TVAC), vibration, EMC and mass properties testing.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with systems, mechanical, electrical, software and project engineering teams to ensure successful integration and verification of spacecraft systems.
The Ideal Candidate We are looking for an experienced spacecraft AIT/AIV engineer who combines strong technical knowledge with practical, hands-on integration and testing experience.
The ideal candidate will have: Experience: Typically 6–10+ years of relevant spacecraft or complex payload AIT/AIV experience, including experience as a Senior AIT Engineer, AIT Lead or equivalent technical authority.
Spacecraft Integration: Proven hands-on experience integrating and testing complete spacecraft, satellite subsystems or complex space payloads.
AIT Leadership: Experience taking technical ownership of integration and testing activities, defining test strategies and making engineering decisions.
Verification Knowledge: Strong understanding of ECSS standards, Verification Control Documents (VCDs), spacecraft verification approaches and qualification versus acceptance model philosophies.
Environmental Testing: Direct experience with cleanroom operations and environmental test campaigns, including TVAC, vibration, EMC and mass properties testing.
GSE Expertise: Strong technical understanding of Mechanical and Electrical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE/EGSE), including equipment specifications, procurement and supplier technical oversight.
Problem-Solving: Demonstrated ability to investigate technical anomalies, perform root-cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
Working Environment: Comfortable operating in lean, agile engineering teams where individual ownership, technical autonomy and resourcefulness are essential.
Communication: Advanced English communication skills, both written and spoken.
Spanish language skills are an advantage.
Launch Experience: Previous involvement in spacecraft launch campaigns would be beneficial.
Location & Work Eligibility Candidates must be willing and able to work onsite at the client's facilities in the Basque Country during spacecraft integration and testing campaigns.
Hybrid working arrangements are possible for activities such as planning, documentation and technical strategy.
Applicants must hold EU citizenship or an existing valid work permit for Spain.
Visa sponsorship is not available.
What Our Client Offers The opportunity to take technical leadership of spacecraft AIT activities on active Small Sat missions.
Direct involvement in advanced satellite and constellation development programmes.
A hands-on engineering environment with significant technical responsibility and autonomy.
Flexible working hours and hybrid flexibility where project activities permit.
A structured onboarding programme, including a dedicated buddy during the initial months.
If your experience aligns with what we're looking for, we'll contact you for an initial discussion about your background, the opportunity and the next steps in the recruitment process.
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