Flight Systems Lab Technician

Job Description:

Role Overview

Customer is seeking a hands-on Flight Systems Lab Technician to support aircraft development, propulsion testing, thermal validation, and laboratory operations. This role is responsible for executing engineering tests, maintaining laboratory readiness, supporting data collection activities, and ensuring safe operation of test equipment.

The ideal candidate will have experience working in an engineering lab environment supporting hardware validation, thermal testing, environmental testing, propulsion systems, battery systems, or aerospace/robotics products.

Important: The client is open to early-career candidates, including recent engineering graduates with approximately 2+ years of hands-on laboratory or testing experience. Experience in thermal testing is now a key requirement.

Key Responsibilities

Test Engineering & Validation

Perform propulsion testing using thrust stands and wind tunnel setups.

Support testing for new aircraft development and subsystem validation.

Execute thermal testing and environmental testing activities.

Support battery, charging system, and power system validation.

Assist with Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) investigations.

Create and execute test procedures, test cards, and validation plans.

Set up and support Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) test environments.

Collect, validate, and document test results.

Thermal & Environmental Testing

Conduct thermal characterization and temperature validation activities.

Install and monitor thermocouples, temperature sensors, and DAQ systems.

Support thermal chamber and environmental testing.

Monitor thermal performance of batteries, electronics, and mechanical assemblies.

Analyze temperature-related failures and performance trends.

Laboratory Operations

Maintain calibration records and coordinate equipment servicing.

Ensure test equipment readiness and inventory control.

Organize laboratory tools, fixtures, and consumables.

Implement and maintain 5S and lab safety practices.

Support rapid prototyping, fixture development, and hardware assembly.

Documentation & Reporting

Maintain detailed test documentation.

Record test conditions, anomalies, and observations.

Generate clear reports and status updates for engineering teams.

Ensure data accuracy and traceability of all testing activities.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical

Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field.

Open to recent graduates with 2+ years of hands-on lab/testing experience.

Experience working in engineering, validation, R&D, reliability, environmental, or product testing laboratories.

Hands-on experience with thermal testing and temperature measurement techniques.

Experience using thermocouples, sensors, instrumentation, or data acquisition systems.

Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills.

Experience documenting test procedures and results.

Ability to work onsite in Palo Alto, CA five days per week.

Preferred Qualifications

Aerospace, drone, robotics, EV, automotive, or hardware-product testing background.

Wind tunnel testing experience.

Propulsion system testing experience.

Battery testing or charging system validation experience.

LabVIEW and National Instruments (NI) DAQ experience.

Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing experience.

RCCA / failure analysis experience.

Experience with soldering, rework, cable assembly, and instrumentation.

Rapid prototyping, machining, or 3D-printing exposure.

Screening Must-Haves

Thermal Testing

Laboratory/Test Technician Experience (2+ Years)

Data Acquisition & Instrumentation

Mechanical/Electrical Test Setup Experience

Documentation & Test Reporting

Onsite Availability (Palo Alto, CA)

No major gaps in employment history.

Strongly Preferred

Wind Tunnel Testing

Propulsion Testing

Battery Testing

LabVIEW / NI DAQ

HIL Testing

Thermal Testing

Aerospace / Drone Background

Lab Maintenance