Senior Architect, Test Infrastructure & Automation, meoSphere

The job responsibilities outlined in this document are not exhaustive and may evolve over time and be reviewed according to business needs.

PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

meoSphere is SES’s next-generation Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite constellation, designed to deliver secure connectivity services to government agencies, enterprises, and commercial customers. It will also provide high-speed broadband internet to eliminate global connectivity dead zones.

To accelerate development timelines, reduce costs, and ensure quality, SES is internalizing a critical segment of the satellite supply chain: the final integration of partner satellite platforms with SES’s software-defined payloads, all within a cutting-edge manufacturing and test facility.

ROLE DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

The System Integration & Test (SI&T) Test Infrastructure & Automation Lead is a hands-on technical leadership role responsible for developing and delivering the distributed test infrastructure, automation, and integration capabilities that enable system integration, verification, validation, and mission testing across a complex system-of-systems environment spanning spacecraft, ground systems, user terminals, communications networks, software platforms, operational processes, and supporting infrastructure.

Working within the SI&T function, you will develop test environment strategies, readiness plans, automation solutions, prototypes, and supporting evidence that enable efficient, repeatable, and traceable testing. Leading through technical expertise and influence, you will coordinate engineering, operations, suppliers, and site stakeholders to ensure the required test capabilities are available when needed.

The role is responsible for defining suitable test environments and readiness approaches across distributed test facilities in Ellenwood, Chicago, KKS, and Los Angeles. You will lead test readiness assessments, automation initiatives, and integration solutions that support program objectives, while working with the relevant owners responsible for facility operations, product maintenance, procurement, and product acceptance.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES / KEY RESULT AREAS

Shared Responsibilities

• Lead system integration, testing, verification, and validation work across hardware, software, networks, operations, laboratories, suppliers, and distributed teams.
• Turn incomplete or conflicting inputs into clear, practical technical plans with visible assumptions, dependencies, risks, and evidence needs.
• Apply discipline across requirements, interfaces, configuration control, readiness, anomalies, regression, traceability, and evidence.
• Produce clear, decision-ready technical recommendations and communicate effectively with engineering, program, supplier, and executive stakeholders.
• Define and lead System Integration & Test work while respecting retained authorities in product, facility, safety, flight, requirements, procurement, and acceptance decisions.

Focus Area Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and delivery of the program's distributed test infrastructure and automation capability across Ellenwood, Chicago, KKS, and Los Angeles.
• Define suitable test environments for integration, verification, validation, and mission-test objectives, documenting capabilities, constraints, and intended use cases.
• Develop environment roadmaps, readiness plans, and technical solutions covering hardware, networks, instrumentation, data systems, support resources, and schedules.
• Establish automation approaches supporting test execution, data collection, analysis, reporting, traceability, and anomaly reproduction.
• Coordinate environment readiness, configurations, and integration activities with facility, product, and system owners to ensure test capabilities are available when required.
• Deliver prototypes, integration solutions, and enabling capabilities that improve test efficiency, repeatability, and confidence in test outcomes.
• Coordinate distributed teams and stakeholders to enable consistent, well-integrated testing across the program.

Key Year 1 Deliverables

By the end of the first year, you will have established the distributed test infrastructure, automation, and readiness capability required to support integration, verification, validation, and mission testing across the program. The program will have a coordinated multi-site test capability, defined readiness standards, and the automation and integration solutions needed to deliver efficient, repeatable, and traceable testing. Key deliverables will include:

• Documented test environment capabilities, readiness criteria, constraints, and intended use cases across all test locations.
• Test environment roadmaps and readiness plans supporting distributed test activities.
• Automation and data solutions enabling test execution, evidence collection, analysis, reporting, and traceability.
• Delivered prototypes and integration solutions that improve test capability and efficiency.
• Configuration management processes supporting evolving hardware, software, and system baselines.
• Standardized approaches for multi-site test planning, execution, and coordination.

Qualifications Background and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Aerospace, Telecommunications, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in system integration, test engineering, verification and validation, or related disciplines involving complex hardware and software systems.
• Proven technical leadership in the development, operation, and evolution of test environments supporting multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Strong understanding of system interfaces, configuration management, technical risk, test readiness, anomaly resolution, and evidence-based decision-making.
• Experience integrating and managing hardware, software, networks, instrumentation, simulators, and test equipment in controlled test environments.
• Hands-on experience with test automation, data acquisition, telemetry, logging, scripting, and test execution infrastructure.
• Ability to assess test environment fidelity and suitability for integration, verification, validation, and operational testing activities.
• Experience planning and scaling test capabilities across distributed or multi-site environments.
• Excellent technical writing, facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and executive communication skills.
• Experience in space systems, satellite communications, ground systems, mission operations, telecommunications, or other mission-critical engineering programs.
• Familiarity with systems engineering practices, hardware-in-the-loop testing, digital engineering approaches, simulators, test management tools, and automated data pipelines.

Mindset & Values

• Ownership: Takes accountability for outcomes, drives issues to resolution, and balances speed, risk, and quality to deliver results.
• Systems Thinking: Understands how hardware, software, networks, operations, suppliers, and processes interact; always considers the full impact of decisions.
• Evidence Driven: Uses objective data, testing, and measurable results to guide decisions, assess risk, and build confidence in system readiness.
• Technical Leadership Through Influence: Builds alignment across teams and stakeholders through expertise, credibility, and sound judgment rather than formal authority.
• Collaborative & Low Ego: Values diverse perspectives, welcomes constructive challenge, and works across disciplines to achieve the best outcome for the system and the business.

OTHER KEY REQUIREMENTS / COMMENTS

• The candidate must be eligible for a “SECRET” security clearance, in accordance with the national regulations as well as EU/ESA/NATO equivalents
• Willing to work 60% onsite from office
• Travel as required for project realization purposes