Ground Segment Test Engineer

At ClearSpace, we believe in reusability, in affordability driving disruption, and that no progress is real unless it is sustainable.

Our company was founded in 2018 out of the realization that in-orbit servicing and space debris removal are vital services for the future of space exploration and operations. Today ClearSpace has assembled an expert engineering team and is leading the way toward sustainable space operations. From a garage in Switzerland, we now operate across UK and Europe, and are working with world-leading institutions and companies to bring our dream of a sustainable space ecosystem to life.

We are looking for a Ground Segment Test Engineer to join ClearSpace. Our Ground Segment Team provide the digital backbone that enables safe, reliable, and autonomous space operations. As part of this team, you’ll play a pivotal role in designing, building, and operating the infrastructure that supports mission‑critical services — from development all the way through to live operations in space.

The Role

The Ground Segment Test Engineer will lead the design and expansion of ClearSpace’s automated testing ecosystem for all Ground Segment software components, including configured COTS products and internally developed systems. This role is key to guaranteeing the reliability and robustness required for spacecraft operations.

Responsibilities

• Design, expand, and maintain automated test frameworks for the full suite of Ground Segment tools.
• Integrate automated testing with the CI/CD pipeline, enabling continuous validation of mission software builds.
• Develop and maintain test infrastructures using Python, behave, allure, and other testing frameworks.
• Plan and execute end‑to‑end integration tests covering mission operations workflows, system interfaces, and data flows.
• Collaborate with developers, system engineers, and operations teams to identify gaps in test coverage and implement robust solutions.
• Ensure full traceability of test artefacts, results, and non‑conformances.
• Support configuration of test environments, including mock services, simulators, and virtualised Ground Segment systems.

Must Have

• Experience with automated testing tools, frameworks, and methodologies.
• Strong programming skills in Python.
• Hands‑on experience with behave (BDD) and reporting frameworks such as allure.
• Familiarity integrating test suites with CI/CD pipelines.
• Understanding of software integration, interface testing, and system‑of‑systems behaviours.
  

Nice to have

•    Experience testing Ground Segment or mission operations systems.
•    Knowledge of satellite operations concepts, TM/TC flows, or space mission architectures.
•    Experience working with simulators, spacecraft emulators, or hardware in the loop testing.

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