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Payload Integration Engineer Jobs in Arizona (NOW HIRING)

Senior Systems Engineer I

Tucson, AZ

$98K - $135K/yr

SENIOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER I Rocket Lab's Optical Systems division solves mission-critical space ... Support the development, integration, and testing of space payloads to be integrated on spacecraft ...

Senior Systems Engineer I

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$98K - $135K/yr

SENIOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER I Rocket Lab's Optical Systems division solves mission-critical space ... Support the development, integration, and testing of space payloads to be integrated on spacecraft ...

Senior Systems Engineer I

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$98K - $135K/yr

SENIOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER I Rocket Lab's Optical Systems division solves mission-critical space ... Support the development, integration, and testing of space payloads to be integrated on spacecraft ...

Systems Engineer As a Systems Engineer, you will be involved in the design, integration, and ... Support the development and testing of space payloads to be integrated on spacecraft platforms.

Systems Engineer As a Systems Engineer, you will be involved in the design, integration, and ... Support the development and testing of space payloads to be integrated on spacecraft platforms.

Support engineers with instrument development, troubleshooting, testing, and project execution. * Provide technical support for payload integration activities and launch operations as needed.

Support engineers with instrument development, troubleshooting, testing, and project execution. * Provide technical support for payload integration activities and launch operations as needed.

Support engineers with instrument development, troubleshooting, testing, and project execution. * Provide technical support for payload integration activities and launch operations as needed.

Showing results 21-40

Payload Integration Engineer information

What is a payload integration engineer?

Payload Integration Engineers are professionals responsible for ensuring that spacecraft payloads, such as satellites or scientific instruments, are properly designed, tested, and integrated with the launch vehicle. They coordinate between payload providers, launch vehicle teams, and mission planners to ensure compatibility and safe installation. Their work includes overseeing mechanical, electrical, and thermal interfaces, performing integration tests, and troubleshooting any issues that arise during the process. These engineers play a crucial role in successful space missions by ensuring payloads are delivered to orbit safely and efficiently.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a payload integration engineer?

To thrive as a Payload Integration Engineer, you need a solid background in aerospace or mechanical engineering, experience with systems integration, and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools, and industry standards such as NASA or ESA requirements, as well as certifications like EIT or PE, are often required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective collaboration and communication skills set top candidates apart. These competencies ensure that complex payloads are integrated safely and efficiently, meeting mission requirements and minimizing risks.

What are some common challenges payload integration engineers face when coordinating with multiple teams during a satellite launch campaign?

Payload Integration Engineers frequently collaborate with cross-functional teams, including spacecraft engineering, mission operations, and launch providers. A common challenge is ensuring all payload requirements are met while aligning schedules and technical specifications across these groups. Effective communication and strong organizational skills are essential to anticipate and resolve integration issues, manage last-minute changes, and ensure safety and mission objectives are upheld. Successfully overcoming these challenges not only ensures a smooth launch but also fosters valuable experience in multidisciplinary teamwork.

What are popular job titles related to Payload Integration Engineer jobs in Arizona?

For Payload Integration Engineer jobs in Arizona, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Payload Integration Engineer jobs in Arizona look for?

The top searched job categories for Payload Integration Engineer jobs in Arizona are:

Infographic showing various Payload Integration Engineer job openings in Arizona as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 73% Full Time, and 27% Contract. Highlights an 74% In-person, and 26% Remote job distribution.

Software Engineer - Entry Level

General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc

Scottsdale, AZ • On-site

$86K/yr

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago


General Dynamics Mission Systems rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 31 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

113th of 247 rated software companies


Job description

Basic Qualifications
Requires a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related Science, Engineering, Technology or Mathematics field. Also requires 1+ years of job-related experience, or a Master's degree.

CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS: Department of Defense TS/SCI security clearance is preferred at time of hire. Candidates must be able to obtain a TS/SCI clearance within a reasonable amount of time from date of hire. Applicants selected will be subject to a U.S. Government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship is required.

Workplace
Facility 100%, Flex


ROLE AND POSITION OBJECTIVES:

As a Systems and Test Integration Engineer on our TIDES team, you will be at the center of building the software and infrastructure that our nation's most advanced spacecraft programs depend on. You'll work with a talented team of hardware and systems engineers to design and deploy the DevOps Test Infrastructure (DOTI), a critical platform that accelerates hardware testing and ensures mission reliability. This role contributes directly to the Hardware Development Environment (HDE), which is a shared engineering backbone for all spacecraft payload programs at GDMS.

This is a position for an early-career engineer eager to grow. You'll have the opportunity to learn from senior engineers, expanding your skills in test automation, CI/CD pipeline development, containerized deployments, and hardware-in-the-loop integration. Your contributions will have a real impact, supporting critical missions in a dynamic, team-oriented environment.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field, plus one year of relevant experience, or a master's degree.
Experience developing software in Python, C/C++, or a similar language.
A strong grasp of software fundamentals, including data structures, version control, testing, and debugging.
Experience writing automated tests with frameworks like PyTest to ensure software quality.
Familiarity with Git-based version control workflows, such as branching and merge requests.
Exposure to CI/CD platforms like GitLab CI for automating builds, tests, and releases.
Comfort working at the command line in Linux environments (RHEL, Ubuntu).
An understanding of computer networking concepts (Ethernet, subnets, routing) and hardware interfaces.
Exposure to containerization and orchestration tools like Docker, Kubernetes, or Helm is a significant plus.
Experience working in an agile or scrum environment.

Key Responsibilities
Design and develop test software and automation frameworks for our shared test infrastructure.
Build and maintain CI/CD pipelines in GitLab, including the management of self-hosted runners.
Deploy and manage containerized services on our hardware test benches.
Support the integration of our test software with real payload hardware and lab instrumentation.
Develop test plans and procedures to verify system and subsystem requirements.
Collaborate across teams, including with FPGA and hardware engineers, on system integration and platform features.
Investigate and debug complex software and integration issues with a systematic approach.
Create clear documentation for your designs and tooling to empower other engineers.

What Sets You Apart
You're curious about how the parts fit together. When you're writing test software, you want to know what hardware it drives, what the system needs it to do, and how your piece fits into the bigger picture.
You're drawn to working close to real hardware. Bringing software up against a bench of test equipment appeals to you as much as writing application code.
You write clean, readable, well-tested code.
You ask good questions when you're stuck, and you're comfortable admitting what you don't know.
When you hit a block, you look for a way through. You'd rather try something and learn from it than wait for someone to hand you the answer.
You take ownership of your work. You follow through, you check your own results, and you don't hand off half-done work.
You identify opportunities to apply AI tools for continuous improvement and automation.


This estimate represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors (geographic location, etc.). Actual pay may vary. This job posting will remain open until the position is filled.
USD $86,300.00 - USD $86,300.00 /Yr.

General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of 12,000+ top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defense and scientific arenas. Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency. We offer highly competitive benefits and pride ourselves in being a great place to work with a shared sense of purpose. You will also enjoy a flexible work environment where contributions are recognized and rewarded. If who we are and what we do resonates with you, we invite you to join our high-performance team!


Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans


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