Department: Development
Reports To: Engineering Manager
Location: Stellenbosch
Employment Type: Full-time
As CubeSpace’s Environmental Test Team Lead, you will own the end-to-end management of our environmental test facility, from technical leadership to testing facility operations to compliance oversight. Your role ensures that CubeSpace meets the highest standards for qualification and acceptance testing of microsatellite equipment, keeping us at the forefront of the global space industry.
You’ll lead a team of engineers and technicians, drive continuous improvement, and ensure testing meets all ECSS, MIL-STD, ISO 17025, and ISO 9001 requirements — delivering accurate, timely, and traceable results that support CubeSpace’s mission.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Management
- Lead, mentor, and develop the environmental test team.
- Allocate personnel and facility resources to projects effectively.
- Build a culture focused on safety, quality, and compliance.
Facility Management & Development
- Oversee commissioning and qualification of environmental test equipment (thermal vacuum chambers, shakers, EMC chambers).
- Maintain and expand the facility capability matrix in line with product roadmaps.
- Ensure preventive maintenance, calibration, and infrastructure compliance.
Test Planning & Execution
- Translate mission requirements into test plans and schedules.
- Supervise test setup, execution, troubleshooting, and reporting.
- Approve go/no-go decisions for critical testing phases.
Data Integrity & Quality
- Ensure all data is accurate, traceable, and fully documented.
- Maintain audit readiness and adherence to ISO 17025 and ISO 9001 standards.
- Host inspections and drive corrective actions where needed.
Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Act as the main point of contact for test activities across departments.
- Participate in design reviews and provide test-related input early in the development cycle.
- Support root cause analyses and investigations.
Continuous Improvement
- Identify opportunities to upgrade test methods and equipment.
- Implement process improvements for efficiency and reliability.
Key Deliverables
- Updated facility capability matrix and development plans.
- Environmental Test Plans (ETPs) and Test Readiness Review documentation.
- Accurate and timely Environmental Test Reports (ETRs).
- Maintenance, calibration, and audit compliance records.
- Departmental training and development milestones for test team members.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, or equivalent.
- Postgraduate qualification (preferred) in Aerospace Testing, Systems Engineering, or related field.
- ≥ 5 years in aerospace or space systems environmental testing.
- ≥ 3 years in a leadership role, managing test facilities and capital equipment.
- Proven experience with ECSS or similar standards in qualification and acceptance testing.
- Strong technical knowledge of thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, EMC, and thermal cycling test methods.
- Familiarity with ISO 17025, ISO 9001, and MIL-STD standards.
Excellent leadership, planning, and stakeholder communication skills.