Ground Systems engineer (SIL/PIL/HIL specialized)

ispace, inc. is looking for Ground Systems engineer to join our growing team in Tokyo. 

The Ground Systems team forms the backbone of ispace’s Test and Flight Operations, responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the full infrastructure required to support mission testing and operations. This includes the Mission Control Center, Mission Control Software, operational tools, and the end-to-end test environments that enable mission readiness.As a Ground Systems Engineer, your work directly enables communication with the spacecraft and underpins every phase of mission test and execution. You play a pivotal role in ensuring that missions are conducted safely, reliably, and efficiently—designing and maintaining the infrastructure, software, and operational workflows that make real-time spacecraft operations possible. Your contributions not only ensure mission success, but also streamline operations and empower flight teams to perform at their best.

As a Ground Systems Engineer specialized in Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) platforms, you will design, develop, and maintain the simulation and validation environments used to test and verify the next generation of ispace spacecraft.

You will play a critical role in enabling a “Test-As-You-Fly” philosophy, ensuring that ground infrastructure and spacecraft testbeds faithfully replicate real mission conditions, providing a realistic and representative environment for validation and operations.

Type: Full-time Position

Location: Hybrid (Tokyo, Japan) On site at least twice a week with remote option

Experience Level: See Qualifications below

Group: JP Ground Systems Group, JP Test and Flight Operations Division

Why this role matters?

As a Ground Systems Engineer, your work directly enables communication with the spacecraft and underpins every phase of mission test and execution. You play a pivotal role in ensuring that missions are conducted safely, reliably, and efficiently—designing and maintaining the infrastructure, software, and operational workflows that make real-time spacecraft operations possible. Your contributions not only ensure mission success, but also streamline operations and empower flight teams to perform at their best.

Key Responsibilities

SIL/PIL/HIL Platform Development

Design, develop, and maintain SIL,PIL and HIL environments interfacing flight software team and avionics team

Integrate spacecraft Flight Software (FSW) with dynamic simulation models and hardware interfaces

Develop infrastructure for closed-loop testing, including telemetry generation and telecommand injection of simulator/EGSE equipment

Ensure scalability and flexibility of platforms to support multiple mission phases and test campaigns

System Integration

Integrate SIL/PIL/HIL platforms with mission control systems (e.g., Yamcs, telemetry processing, commanding chains)

Support interfaces with ground segment components, including EGSE, communication links, and databases

Collaborate with avionics, GNC, and software teams to ensure accurate system representation

Maintain interface control and configuration consistency across simulation and operational systems

Verification & Validation (V&V) Support

Enable execution of System Verification Tests (SVT) and pre-flight validation campaigns

Support traceability between requirements, test cases, and validation results

Develop tools for monitoring, logging, and replaying test results

Contribute to anomaly investigation and root cause analysis

Automation & Tooling

Develop and maintain test automation frameworks and scripting tools (e.g., Python)

Implement CI/CD workflows for simulation environments and test execution

Support configuration management of simulation assets, FSW builds, and test scenarios

Optimize runtime performance and usability of test platforms

Operations & Mission Support

Develop, test, and validate operational procedures.

Participate in training activities and mission rehearsals to achieve certification for on-console operations.

Own and maintain Ground-to-Ground Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and contribute to Space-to-Ground ICDs with ground station providers.

Support test and on-console operations, including 24/7 shift work and on-call duties during critical mission phases.

Required skills

Language: Professional level English (written and verbal); Japanese is a plus

Experience: 5+ years of experience in spacecraft systems, ground systems, or simulation/test environments

Simulation & Integration: Experience with SIL, PIL, HIL, or mixed hardware-software environments

Software Skills: Proficiency in C++,  Python, Gitlab CICD and real time simulations frameworks

Systems Understanding: Strong knowledge of spacecraft subsystems and telemetry/telecommand flows

Documentation: Ability to produce clear technical documentation, interface definitions, and test artifacts

Preferred skills

Experience with mission control systems (e.g., Yamcs, Grafana)

Familiarity with CCSDS protocols, telemetry processing, and commanding chains

Experience with avionics interfaces and EGSE

Knowledge of Git/GitLab and software configuration control practices

Experience supporting SVT and mission rehearsals

Background in lunar, deep-space, or planetary missions

We will prioritize candidates currently reside in Japan with valid working visa for the role. Relocation will be required for overseas candidate.