Senior Test Engineer We are a stealth-mode Aerospace & Defense startup headquartered in Gardena, CA. Our founding team hails from SpaceX, Anduril, and Lockheed Martin, and we are backed by Joint Staff-level military leadership and several Silicon Valley firms. With a world-class business development & leadership team already in place, we are well positioned to capitalize on already overwhelming demand.
Position Summary:
We are seeking an experienced Senior Test Engineer to lead all-up-round (AUR) testing activities for tactical solid rocket motor (SRM) propulsion systems. This role owns the full AUR test lifecycle — from warhead and electronic safe-and-arm device (ESAD) integration through government range coordination, test execution, and post-test data disposition. The Senior Test Engineer serves as the primary interface with government range authorities, safety organizations, and program offices, and is responsible for ensuring all test activities are executed safely, on schedule, and in full compliance with applicable DoD, ATF, and DDESB requirements.
Key Responsibilities:- Serve as the technical lead and Test Lead for static fire and flight tests, including integration of live warheads and ESAD assemblies
- Develop and maintain AUR test plans, test procedures, hazard analyses, and test readiness review (TRR) packages
- Own test matrix definition, instrumentation plans, and data acquisition system (DAS) configuration for pressure, thrust, and thermal measurements
- Lead pre-fire briefings, test execution, and post-fire data review; prepare formal test reports for program office and government customers
- Coordinate test anomaly investigations and corrective action disposition in collaboration with systems engineering and quality
- Lead technical planning and hands-on integration of inert and live warhead assemblies into AUR test configurations
- Coordinate ESAD installation, arming circuit continuity checks, and safe-separation verification with armament and electrical engineering teams
- Develop and enforce energetic material handling procedures in compliance with DoD 6055.09-STD ESQD arc requirements and applicable STANAG standards
- Interface with explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and range safety officers during all live warhead operations
- Maintain explosives accountability records and support ATF license compliance activities for explosive material storage and transfer
- Own the end-to-end logistics planning for shipping energetic test articles (propellant motors, warheads, ESAD) to government and commercial test ranges
- Prepare and review DOT shipping documentation, including shipping papers, emergency response information, and UN classification data sheets for Class 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4 energetic items
- Coordinate with freight carriers and range logistics offices to ensure compliant transport and receipt of explosive test hardware
- Manage test article packing, blocking, and bracing requirements per MIL-STD-2073 and applicable commercial shipping standards
- Maintain chain-of-custody documentation for all energetic materials shipped to and from test sites
- Serve as the primary company interface with government test range authorities, including range safety offices, range scheduling offices, and range management organizations as applicable
- Prepare and submit range use request packages, safety releases, and explosives site plans for government range approval
- Coordinate airspace and land withdrawal requirements, NOTAM requests, and range instrumentation support with range operations staff
- Track and resolve range safety review comments; present TRR packages to range safety boards and government program offices
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with range POCs to optimize scheduling and minimize range hold risks
- Enforce safe-handling practices for solid propellants, explosive initiators, and live warhead assemblies at all test locations
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
