Engineering Manager, Systems Test

YOUR MISSION

As an Engineering Manager, Systems Test, you will lead the Long Beach-based team of systems test engineers to deliver fully tested and qualified developmental units and spacecraft on aggressive timelines. You will own the test processes, schedules, capacity planning, and the execution outcomes of hardware and environmental test.  

You will partner closely with Program Management and Engineering to provide inputs to program schedules, align capacity with demand, ensure design for test, and drive disciplined execution against test milestones. You will be accountable for adapting test to program needs, continuously improving efficiency, automation, and process maturity to deliver the required quality at the required time.  

This role requires both strategic foresight and hands-on leadership: setting standards, driving automation, solving problems, and developing people to their full potential while ensuring every spacecraft meets mission assurance standards. 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Lead and mentor a high-performing team of test engineers providing distance, direction, and motivation to complete the mission, growing capacity within our most important asset: our people. 

• Manage the team and cross-team test coordination utilizing effective and efficient tools that reduce friction and fuel high-quality, high-rate output 

• Own execution of test to meet program commitments including vehicle-level testing, electrical systems, and automation testing for qualification and acceptance. 

• Drive load capacity planning: forecast demand, balance resources, maximize efficiency, and ensure teams are properly staffed and focused. 

• Provide accurate inputs to the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), engineering reviews, and test reviews, aligning test activities with program needs. 

• Own and continuously improve test processes, ensuring efficiency, repeatability, and compliance. 

• Drive partnership with design teams to ensure high quality design that not only meets requirements, but can be tested to the qualification requirements of a program. 

• Champion efficiency and automation initiatives to reduce cycle time, improve first-time test success, and scale acceptance and qualification repeatability. 

• Ensure test facilities and workspaces are clean, organized, and optimized for safety and efficiency.  

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE 

• Test schedules executed with milestones met and acceptance/qualification delivered at required quality. 

• Efficiency and automation efforts measurably reduce turn time and increase throughput each iteration. 

• Capacity plans that maximize utilization, minimize downtime, while preventing bottlenecks. 

• High first-time yield at quality with reduced anomalies demonstrate process maturity. 

• Team engagement and technical excellence known across the organization. 

• Test processes that are scalable, disciplined, and trusted by stakeholders.  

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace engineering, or a related discipline. 

• First-principles driven approach to engineering and problem solving backed by ability to scale analytical rigor to meet program risk levels and maturity. 

• 5+ years of experience in space system, developmental system, or complex system test across electrical, mechanical, fluids, and environmental. 

• Mastered use of test processes, tools, and practices including test plans, test equipment design, development, and implementation, and the integration of automation components across these systems. 

• Experience with field test of flight vehicles or launch execution. 

• Experience with space-grade and ESD sensitive component and assembly testing. 

• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage and maintain test equipment and facilities including environmental, structural or mechanical, fluids, and electrical test.  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Master’s degree in mechanical, aerospace engineering or equivalent discipline. 

• Extensive experience with test ground support equipment and electrical ground support equipment design, development, and implementation in test. 

• Demonstrated ability to stand up test and launch facilities. 

• Active DoD clearance or ability to obtain one. 

COMPENSATION

• Base Salary:  $150,000 - $205,000

• Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave 

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, location, and experience. 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work Location—Successful candidates will be located near Denver or Colorado Springs. While we observe a hybrid work environment, some work must be done on site.
• Work environment—the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.
• Physical demands—the physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving.

This position will be open until it is successfully filled. To submit your application, please follow the directions below. #LI-Onsite