Director of Test Engineering

About our Company: 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 top-tier Silicon Valley rms. We're assembling a high-agency team committed to moving fast, solving hard problems, and defending what matters most. With a world-class business development & leadership team already in place, we are well positioned to capitalize on already overwhelming demand. Responsibilities: Build and lead the Test Engineering team spanning hardware, software, Propulsion and systems test disciplines. Develop and own test strategy and infrastructure: ground test facilities, flight test plans, instrumentation, telemetry, and data pipelines. Drive end-to-end test campaigns: from subcomponent validation through integrated system flight tests. Partner with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and mechanical teams to define test requirements and accelerate development cycles. Analyzing results against anticipated results/industry standard, generate pass/fail reports, and produce detailed test reports (including setup diagrams, traceability matrices, and corrective action recommendations). Configuring and calibrate product for testing range and demonstrations. Establish rapid iteration and feedback loops, ensuring failures become data, and data becomes progress. Ensure compliance with aerospace and defense test standards while balancing the need for speed, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Lead mission readiness efforts for live intercept demonstrations and operational deployments. Qualifications: Required: 9+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, or equivalent high-reliability industries. Master's or Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics or Electrical Engineering. Deep knowledge of system-level test engineering, including flight tests, ground tests, environmental testing, and instrumentation. Proven track record of leading multidisciplinary teams through rapid development and execution cycles. Strong technical background in at least one of: propulsion testing, avionics validation, systems integration, or range operations. Comfort working in fast-paced, resource-constrained environments where speed and iteration matter. Hands-on operator mindset—able to both lead and personally troubleshoot hardware, software, and test infrastructure. Preferred: Experience with missile systems, interceptors, or high-performance aerospace vehicles. Familiarity with aerospace qualification standards (DO-160, MIL-STD, etc.) and range safety requirements. Strong technical background in all one of: propulsion testing, avionics validation, systems integration, or range operations. Ability to thrive in high-stakes test campaigns with operators and government stakeholders.