Civil Test Engineer- Test Site

Trueanomalyinc; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Health benefits

401K and PTO

Job summary

True Anomaly seeks a hands-on Civil Test Engineer to design, build, and maintain test infrastructure for spacecraft validation. You will be embedded with the test operations team, ensuring readiness of civil/site facilities, GSE mounting, and utilities to support propulsion, fluids, and mechanical campaigns.

Responsibilities include designing test stands, managing concrete pads and utility runs, coordinating with regulators, and conducting structural analyses.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil, structural, or mechanical engineering.
• Hands-on experience designing and building structural systems, test stands, or industrial infrastructure.
• Knowledge of structural analysis, concrete design, steel fabrication, and construction practices.
• Experience coordinating with contractors, vendors, and regulatory agencies on construction projects and permits.
• Ability to read civil/structural drawings and P&ID diagrams.
• Strong project management skills to manage multiple infrastructure projects.
• US Citizenship required due to government contracts.

Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate, and commission test stands, structural supports, mounting hardware, and physical infrastructure required for propulsion, fluids, and mechanical test campaigns.
• Manage site civil infrastructure including concrete pads, foundations, utility runs (water, compressed gases, electrical, drainage), and piping support structures.
• Develop structural and civil engineering designs for test facility modifications, expansions, and ground support equipment installations.
• Conduct structural load analysis and FEA to verify test stand and GSE design adequacy for operational loads, blast overpressure, and environmental conditions.
• Coordinate with test engineers to understand upcoming campaign requirements and proactively address infrastructure readiness gaps.
• Establish and execute preventive maintenance programs for test site infrastructure, utilities, and structural systems to ensure zero unplanned downtime.
• Interface with local authorities, permitting agencies, and contractors on site construction permits, building code compliance, and environmental permits.
• Develop site capacity plans that identify when infrastructure upgrades are required to support test tempo, new test capabilities, or hardware scaling.

Skills

Structural design

Project management

Contractor coordination

Civil/structural drawings

FEA / structural analysis

Regulatory coordination

US citizenship

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil/structural/mechanical engineering

Master's degree in civil/structural/mechanical engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Tools

ANSYS

Abaqus

SAP2000

RISA

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Inventor

Job description

Space is a warfighting domain. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build the technology that secures it.

OUR MISSION

True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors — enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground.

OUR VALUES

• Be the offset. We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity.
• What would it take? We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results.
• It’s the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together.

YOUR MISSION

We are seeking a hands‑on Civil Test Engineer to design, build, and maintain the physical infrastructure that enables spacecraft test operations. You will be embedded within the test operations team, supporting propulsion, fluids, mechanical, and environmental test campaigns by ensuring test site infrastructure, ground support equipment structural systems, and facility utilities are ready to execute. In this role, you will design and construct test stands and structural supports, manage site civil infrastructure including concrete pads and utility systems, oversee facilities maintenance and upgrades, and interface with regulatory agencies on permits and site compliance. This position is ideal for someone who thrives in a startup environment where facilities engineering is mission‑critical test enablement, not a separate support function.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design, fabricate, and commission test stands, structural supports, mounting hardware, and physical infrastructure required for propulsion, fluids, and mechanical test campaigns.
• Manage site civil infrastructure including concrete pads, foundations, utility runs (water, compressed gases, electrical, drainage), and piping support structures.
• Develop structural and civil engineering designs for test facility modifications, expansions, and ground support equipment installations.
• Conduct structural load analysis and FEA to verify test stand and GSE design adequacy for operational loads, blast overpressure, and environmental conditions.
• Coordinate with test engineers to understand upcoming campaign requirements and proactively address infrastructure readiness gaps.
• Establish and execute preventive maintenance programs for test site infrastructure, utilities, and structural systems to ensure zero unplanned downtime.
• Interface with local authorities, permitting agencies, and contractors on site construction permits, building code compliance, and environmental permits.
• Develop site capacity plans that identify when infrastructure upgrades are required to support test tempo, new test capabilities, or hardware scaling.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in civil, structural, mechanical engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Years of relevant experience in facilities engineering, civil engineering, or structural engineering for aerospace, industrial, or test infrastructure in line with engineering level.
• Hands‑on experience designing and building structural systems, test stands, or industrial infrastructure.
• Working knowledge of structural analysis, concrete design, steel fabrication, and construction practices.
• Experience coordinating with contractors, vendors, and regulatory agencies on construction projects and site permits.
• Ability to read and interpret civil drawings, structural drawings, and P&ID diagrams.
• Strong project management skills with ability to manage multiple concurrent infrastructure projects.
• U.S. Citizenship required due to government contracts.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master's degree in civil, structural, or mechanical engineering.
• Professional Engineering (PE) license in civil or structural engineering.
• Experience with test facility design, aerospace ground support equipment, or launch pad infrastructure.
• Proficiency with structural analysis software (ANSYS, Abaqus, SAP2000, RISA) and CAD tools (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Inventor).
• Familiarity with propellant handling infrastructure, high‑pressure gas systems, and hazardous material storage regulations.
• Experience with blast‑resistant design, seismic design, or high‑energy test infrastructure.
• Knowledge of building codes (IBC), concrete standards (ACI 318), and steel design standards (AISC 360).
• Experience working at remote test sites or launch facilities.
• Active Secret or Top Secret clearance.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Base Salary:

• Test Engineer 1: $85,000-$105,000
• Test Engineer 2: $100,000-$120,000
• Test Engineer 3: $125,000-$155,000
• Senior Test Engineer: $140,000-$175,000

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 — this is a fully onsite position based out of our Long Beach, CA office.
• 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.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity on any basis protected by applicable state and federal laws. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please do not hesitate to let us.