Engineering Manager Test and Launch Site

True Anomaly; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401K

Paid holidays

Parental Leave

Job summary

True Anomaly seeks a Test and Launch Site Engineering Manager to lead the off-site test operations at our Long Beach facility, overseeing propulsion, fluids, and structures testing and directing a multidisciplinary team to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient campaigns.

You will be the on-site decision-maker, accountable for people, hardware, schedule, and site readiness, while coordinating with engineering, quality, and program management to deliver tests on time and with high quality.

Qualifications

• Technical degree in aerospace, mechanical, chemical, or a relevant engineering or technical field.
• Significant experience in aerospace test operations, including propulsion or fluids system testing
• Proven experience managing a test site, test team, or remote operations facility
• Deep understanding of hazardous materials handling, pressurized systems safety, and high-energy test protocols
• Experience leading test readiness reviews and managing test campaigns end-to-end
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple concurrent test programs

Responsibilities

• Site Operations: Own day-to-day operations of the test facility, including staffing, scheduling, facility maintenance, and infrastructure readiness.
• Test Campaign Execution: Lead and coordinate propulsion, fluids, and structures test campaigns from setup through data delivery.
• Team Leadership: Hire, develop, and manage a team of engineers, test technicians, and site personnel.
• Safety and Range Safety: Own site safety for all hazardous operations including propellant handling, pressurized systems, high-energy testing, and structural load applications.
• Facility and Ground Support Equipment: Establish and oversee maintenance, calibration, and certification of test stands, ground support equipment, data acquisition systems, and site infrastructure.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the primary interface between the test site and engineering, quality, and program management teams.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure site operations comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations including FAA, EPA, and fire authority requirements.

Skills

Aerospace test ops

Test campaign leadership

Regulatory compliance

Hazardous materials handling

Propulsion/fluids testing

Team leadership

Education

Technical engineering degree (aerospace/mechanical/chemical)

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

As the Test and Launch Site Engineering Manager of True Anomaly's off-site tests, you will own all aspects of site operations supporting propulsion, fluids, and structures testing. You will lead a multidisciplinary team of test technicians and engineers, drive test campaign execution, and ensure the facility operates safely, efficiently, and in compliance with all regulatory requirements. You are the on-site decision-maker — accountable for people, hardware, schedule, and site readiness.

Responsibilities

• Site Operations: Own day-to-day operations of the test facility, including staffing, scheduling, facility maintenance, and infrastructure readiness. Ensure the site is always prepared to support active test campaigns with zero unplanned downtime.
• Test Campaign Execution: Lead and coordinate propulsion, fluids, and structures test campaigns from setup through data delivery. Drive test readiness reviews, manage test article configuration, and hold the team accountable to campaign milestones.
• Team Leadership: Hire, develop, and manage a team of engineers, test technicians, and site personnel. Foster a high-performance culture built on safety, precision, and urgency.
• Safety and Range Safety: Own site safety for all hazardous operations including propellant handling, pressurized systems, high-energy testing, and structural load applications. Develop and enforce safety plans, procedures, and emergency response protocols. Interface with range safety authorities and regulatory agencies as required.
• Facility and Ground Support Equipment: Establish and oversee maintenance, calibration, and certification of test stands, ground support equipment, data acquisition systems, and site infrastructure. Manage vendor relationships and service contracts to keep critical systems operational.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the primary interface between the test site and engineering, quality, and program management teams. Communicate test status, anomalies, site risks, and resource needs clearly and proactively.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure site operations comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations including FAA, EPA, and fire authority requirements. Maintain permits, safety documentation, and inspection records.

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

• Technical degree in aerospace, mechanical, chemical, or a relevant engineering or technical field
• Significant experience in aerospace test operations, including propulsion or fluids system testing
• Proven experience managing a test site, test team, or remote operations facility
• Deep understanding of hazardous materials handling, pressurized systems safety, and high-energy test protocols
• Experience leading test readiness reviews and managing test campaigns end-to-end
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple concurrent test programs

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, chemical engineering or equivalent discipline.
• Experience with multiple types of propulsion systems
• Familiarity with data acquisition systems and test instrumentation
• Experience interfacing with regulatory agencies and range safety authorities
• Prior experience standing up or scaling a test facility
• Active DoD clearance or ability to obtain one

Compensation

Base Salary:

• Manager: $150,000-$205,000
• Senior Manager: $165,000-$230,000
• 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 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 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.