Lead Test Engineer

Longwall; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Long Wall Company in Long Beach seeks a Lead Test Engineer to guide planning, development, and execution of component, subsystem, and system tests for next-generation defense systems. You will lead a small team, influence test architecture, and ensure data quality from instrumentation and data pipelines.

The ideal candidate combines deep test engineering expertise with mentoring abilities, cross-functional coordination, and a focus on rigorous, safe testing across high‑reliability hardware

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, electrical, or related engineering.
• 6+ years of test engineering experience within aerospace, defense, propulsion, or high-reliability hardware environments.
• Hands-on experience leading and executing component or subsystem tests with sensors, DAQ systems, and control room operations.
• Experience writing test plans, developing test setups or fixtures, and performing post-test analysis.
• Mentoring junior engineers or technicians, or serving as a technical lead.
• Strong safety knowledge, hazard analysis, and high-energy test operations.
• Excellent communication and cross-disciplinary collaboration skills.
• Must meet U.S. export control requirements (U.S. citizen, permanent resident, asylee, or refugee).

Responsibilities

• Lead development of test plans, procedures, instrumentation strategies, and data acquisition configurations for tests.
• Design test setups and fixtures in collaboration with mechanical, electrical, and GNC teams.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a small team of test engineers and technicians.
• Assign and prioritize work to meet program objectives and test schedules.
• Foster a culture of technical rigor, safety, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee hands-on test execution, including setup, readiness checks, data review.
• Ensure tests are safely executed with hazard analyses and readiness checks.
• Coordinate with engineering, manufacturing, and program teams on test requirements and hardware readiness.
• Lead post-test data analysis and communication of results to stakeholders.
• Support anomaly investigations and corrective actions across teams.

Skills

Test leadership

Mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Safety processes

Strong communication

Problem solving

Startup experience

Flight test environments

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, electrical, or related engineering

Tools

Python

MATLAB

DAQ systems

PLC

Job description

Long Wall Company was created in 2024 to accelerate missile defense technology for the U.S. and our allies. Building on the RS1 and GS0 launch systems, Long Wall develops containerized, mass‑producible missile defense systems and offers rapid, low‑cost flight testing. We believe that the future of global security and stability requires defensive technology that is lower cost, higher performing, better tested, and more broadly distributed than is possible today. Join us.

What we look for

• Mission-Driven Problem Solvers. The aerospace frontier demands ingenuity. We want team members who approach challenges with curiosity, embrace failure as a learning opportunity, and stay focused on delivering the best solution for the mission.
• Total Ownership. We seek staff and engineers who take full responsibility for contributing to and delivering flight‑ready work while recognizing that no one succeeds alone. The best engineers, corporate professionals, and technicians make their teammates better, knowing that complementary skills create force multiplication and drive mission success.

Lead Test Engineer

We are seeking a highly capable Lead Test Engineer to guide the planning, development, and execution of component, subsystem, and system‑level testing for our next‑generation defensive systems. In this role, you will serve as a technical leader for the Test Engineering & Operations organization, driving test architecture, instrumentation, data systems, and disciplined execution across a wide range of hardware. You will lead a small team of test engineers and/or technicians (1–5 direct reports) while remaining deeply hands‑on in design, test execution, data analysis, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate combines strong technical depth with the ability to mentor others, coordinate cross‑functionally, and elevate the technical quality and reliability of all test activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of test plans, procedures, instrumentation strategies, and data acquisition configurations for component, subsystem, and integrated system tests.
• Design and refine test setups, fixtures, interfaces, and test stand elements in collaboration with mechanical, electrical, and GNC teams.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a small team of test engineers and technicians, providing technical guidance, feedback, and day‑to‑day support.
• Assign and prioritize work across the team to meet program objectives and test schedules.
• Build a culture of technical rigor, safety, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee and participate in hands‑on test execution, including setup, instrumentation, pre‑test readiness, control room operations, teardown, and data review.
• Ensure tests are executed safely and consistently through hazard analyses, procedural reviews, and operational readiness checks.
• Validate test data quality and lead post‑test analysis, reporting, and communication of results to engineering and program stakeholders.
• Coordinate with engineering, manufacturing, and program teams to align test requirements, hardware readiness, and schedules.
• Partner with test operations and facilities teams to ensure test stands, GSE, and site infrastructure meet technical and operational needs.
• Support anomaly investigations, root cause analysis, and implementation of corrective actions across test and engineering teams.
• Drive continuous improvement in test documentation, procedures, and instrumentation reliability—including automation opportunities, data pipeline enhancements, and ongoing GSE development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, electrical, or related engineering discipline.
• 6+ years of test engineering experience within aerospace, defense, propulsion, or high‑reliability hardware environments.
• Hands‑on experience leading and executing component or subsystem tests with a strong understanding of sensors, DAQ systems, and control room operations.
• Demonstrated experience writing test plans, developing test setups or fixtures, and performing structured post‑test analysis.
• Prior experience mentoring junior engineers or technicians, or serving as a technical lead.
• Strong understanding of safety processes, hazard analysis, and high‑energy test operations.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate across technical disciplines.
• Must meet U.S. export control requirements (U.S. citizen, permanent resident, asylee, or refugee).
• Experience with system‑level, engine‑level, or propulsion test campaigns.
• Familiarity with real‑time control systems, PLCs, automated test sequences, or custom DAQ systems.
• Experience designing or improving test stands, GSE, or test site infrastructure.
• Proficiency with Python, MATLAB, or similar tools for data processing and analysis.
• Prior experience in a startup or high‑growth hardware environment.
• Experience with pyrotechnics, propulsion systems, hazardous operations, or flight test environments.
• Knowledge of configuration management practices and structured test documentation systems.

Additional Requirements

• Can work in an indoor manufacturing environment 70%, outdoors 30%.
• Travel between our Port of Long Beach (70%), El Segundo (20%), and other facilities (10%) as required; occasional travel to other in‑state and out‑of‑state sites may be required.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to use a computer to complete assignments.
• Ability to communicate with individuals and groups in person, by phone, and telepresence.
• Ability to pick up to 12 lbs.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will typically work in an office environment.

ITAR Requirement

This position requires access to information protected under U.S. export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations. As such, U.S. person status (including U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, individuals granted U.S. asylum status, or individuals admitted in U.S. refugee status) is a required qualification for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, genetics, or citizenship status (when otherwise legally authorized to work and access export‑controlled data) and will not be discriminated against on the basis of such characteristics or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We encourage applicants of all ages.