Mechanical Test Engineer (II-Senior)

True Anomaly; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision

HRA/HSA options

PTO and paid holidays

401(k) and parental leave

Job summary

True Anomaly seeks highly motivated Mechanical Test Engineers to design, plan, and execute test campaigns for spacecraft mechanical systems in Long Beach, CA. You will collaborate with mechanical design, systems engineering, and production teams to ensure hardware meets performance, environmental, and mission requirements.

Develop test plans, fixtures, collect data, and disposition anomalies to verify specifications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• Experience in aerospace, defense or high‑reliability mechanical systems testing.
• Ability to lead test campaigns and coordinate multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong data analysis, systems engineering and failure analysis skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead test strategies for mechanical system programs.
• Author and review test documentation including plans and procedures.
• Analyze test data, resolve anomalies, and lead root cause investigations.
• Oversee test campaigns: acceptance, functional, qualification, integration.
• Design, build, and operate test fixtures and ground support equipment.
• Interface with leadership, customers, and regulatory bodies during reviews.
• Ensure compliance with industry and military standards.

Skills

Mechanical test design

Data analysis

Leadership

Technical documentation

Communication

Team coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Master’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

CAD tools

FEM software

Job description

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

True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space‑based interceptors that enable 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 highly motivated Mechanical Test Engineers to support the design, planning, and execution of test campaigns for spacecraft mechanical systems and hardware. You will work closely with mechanical design engineers, systems engineers, and production teams to ensure mechanical hardware meets performance, environmental, and mission‑critical requirements. In this role, you will develop test plans, execute mechanical system tests, design and build test fixtures and ground support equipment, collect and analyze data, disposition anomalies, and verify that hardware meets all specifications. The position offers an excellent opportunity to contribute to cutting‑edge spacecraft mechanical technologies in a fast‑paced, mission‑driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead test strategies for mechanical system programs, including requirements verification, procedure development, and execution oversight.
• Author and review mechanical test documentation including plans, procedures, readiness reports, and compliance matrices.
• Analyze complex mechanical system test data, resolve anomalies, and lead root cause investigations and corrective actions.
• Oversee mechanical test campaigns including acceptance testing, functional/performance testing, qualification testing, and integration testing, ensuring full traceability to system requirements.
• Design, build, commission, and operate mechanical test fixtures and ground support equipment in support of testing operations.
• Interface with program leadership, customers, and regulatory bodies during design reviews and formal mechanical test events.
• Ensure compliance with industry and military standards for mechanical test planning and reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Years of relevant experience in mechanical systems test engineering for aerospace, defense, or high‑reliability systems in line with engineering level.
• Knowledge of mechanical system test methodologies including acceptance, functional, and performance testing.
• Experience performing mechanical system test campaigns and coordinating multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong background in data analysis, systems engineering, and failure analysis for mechanical hardware.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and technical documentation skills.
• U.S. Citizenship required due to government contracts.

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Master’s or higher degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• Expertise with data acquisition, test automation, and scripting (LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB) for mechanical test environments.
• Hands‑on experience with mechanical components including structures, mechanisms, actuators, deployables, and mechanical assemblies.
• Familiarity with CAD tools, finite element analysis, and mechanical design principles.
• Experience with test standards such as MIL‑STD‑810, NASA‑STD‑5018, or other aerospace mechanical test specifications.
• Experience working in classified or secure test environments.
• 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 and benefits include health, dental, vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401(k), and 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.

Work location: this is a fully onsite position based out of our Long Beach, CA office.

Additional Requirements

• Work environment considerations such as temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors may affect working conditions while performing the job.
• Physical demands of the job include bending, sitting, lifting, and driving.

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 let us know.