Principal, Integrated Test Operations Lead

Menlo Ventures; Laguna Beach (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, and Vision benefits

401K

Parental Leave

Job summary

A leading aerospace company located in California is seeking an Integrated Test Operations Lead to oversee planning and execution of vehicle testing. The role demands over 8 years of experience in aerospace testing and strong coordination across multiple teams. Key responsibilities include test readiness, execution adherence, and data integrity management. Candidates require a Bachelor's degree in a related engineering field. The position offers competitive salary and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in aerospace or defense testing.
• Ability to translate engineering requirements into test plans.
• Experience with safety-critical systems.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute integrated vehicle testing across environments.
• Lead day-to-day test readiness and coordination.
• Ensure successful test execution and adherence to protocols.

Skills

Leadership in high-tempo environments

Test operations planning

Cross-functional team coordination

Communication skills

Problem-solving under pressure

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering

Job description

Overview

A new space race has begun. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build innovative technology that solves the next generation of engineering, manufacturing, and operational challenges for space security and sustainability.

Our Mission

The peaceful use of space is essential for continued prosperity on Earth—from communications and finance to navigation and logistics. True Anomaly builds innovative technology at the intersection of spacecraft, software, and AI to enhance the capabilities of the U.S., its allies, and commercial partners. We safeguard global security by ensuring space access and sustainability for all.

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

The Integrated Test Operations Lead is responsible for the detailed planning, coordination, and execution of integrated vehicle testing across ground and flight environments. This role serves as the primary execution arm for all test activities, translating program objectives into actionable test plans and ensuring disciplined, safe, and efficient test conduct.

Working under the direction of the Ground Test Director, this role drives day-to-day test readiness, leads cross-functional coordination, and ensures all systems, teams, and environments are prepared for successful test execution.

The Integrated Test Operations Lead is responsible for translating program-level test objectives into detailed, executable plans that enable successful ground and flight test campaigns. This includes developing comprehensive test plans for ground-based flight tests and range-based operations, with clearly defined configurations, success criteria, instrumentation strategies, and data collection requirements. The role leads integrated test readiness efforts, ensuring all technical, operational, and safety elements are fully prepared and that all pre-test actions are closed prior to execution.

During test operations, the Integrated Test Operations Lead serves as the primary execution lead, directing real-time test activities and maintaining disciplined adherence to procedures, safety protocols, and mission objectives. This individual is responsible for coordinating inputs from engineering, safety, and operations teams, managing the tempo of execution, and ensuring that all systems and personnel operate in a synchronized and controlled manner. They provide structured recommendations and inputs into go/no-go decisions and lead initial responses to anomalies or off-nominal conditions during test events.

The role requires continuous coordination across cross-functional teams, including propulsion, avionics, guidance, navigation and control (GNC), structures, ground systems, and range operations. The Integrated Test Operations Lead integrates these inputs into cohesive, executable plans and ensures alignment between vehicle readiness, ground infrastructure, and external constraints such as range availability and regulatory requirements.

Following each test event, the Integrated Test Operations Lead ensures the integrity and completeness of all collected data and leads initial post-test assessments, including anomaly identification and triage. They coordinate closely with engineering teams to support deeper data analysis and ensure that lessons learned are rapidly incorporated into subsequent test planning and execution cycles.

In addition, the role maintains ownership of integrated test execution schedules, proactively identifying risks to successful execution and driving mitigation strategies across the team. The Integrated Test Operations Lead provides regular status updates to the Ground Test Director and escalates critical risks, issues, or decision points as needed, operating as the primary boots-on-the-ground leader responsible for delivering safe, efficient, and effective test execution.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field
• 8+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, or complex system testing environments
• Demonstrated experience planning and executing integrated system tests (ground and/or flight)
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in high-tempo, high-consequence operational environments
• Strong understanding of test operations, including test planning, readiness reviews, and execution discipline
• Proven ability to translate engineering requirements into executable test procedures and plans
• Experience working with safety-critical systems and adherence to rigorous safety and mission assurance standards
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to coordinate across engineering, operations, and external stakeholders
• Ability to operate effectively under pressure and make sound decisions in dynamic test environments

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree (M.S. or higher) in a relevant engineering discipline
• Experience with missile systems, launch vehicles, or high-performance flight systems
• Prior experience serving as a test conductor, test director, or similar role during live test operations
• Familiarity with test range operations and coordination (e.g., government or commercial ranges)
• Experience with telemetry, instrumentation systems, and data acquisition for flight or ground tests
• Background in guidance, navigation and control (GNC), propulsion, or integrated vehicle systems
• Experience leading or supporting Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs), Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs), or equivalent
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex schedules and drive execution across multiple parallel test efforts
• Exposure to configuration management and test article control in a development or production environment
• High growth potential with demonstrated leadership trajectory toward senior test or program leadership roles

Compensation

• Base Salary: Denver: $200,000-$280,000, Long Beach: $210,000-$290,000
• Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave

Additional Requirements

• Ability to maintain or obtain TS//SCI clearance
• Work Location: this role will be fully onsite at our GravityWorks factory in Centennial, CO or Long Beach, CA.
• Work environment is in a standard office, working at a desk or in a production factory.

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.

We value diversity of experience, knowledge, backgrounds and perspectives and harness these qualities to create extraordinary impact. True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, religion or belief, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, citizenship, marital, domestic or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, maternity or related condition (including breastfeeding) or any other basis as protected by applicable law. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please do not hesitate to let us know.

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 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.