Rocket Test Manager

voyagertechnologiesinc; Folsom (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Voyager Technologies is seeking a Rocket Test Manager to lead a team of engineers and technicians, owning the full test lifecycle for rocket motor and DACS programs—from planning through data reporting. You will interface with DoD customers and program management, ensuring safety and technical excellence across concurrent programs.

You will oversee facility design, startup, certification, and readiness for high-pressure test stands, and lead environmental testing activities and PHAs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering or related STEM field.
• Active DoD Secret Clearance required.
• 15+ years in integration and test engineering for rocket propulsion.
• Hands-on Test Engineer and Test Conductor across R&D, qualification, production.
• Experience across multiple propulsion testing disciplines and test facility startup.
• Proficiency with instrumentation and controls and strong verbal/written communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of test engineers and technicians; allocate resources and ensure safety and technical excellence.
• Own full test lifecycle for rocket motor and DACS programs from planning to data reporting.
• Serve as Test Engineer and Test Conductor for static fire, qualification, and production campaigns.
• Lead facility design, startup, certification, checkout, and readiness for test stands and utilities.
• Direct environmental tests including thermal, shock, vibration, altitude for test articles.
• Interface with DoD and MDA customers on planning, TRRs, and result presentations.

Skills

Team leadership

Test engineering

Data analysis

Technical communication

Propulsion testing

Education

Bachelors in mechanical/aerospace engineering

Tools

Pressure transducers

Thermocouples

Load cells

Strain gauges

Data acquisition systems

Job description

Forge the Future: Join Voyager Technologies

Voyager is an innovative space, defense, and national security technology company committed to advancing and delivering transformative, mission-critical solutions. We tackle the most complex challenges to unlock new frontiers for human progress, fortify national security, and protect critical assets to lead in the race for technological and operational superiority from ground to space.

The future belongs to those who build it. At Voyager Technologies, we're building technologies that protect lives, expand frontiers and prepare us for what's next. And we're doing that with people who are wired to solve, build, adapt and lead. These roles are not for the faint of heart.

You’ll help lay the foundation for humanity's future. Join a culture where innovation thrives, curiosity is rewarded, and impact is real. We’re a company of doers, thinkers and builders, united by purpose and grounded in reality.

About the Job

The Rocket Test Manager leads a team of engineers and technicians responsible for the full lifecycle of rocket motor and DACS (Divert Attitude Control System) test programs-from facility design and certification through R&D, qualification, and production acceptance testing. This role is the technical and managerial authority for all test activities and serves as the primary interface with program management, systems engineering, and DoD customers.

In this role, the essential functions are:

• Lead and manage a team of test engineers and technicians; define roles, allocate resources, and drive a culture of safety and technical excellence across concurrent programs.
• Own the full test lifecycle for rocket motor and DACS programs: planning, procedure development, execution, data review, and reporting.
• Serve as Test Engineer and Test Conductor for static fire, qualification, and production acceptance campaigns on energetic and inert propulsion hardware.
• Lead facility design, startup, certification, checkout, and operational readiness for test stands and associated high-pressure liquid and gas infrastructure.
• Direct environmental test activities including thermal, shock, vibration, and altitude testing on inert and energetic test articles.
• Lead Process Hazard Analyses (PHAs), PFMEAs, root cause analyses, and corrective action implementation.
• Interface with DoD and MDA customers on test planning, readiness reviews (TRRs), and test results presentations.
• Support proposal development including basis of estimate, staffing plans, and facility capability assessments.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related STEM field from an accredited college or university.
• Must have or be able to obtain and maintain an active DoD Secret Clearance.
• 15 or more years of integration and test engineering experience for rocket propulsion systems, with demonstrated team leadership of engineers and technicians.
• Hands-on Test Engineer and Test Conductor experience across R&D, qualification, and production acceptance campaigns.
• Experience across multiple propulsion testing disciplines: controllable solids, solid and liquid DACS kill vehicle (KV) systems, and axial propulsion.
• Experience leading test facility design, startup, certification, and checkout of high-pressure liquid and gas test stands.
• Demonstrated environmental test experience (thermal, shock, vibration, altitude) on energetic and inert hardware, along with proficiency in process safety methods including PHA, PFMEA, root cause analysis, and corrective action execution.
• Test planning, procedure authorship, execution, and data analysis for rocket motor and DACS systems; hands-on operation of complex test facilities and propulsion hardware; familiarity with instrumentation and controls including pressure transducers, thermocouples, load cells, strain gauges, and data acquisition systems; and strong verbal and written communication skills with experience presenting test results to government customers and program leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with MDA Assurance Provisions (MAP) and PMAP requirements.
• Background in field test operations at government flight test ranges, outdoor test facilities, or aviation processing facilities; Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent program management training.

Travel, Physical and/or Government Mandated Requirements:

• Must be able to travel approximately 15-20% of the time to support test events, customer reviews, and off-site facility operations.
• Must meet physical requirements for working in a test