Senior Propulsion Component Test Engineer

Amca; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Amca in El Segundo, California, is seeking a Senior Fluid Test Engineer to own verification and qualification testing of fluid control hardware. You will design test rigs, plan tests, and lead campaigns that demonstrate performance against requirements.

The role requires hands-on test rig design, instrumentation knowledge, and data analysis to deliver clear conclusions. Collaboration with design teams and mentoring of junior engineers are key aspects of the position.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• 5+ years in test engineering for fluid, hydraulic, pneumatic, or mechanical hardware.
• Hands‑on experience with test rigs, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems.
• Strong grasp of fluid measurement, uncertainty analysis, and test data reduction.
• Experience planning and executing qualification test campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Design test rigs and fixtures for hydraulic and pneumatic hardware.
• Lead flow, pressure, leakage, proof, burst, endurance, and environmental testing.
• Analyze data, quantify uncertainty, and compare results to requirements.
• Author test reports and support root cause analysis on failures and anomalies.

Skills

Test design

Data acquisition

Uncertainty analysis

Test execution

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Master’s degree in engineering

Tools

LabVIEW

Job description

Amca is building America’s new industrial base. Since the 1990s, our ability to build new aviation and military systems and maintain the ones we already have has eroded. Today, the gap between what the nation needs to produce and what it is capable of producing is the largest it has been in generations.

To help close that gap, Amca rapidly develops and manufactures new critical components and subsystems required to build and sustain the planes, military vehicles, and core infrastructure America needs. Today, we operate seven factories nationwide, including our advanced prototyping and testing headquarters in El Segundo, and deliver avionics, hydraulic, and electrical components for platforms such as the F-35, F-16, F/A-18, 737MAX, 787, A320neo, A321, Mk-48, and M1 Abrams.

Overview

The Senior Fluid Test Engineer owns the verification and qualification testing of Amca’s fluid control hardware. You will design test rigs and fixtures, plan and lead flow, pressure, leakage, endurance, and environmental testing, and turn test data into clear engineering conclusions. This role sits at the point where design meets proof, and it demands rigor in both test setup and data analysis.

Responsibilities

Test Design and Setup

• Design and build test rigs, fixtures, and fluid loops for hydraulic and pneumatic hardware.
• Specify instrumentation and data acquisition for flow, pressure, temperature, and position measurement.
• Develop test plans and detailed procedures for development, qualification, and acceptance testing.

Test Execution

• Lead flow, pressure, leakage, proof, burst, endurance, and environmental testing.
• Execute qualification campaigns against DO-160 and applicable MIL-STD requirements.
• Ensure test safety practices for high-pressure and hazardous-fluid operations.

Analysis and Reporting

• Reduce and analyze test data, quantify uncertainty, and compare results to requirements.
• Author test reports and support root cause analysis on failures and anomalies.
• Feed test findings back to design and mentor junior test engineers.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years in test engineering for fluid, hydraulic, pneumatic, or mechanical hardware.
• Hands‑on experience with test rig design, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems.
• Strong grasp of fluid measurement, uncertainty analysis, and test data reduction.
• Experience planning and executing qualification test campaigns.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Experience with LabVIEW or comparable DAQ and test automation tools.
• Familiarity with DO-160 environmental testing and MIL-STD test methods.
• Experience testing servovalves, actuators, or high‑pressure fluid systems.
• Experience working across multiple manufacturing sites or factories.

Compensation

Annual Salary Range

$150,000 - $250,000 USD

Required Legal Information

This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All applicants must be U.S. persons within the meaning of ITAR. ITAR defines a US person as any individual who is granted U.S. citizenship; or any individual who is granted U.S. permanent residence ("Green Card" holder); or any individual who is granted status as a "protected person" under 8 U.S.C 1324b(a)(3).

EEO Statement

The Advanced Manufacturing Company of America prohibits discrimination or harassment based on the following categories: race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.