Senior Test & Development Engineer

Executive Recruiting Group; Gardena (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Executive Recruiting Group in Gardena, California seeks an experienced Senior Test & Development Engineer to lead the development and validation of the next generation of electric heat pumps for industrial process heat electrification. You will own test strategy across components to full system validation, driving safety culture and cross-functional collaboration.

This role emphasizes hands-on problem solving, design of test fixtures and software, and mentoring junior engineers.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years' experience in a product development or test role, including leading test programs for complex hardware.
• Experience taking first of kind hardware from bench testing through full-scale system validation.
• Strong working experience of PLC controls, open and closed loop controls, data acquisition systems, preventative/corrective maintenance tasks, and calibration of plant instrumentation.
• Experience leading or contributing to HAZOP/PHA analyses and developing test safety procedures.
• Familiarity with mechanical and electrical control equipment.
• Excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
• Ability to solve problems independently on tight schedules.
• Must be able to work with limited documentation.

Responsibilities

• Own test strategy and planning for the product lines, from component-level qualification through full industrial scale system validation.
• Lead test campaigns end to end, including test requirements, procedures, schedules, resourcing, and go/no-go readiness reviews.
• Design and build test fixtures, tooling, and electromechanical systems, and define test facility capability and infrastructure needs.
• Hands on assembly, troubleshooting and operation of first of kind thermal systems.
• Architect and implement testing software, data acquisition, and controls for automated testing and logging of high energy systems.
• Own creation and maintenance of accurate documentation of test methods, data, and results, and establish test documentation standards for the team.
• Translate performance requirements and expected system behaviors into test criteria; lead troubleshooting and qualification of new designs.
• Provide feedback to product engineering teams and drive design reviews, process hazard analyses, and test campaign planning.
• Foster a strong safety culture, set and enforce safety standards, and lead HAZOP analyses for test operations.
• Mentor and provide technical direction to test technicians and junior engineers.

Skills

Test leadership

Data acquisition

HAZOP experience

PLC controls

Thermal systems

Tools

Siemens NX

SolidWorks

LabVIEW

DAQ systems

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Senior Test & Development Engineer to lead the development and validation of the next generation of electric heat pumps for industrial process heat electrification. The ideal candidate will drive the design, analysis, and testing of mechanical and thermal systems within the Thermal heat pump platform and future product lines. This role requires technical ownership spanning structural, thermal, and turbomachinery hardware. You will lead product testing for individual components up to full industrial scale system validation, and help establish the test practices and safety culture that scale with the company. We are a team that values first-principles thinking, hands- on problem solving, and close cross-functional collaboration to deliver cohesive, high-performance systems.

Responsibilities

• Own test strategy and planning for the product lines, from component-level qualification through full industrial scale system validation
• Lead test campaigns end to end, including test requirements, procedures, schedules, resourcing, and go/no-go readiness reviews
• Design and build test fixtures, tooling, & electromechanical systems, and define test facility capability and infrastructure needs
• Hands on assembly, troubleshooting and operation of first of kind thermal systems
• Architect and implement testing software, data acquisition, and controls for automated testing and logging of high energy systems
• Own creation and maintenance of accurate documentation of test methods, data, and results, and establish test documentation standards for the team
• Translate performance requirements and expected system behaviors into test criteria; lead troubleshooting and qualification of new designs
• Provide feedback to product engineering teams and drive design reviews, process hazard analyses, and test campaign planning
• Foster a strong safety culture, set and enforce safety standards, and lead HAZOP analyses for test operations
• Mentor and provide technical direction to test technicians and junior engineers

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years' experience in a product development or test role, including leading test programs for complex hardware
• Demonstrated experience taking first of kind hardware from bench testing through full-scale system validation
• Strong working experience of PLC controls, open and closed loop controls, data acquisition systems, preventative/corrective maintenance tasks, & calibration of plant instrumentation
• Experience leading or contributing to HAZOP/PHA analyses and developing test safety procedures
• Familiarity with mechanical & electrical control equipment
• Excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment
• Ability to solve problems independently on tight schedules
• Must be able to work with limited documentation

Skills & Attributes

• Experience with turbomachinery, heat exchangers, pressurized hardware, or high-temperature fluid systems
• Experience in Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools, preferably Siemens NX, SolidWorks, or equivalent
• Experience designing test facilities or test cells for high energy or rotating equipment
• Familiarity with instrumentation, sensors, and testing of thermal or mechanical systems
• Experience mentoring engineers and technicians
• Strong desire to take initiative and grow into technical leadership as the company scales