Senior Test Engineer

FW ACQUISITION INC; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 114,000 - 178,000; Full time

Job summary

RedCat Aerial, a drone technology company focused on unmanned aircraft systems for defense and public safety, seeks a Mechanical Engineer. You will design, prototype, test, and integrate mechanical systems for flight hardware and ground control, leveraging DOE and reliability analytics.

Office location will move from Carson to Torrance in 2026. A strong background in drone mechanisms and high-volume production is preferred.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of reliability, product validation, or mechanical test engineering.
• Hands-on experience designing and building custom test setups and data acquisition systems.
• Experience developing and executing qualification test plans for complex electromechanical systems.
• Ability to apply statistical analysis in product testing and reliability evaluation.
• Strong organizational planning skills and desire to develop high-level validation strategy.

Responsibilities

• Design, prototype, fabricate, test, and integrate mechanical systems for flight hardware and ground control.
• Apply DOE, life data analysis, and other statistics to support decisions.
• Collaborate with supplier quality and purchasing on component qualification and test methods.
• Contribute to DFMEA/PFMEA and propose test strategies addressing top failure modes.
• Support root cause investigations and drive corrective actions with structured testing.

Skills

Mechanical design

DOE

Data acquisition

Vibration analysis

Weibull analysis

DFMEA/PFMEA

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

DAQ systems

EMC/EMI measurement

Job description

Position SummaryRedCat Aerial, a subsidiary of Red Cat Holdings, is looking to fill a Mechanical Engineer position. We are a dynamic and growing drone technology company focused on the manufacturing of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS drones) for use in defense, public safety, and other government security organizations.In this role, you will be responsible for designing, prototyping, fabricating, testing, and integrating a range of mechanical systems into flight hardware and ground control systems. The ideal candidate will have a background in mechanical design of drones and/or multi-axis camera gimbals in high volume production applications.Location Note: The role will start in Carson, but the office is expected to move to the Torrance area in Q1 2026.Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesEssential functions of a job that are crucial to its purpose and must be performed regularly. They are the fundamental tasks that an employee must be able to carry out, with or without reasonable accommodation, and are central to defining the role's purpose.Create custom test fixtures, automation, and data acquisition systems as needed to enable robust, repeatable validation.Apply Design of Experiments (DOE), life data analysis, and other statistical techniques (e.g., capability analysis, regression, Weibull analysis) to extract insights and support engineering decisions.Partner with supplier quality and purchasing teams to support component qualification, test method validation, and vendor development effortsContribute to and review risk management deliverables (e.g., DFMEA/PFMEA) and propose test strategies that address top failure modes.Support root cause investigations and drive corrective actions through structured test and analysis methods.Other duties as assignedRequired Qualifications - The following qualifications are required for any position:Education: Minimum education (e.g., Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field).Experience: Required years of relevant experience (e.g., 5+ yrs project management or sales).Skills: Key skills for success: Proficiency with tools. Strong communication and teamwork.Certifications: Any certifications needed or preferred (e.g., PMP, Lean Six Sigma).B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace, Electrical, or a related discipline.5+ years of experience in reliability, product validation, or mechanical test engineering.Hands-on experience designing and building custom test setups, data acquisition systems (image capture, vibration analysis, thermal measurement, EMC/EMI measurement, etc)Hands-on experience developing and executing qualification test plans for complex electromechanical systems.Demonstrated ability to apply statistical analysis in the context of product testing and reliability evaluation.Strong organizational planning skills and enthusiasm to develop high-level validation strategyAdditional Desired Qualifications - The requirements below are desired knowledge, skills and/or abilities we desire but not required.Familiarity with industry-specific environmental test standards (MIL-STD-810,DO-160, etc.) and associated test methods.Experience with lightweight aerostructures, vibrations, fatigue analysis, etc.Experience with UAS systems, robotics, autonomous vehicles, etc.Experience with BLDC motor system design, integration, and validationProficiency in PCB layout, design, and component placement for electromechanical systemsIndustry experience in robotics, UAVs/drones, autonomous systems, or similar hardware‑driven environmentsFamiliarity with camera modules, imaging systems, and optical component integrationKnowledge of structural composite materials (carbon fiber, fiberglass) and related mold or tooling designExperience performing or interpreting analyses such as thermal, aerodynamic, or transient vibration simulationPhysical Requirements and Working Conditions - The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.Be able to lift 15 lbWork on your feet for 5+ hours each dayBackground CheckThis position will require successfully completing a post-offer background check. Qualified candidates with a criminal history will be considered and are not automatically disqualified, consistent with federal and state law.EEO and ITAR/EAR Work Authorization DisclosureRed Cat Holdings provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This position requires direct or indirect access to hardware, software, technology or technical data controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Successful candidates for positions subject to ITAR/EAR restrictions must provide proof of U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residence and must not require sponsorship for export-restricted work authorization.E-VerifyThe company participates E-Verify ensure eligibility for employment and compliance with Right to Work rules.Compensation: Salary Range $113,965 - $178,135 plus equity and possible bonuses