Senior Test Engineer — Structural Validation & Test Fixtures

Socket.dev; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 111,000 - 204,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity plan

Paid time off

Health benefits

Job summary

Divergent is seeking a seasoned Test Engineer to ensure safety, durability, and performance of components and assemblies.

You will design custom hardware, build test methods from scratch, and lead validation work that informs engineering decisions and product quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related discipline.
• 5+ years of mechanical design, manufacturing, or structural test engineering.
• Proficiency with Siemens NX and hands-on hardware assembly.

Responsibilities

• Design test fixtures and tooling using Siemens NX.
• Produce drawings with GD&T and manufacturing instructions.
• Lead test setup, instrumentation, and execution of structural tests.
• Analyze data and report findings to engineers and leadership.

Skills

Communication

Documentation

Project coordination

Self-motivation

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

Dewesoft

NI FlexLogger

Job description

Divergent is building the new industrial age. Every day, our teams design, manufacture, and assemble advanced systems for some of the world’s most demanding industries. Our integrated engineering and manufacturing platform transforms complex designs into production-ready solutions, helping customers move faster, build smarter, and deliver critical systems when they matter most. Divergent is a qualified Tier 1 supplier to global automotive OEMs and supports leading U.S. aerospace and defense companies.

Join us and help push the boundaries of what can be built.

Purpose

In this role, you are essential to ensure that Divergent components and assemblies never compromise on safety, durability, or performance. You’ll be hands-on—designing custom hardware, building test methods from the ground up, and leading the validation work that directly shapes our engineering decisions and the quality of the final product.

The Role

We’re looking for a seasoned Test Engineer who balances deep mechanical fundamentals with a sharp eye for design-for-test and structural validation. You should be a CAD expert who thrives on the shop floor, someone who can bridge the gap between engineering theory and robust, repeatable hardware by working closely with multiple teams and suppliers.Team collaboration and strong communication are pivotal for this role.

Mechanical Design & Manufacturing Support

Design custom test fixtures, rigs, tooling, and mechanical assemblies using Siemens NX.

Produce detailed drawings, GD&T, build instructions, and manufacturing documentation.

Work closely with suppliers and internal teams to ensure manufacturability and high-quality builds.

Good understanding of MTS hydraulic systems and the integration of hydraulic actuators.

Support prototype assembly and fixture integration during test setup.

Test Planning & Project Coordination

Develop test plans, procedures, and schedules for component and system-level validation projects.

Utilize Atlassian Jira and Confluence for project tracking and technical documentation.

Collaborate with design, manufacturing, materials, and quality teams to define test requirements.

Communicate test scope, timelines, risks, and resource needs to stakeholders.

Prepare test documentation, readiness packages, and configuration records.

Test Setup & Execution

Lead setup, instrumentation, and execution of structural component tests.

Operate MTS TestSuite for automated test control and execution.

Configure and manage hydraulic actuators, manifolds, and servo valves for structural loading.

Install and calibrate sensors including load cells, strain gauges, and LVDTs.

Utilize various DAQ software packages for high-speed data acquisition and real-time monitoring.

Ensure accurate, reliability, and safe operation of all tests.

Diagnoses and troubleshoot mechanical, instrumentation, and test execution issues.

Data Analysis & Reporting

Analyze test data to evaluate component performance and verify compliance with engineering specifications.

Generate clear, comprehensive test reports with conclusions and recommendations.

Present findings to design engineers, leadership, and program teams.

Quality, Documentation & Compliance

Maintain complete documentation of test procedures, configurations, and results.

Ensure adherence to relevant industry standards and internal processes.

Support traceability of test articles and fixture configurations.

Continuous Improvement

Identify opportunities to improve test methods and laboratory workflows.

Recommend upgrades to test equipment, instrumentation, or documentation systems.

Stay current with emerging testing, design, and manufacturing technologies.

Safety & Risk Management

Uphold all safety protocols within the lab environment.

Participate in risk assessments, equipment readiness checks, and safety reviews.

Basic Qualifications

Ability to lawfully access information and technology that is subject to US export controls

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related discipline.

5+ years of experience in mechanical design, manufacturing engineering, or structural test engineering.

Proficiency in CAD (Siemens NX).

Hands-on experience with mechanical assembly, hydraulic actuators, and instrumentation (Load Cells/Strain Gauges).

Experience with data acquisition systems such as Dewesoft or NI FlexLogger.

Strong communication, documentation, and project coordination skills.

Self-motivated, organized, and effective in a fast-paced R&D environment.

Preferred Qualifications

Strong understanding of:

Structural testing (fatigue and durability)

MTS TestSuite and Atlassian Jira/Confluence

Data acquisition and analysis tools

Experience with CAE tools like Hypermesh and ANSA.

Experience with Zeiss Aramis system

Shaker/Vibe table experience in setup and running vibration tests

MIL-STD spec, knowledge and know how

Work Environment

Factory and office environment.

Work near moving mechanical parts.

Traveling (~10%)

Compensation

At Divergent, our pay range is based on the level of the job. For this role, we will consider candidates at levels E04 - E06 as evaluated through our interview process.

Engineer II / E04: $111,300 - $153,040

Sr. Engineer / E05: $128,520 - $176,720

Staff Engineer / E06: $148,430 - $204,090

Pay Range

$111,300—$204,090 USD

What We Offer:

Holistic Compensation Package: Enjoy a world-class compensation package that includes a competitive salary, equity plan, and discretionary results-based incentive bonus opportunities, ensuring you're truly valued for your contributions.

Wellness and Time Off: Embrace a healthy lifestyle with paid vacation, sick time, and company holidays, including a year-end shutdown to recharge. We support growing families with paid parental leave, recognizing the importance of bonding time.

Comprehensive Health and Wellness: Prioritize your well-being with our comprehensive health and wellness benefits, offering both HMO and Premium PPO options. Additionally, benefit from company-sponsored life insurance and short and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind.

Investment in Growth: We're committed to your professional development. Take advantage of reimbursement opportunities for learning and development initiatives, empowering you to continuously expand your skill set and reach peak performance.

Collaborative and High-Performing Environment: Join our collaborative, dynamic, and high-performing team within a fast-paced, mission-driven company. Together, we're disrupting the traditional manufacturing industry, fostering innovation, and integrating people and technology to reduce our footprint.

Equal Employment OpportunityDivergent is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected characteristic. Divergent provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.EEO Poster

In order to adjust to changes in our business, it may become necessary to add, remove or modify certain duties and responsibilities, or to reassign you to another job position. From time to time you may be asked to work on special projects or to assist with other work. Your cooperation and assistance in performing such additional work is expected. E-Verify: Right to WorkOur company participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is a program that electronically confirms a candidate’s eligibility to work in the United States after completing the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). The information provided on the Form I-9 is compared to the records contained in the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) databases. This helps employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of newly hired employees.Eligibility to Work Poster (English) | Eligibility to Work Poster (Spanish)Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO)Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO), we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

No agencies, no solicitations, and no calls please.