Staff Hardware Test Engineer

Apera; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Apera in San Francisco is seeking multiple Mechanical Test Engineers to own the full test lifecycle for aerospace hardware, from planning and fixture design through to execution and reporting. You will collaborate with design, systems, and integration teams to ensure hardware meets performance and certification requirements prior to deployment.

Ideal candidates are hands-on engineers who thrive on ownership of test strategies, campaigns, and data-driven problem solving in a fast-growing

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• Experience planning and executing hardware validation, verification, or qualification testing.
• Experience developing test procedures, success criteria, and test campaigns.
• Hands-on experience with instrumentation, sensors, data acquisition systems (DAQ), and test equipment.
• Experience designing or supporting the design of test fixtures, rigs, or ground support equipment.
• Strong understanding of mechanical systems, structures, and electromechanical hardware.
• Experience analysing test data and performing root cause investigations.
• Ability to communicate technical findings clearly to multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop test plans, procedures, and validation strategies for new hardware and subsystems.
• Design and develop test fixtures, rigs, and supporting test equipment.
• Define instrumentation requirements, select sensors, and establish data acquisition systems.
• Execute mechanical, structural, environmental, thermal, vibration, and qualification test campaigns.
• Collect, process, and analyse test data to evaluate system performance and identify issues.
• Perform root cause investigations and failure analysis on hardware and test anomalies.
• Collaborate with design engineers to improve product performance, manufacturability, and reliability.
• Document test methods, results, findings, and recommendations in technical reports.
• Support hardware integration activities and verification efforts throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Drive continuous improvements to testing methodologies, automation, and laboratory capabilities.

Skills

Test planning

Test execution

Data analysis

Instrumentation + DAQ

Test fixtures design

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Python

MATLAB

LabVIEW

SolidWorks

Creo

CATIA

Job description

We are seeking multiple experienced Mechanical Test Engineers to support the development, validation, and qualification of complex aerospace hardware systems. This is a hands‑on engineering role focused on owning the full test lifecycle, from planning and fixture design through to execution, data analysis, troubleshooting, and reporting.

The successful candidate will work closely with design, systems, and integration teams to ensure hardware meets performance, reliability, and certification requirements before deployment.

Why Join?

Join a market‑leading autonomous aviation company that's redefining the future of logistics through real‑world, large‑scale deployment of cutting‑edge aircraft systems.

Backed by significant investment and entering a rapid growth phase, the business offers the stability, ambition, and resources to tackle some of the most complex challenges in aerospace and autonomy.

You'll work alongside world‑class engineers, developing technology that doesn't sit in a lab, but operates every day in real‑world environments, delivering tangible impact at scale.

This is a rare opportunity to combine the pace of a high‑growth technology company with the technical depth and mission‑critical challenges of the aerospace industry.

Responsibilities

• Develop test plans, procedures, and validation strategies for new hardware and subsystems.
• Design and develop test fixtures, rigs, and supporting test equipment.
• Define instrumentation requirements, select sensors, and establish data acquisition systems.
• Execute mechanical, structural, environmental, thermal, vibration, and qualification test campaigns.
• Collect, process, and analyse test data to evaluate system performance and identify issues.
• Perform root cause investigations and failure analysis on hardware and test anomalies.
• Collaborate with design engineers to improve product performance, manufacturability, and reliability.
• Document test methods, results, findings, and recommendations in technical reports.
• Support hardware integration activities and verification efforts throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Drive continuous improvements to testing methodologies, automation, and laboratory capabilities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Experience planning and executing hardware validation, verification, or qualification testing.
• Experience developing test procedures, success criteria, and test campaigns.
• Hands‑on experience with instrumentation, sensors, data acquisition systems (DAQ), and test equipment.
• Experience designing or supporting the design of test fixtures, rigs, or ground support equipment.
• Strong understanding of mechanical systems, structures, and electromechanical hardware.
• Experience analysing test data and performing root cause investigations.
• Ability to communicate technical findings clearly to multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Aerospace, autonomous systems, robotics, automotive, defence, or advanced hardware experience.
• Experience with environmental, vibration, thermal, fatigue, or structural testing.
• Working knowledge of Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or similar tools for test automation and data analysis.
• Experience with CAD tools such as SolidWorks, Creo, NX, or CATIA.
• Familiarity with product development within a regulated engineering environment.
• Experience supporting prototype, development, or flight hardware programs.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on engineer who enjoys taking ownership of the entire testing process. They are equally comfortable developing test strategies, building test setups, executing complex test campaigns, analysing results, and working with design teams to solve challenging hardware problems. They thrive in a fast‑paced development environment where test engineering plays a critical role in product success.