Test Engineering Manager

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD); Moorpark (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD) seeks an experienced Test Engineering Manager to lead a team of Test Engineers across environmental, mechanical, and explosive testing throughout the product life cycle. Reporting to the Director of Engineering, this role combines technical leadership with people development and hands-on execution.

The position is a first-shift, on-site role in Moorpark, CA, working with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, EHS, Program Management, and

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Engineering or related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of relevant engineering experience, including test engineering in aerospace/defense/high-reliability environments.
• 3+ years of technical and/or people leadership experience in engineering, manufacturing, laboratory, or test environment.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop engineers and technical personnel.
• Strong problem-solving, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis skills.
• Strong project management, resource planning, and prioritization skills.
• Effective written, verbal, technical, and customer-facing communication.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, test requirements, and test data.
• Experience with 3D CAD and 2D drawings; SolidWorks preferred.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, rapid prototyping, and product development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the safe and effective execution of environmental, mechanical, and explosive testing.
• Lead, mentor, and develop Test Engineers while building a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team.
• Establish priorities, goals, and performance expectations aligned with EBAD objectives.
• Lead test planning, resource allocation, scheduling, and Qualification Test Readiness Reviews.
• Ensure rigorous engineering practices for test planning, execution, data analysis, and documentation.
• Maintain visibility of schedules and risks, escalate issues early, coordinate cross-functional solutions.
• Drive structured problem solving, RCCA, standard work, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement.
• Support proposals, cost and scope estimates, customer interactions, witness testing, and technical reviews.
• Improve test processes, equipment, fixtures, tooling, instrumentation, and lab capabilities.
• Support capital planning for test equipment, infrastructure, and capability expansion.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Root cause analysis

Communication

Mentoring

Problem solving

Engineering drawings

Education

BS/MS in Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

3D CAD

Test instrumentation

Data acquisition systems

Job description

At Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD), we believe that our strengths are built on our most important resource - our people. Join EBAD and you'll be a part of a team who creates cutting edge technology that will blast us into the future. No other company can match the innovative energetic solutions that we provide. At EBAD you will actively contribute to successful missions putting men, women and satellites into space, and protecting our armed service men and women around the world. If this is the culture and work environment you are seeking, then EBAD is the place for you!

Job Description

EBAD is seeking an experienced Test Engineering Manager to lead a team of Test Engineers supporting environmental, mechanical, and explosive testing across the product life cycle. Reporting to the Director of Engineering, this role combines technical leadership, people development, and operational execution to ensure safe, rigorous, and efficient testing.

The Test Engineering Manager works closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, EHS, Program Management, and customers to support product development, qualification, production, troubleshooting, and failure analysis.

This is a first-shift, on-site position in Moorpark, CA.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the safe and effective execution of environmental, mechanical, and explosive testing.
• Lead, mentor, and develop Test Engineers while building a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team.
• Establish priorities, goals, and performance expectations aligned with EBAD business objectives and customer commitments.
• Lead test planning, resource allocation, scheduling, Test Planning Meetings, and Qualification Test Readiness Reviews.
• Ensure rigorous engineering practices for test planning, execution, data analysis, documentation, and configuration control.
• Maintain visibility of schedules and risks, escalat issues early, and coordinate solutions across cross-functional teams.
• Drive structured problem solving, RCCA, standard work, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement.
• Support proposals, cost and scope estimates, customer interactions, witness testing, and technical reviews.
• Improve test processes, equipment, fixtures, tooling, instrumentation, and laboratory capabilities.
• Support capital planning for test equipment, infrastructure, and capability expansion.

Requirements:

• BS/MS in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant engineering experience, including test engineering experience in aerospace, defense, energetic systems, medical devices, or another high-reliability technical environment.
• Minimum of 3 years of technical and/or people leadership experience in an engineering, manufacturing, laboratory, or test environment.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop engineers and technical personnel.
• Strong problem-solving, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis skills.
• Strong project management, resource planning, and prioritization skills.
• Effective written, verbal, technical, and customer-facing communication.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, test requirements, and test data.
• Experience with 3D CAD and 2D drawings; SolidWorks preferred.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, rapid prototyping, and product development.

Preferred Experience:

• Environmental and mechanical testing, including vibration, shock, altitude/vacuum, temperature, humidity, tensile, and compression testing.
• Test instrumentation including oscilloscopes, thermocouples, accelerometers, pressure transducers, data acquisition systems, and VR9500 or similar systems.
• Explosive materials, energetic devices, and/or explosive testing.
• Experience improving engineering processes, standard work, test methods, or laboratory operations.

Compensation:

Salary Range: $150,000-190,000 per year. Actual compensation will be determined based on education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, internal equity, and alignment with market data.

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, or veteran status.