Lead Test Engineer (Fluids and Mechanical Systems)

• →Own testing process, hardware, and procedures across prototype qualification and production acceptance testing for both fluid systems and mechanical/structural hardware
• →Develop test methodology aligned with industry standards, evaluate commercial versus in-house test capability options, and plan equipment and facility upgrades
• →Establish company-wide testing and design policies, and set the technical standards the team works against

Test Design, Instrumentation, and Execution

• →Design and manage test stand infrastructure — test rigs, fixtures, and fluid loops for hydraulic and pneumatic hardware — and create custom tooling for both fluids and mechanical applications
• →Specify instrumentation and data acquisition systems for flow, pressure, temperature, position, and structural measurement, and develop detailed test procedures for development, qualification, and acceptance testing
• →Lead flow, pressure, leakage, proof, burst, endurance, environmental, and structural assembly testing, including qualification campaigns against DO-160 and MIL-STD requirements, while ensuring safe practices for high-pressure and hazardous-fluid operations

Analysis and Reporting

• →Reduce and analyze test data with uncertainty quantification, author test reports, and lead root cause analysis on failures
• →Support prototype development in the in-house R&D laboratory and feed findings back into design in collaboration with engineering and production teams

Team Leadership and Facilitation

• →Set technical direction for the fluids and mechanical test engineers on the team — reviewing test plans and results, coaching on methodology, and unblocking their work
• →Manage and grow the team, including hiring, performance management, and career development, and represent test engineering cross-functionally with design, production, and program management

Required Qualifications

• →Bachelor's or advanced degree in aerospace, mechanical, manufacturing, or materials engineering
• →5+ years of experience in test engineering spanning fluids (hydraulic/pneumatic) and mechanical/structural hardware
• →Experience leading, mentoring, or managing engineers, with a track record of developing team capability
• →Hands-on experience with test rig design, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems
• →Strong foundation in mechanical engineering fundamentals: thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and static mechanics
• →Strong understanding of fluid measurement, uncertainty analysis, and test data reduction
• →Experience planning and executing qualification test campaigns

Preferred Qualifications

• →Master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline
• →People management experience in an engineering organization
• →GD&T proficiency
• →Experience with LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB, or similar DAQ and test automation tools
• →Familiarity with DO-160 environmental testing and MIL-STD test methods
• →Experience testing servo valves, actuators, or high-pressure fluid systems
• →Siemens NX or comparable CAD software
• →Experience across multiple manufacturing sites