Lead Test Engineer

About the role

You will architect and own the end-to-end test strategy for missile defense hardware from component to system level, defining test objectives that align with mission success and program risk management. You will lead the development of test architectures, instrumentation strategies, and data systems that enable rapid, disciplined, and repeatable verification of complex defensive systems. In this role, you will mentor 1 to 5 direct reports, elevating the capabilities of the Test Engineering & Operations organization through hands-on guidance and technical leadership. You will work closely with design, engineering, and operations teams to translate requirements into executable test plans, ensuring traceability and closure across the program lifecycle. You will drive continuous improvement in test processes, tools, and data practices to increase quality, reduce cycle time, and enhance mission readiness. As a hands-on leader, you will own critical test execution and analysis, making timely decisions based on data to unblock integration and delivery. You will represent test leadership in cross-functional forums, communicating technical status, risks, and mitigation strategies to stakeholders. You will champion a culture of safety, rigor, and ownership, ensuring that every test campaign reflects best practices and supports the highest levels of system reliability.

Key facts

What you'll do

Define and own the test strategy, test architecture, and test requirements that translate program and system-level objectives into verifiable test cases and acceptance criteria.

Lead the development and deployment of instrumentation and data systems, ensuring that measurement coverage, sampling rates, and data quality meet mission-critical verification needs.

Design, execute, and analyze component, subsystem, and system-level tests, integrating hardware, software, and test fixtures to validate performance against rigorous standards.

Mentor and develop a small test engineering and technical team, providing hands-on guidance, career feedback, and skill-building aligned with test objectives.

Partner with engineering, manufacturing, and operations teams to coordinate test campaigns, resolve technical issues, and ensure alignment with program schedules and risk management practices.

Establish and maintain traceability from requirements through test design, execution, and reporting, ensuring that verification evidence supports program decision-making.

Lead the qualification and acceptance testing of flight units, ensuring that each unit demonstrates compliance with defined performance, reliability, and safety criteria.

Drive the implementation of test process improvements, automation, and tooling that increase coverage, reduce manual effort, and improve data turnaround time.

Own test readiness reviews and pre-test activities, ensuring that test articles, facilities, procedures, and safety reviews are complete and risk-informed.

Represent test leadership in internal and external reviews, providing clear status, technical rationale, and mitigation plans to stakeholders and program offices.

Champion the use of data analytics and diagnostic techniques to extract actionable insight from test results, accelerating root cause analysis and design iterations.

Promote a culture of safety and discipline, ensuring that all test activities follow established procedures, standards, and risk controls.

Contribute to the development and maintenance of test documentation, including test plans, procedures, protocols, and final reports.

Support the integration and flight test campaign planning, ensuring that test objectives, success criteria, and data requirements are fully addressed.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. citizen to obtain security clearance for this role.

You must be able to pass a government background check that meets the standards for a security clearance.

You must be eligible to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship at the time of application.

You must have a demonstrated history of taking full ownership of complex test programs and delivering flight-ready hardware verification.

You must have experience leading test engineering teams and collaborating across functions in a mission-driven environment.

You must have strong written and verbal communication skills to articulate technical status, risks, and trade studies to diverse audiences.

You must have a strong commitment to safety, quality, and disciplined execution in high-consequence environments.

You must be comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic program that values agility, data-driven decisions, and continuous improvement.

Practical notes

The role is based in Long Beach, California, and aligns with the location specified in the job description. The engagement details are to be confirmed in accordance with the source information. You should be prepared to discuss compensation elements as part of the hiring process, as specific pay details are not provided in the source materials. This position requires U.S. citizenship due to the need for security clearance in support of missile defense technology work for the United States and its allies. You must be eligible to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship at the time of application, and you must successfully pass a government background check that meets security clearance standards. The role involves significant responsibility for test strategy, execution, and leadership across component, subsystem, and system-level testing for defensive systems. You will lead a small team of test engineers and/or technicians, providing mentorship and hands-on technical contribution in a mission-driven environment. The position demands strong ownership, cross-functional collaboration, and data-driven decision-making in a fast-paced program that values agility, safety, and continuous improvement. Your work will directly support the delivery of higher performance, lower cost, and more broadly distributed defensive technology that meets rigorous verification standards. You will play a key role in qualification and acceptance testing, test readiness reviews, and integration with flight test campaigns, ensuring that every test campaign reflects discipline, traceability, and mission focus. This is a hands-on leadership role that requires deep technical expertise, mentoring ability, and the capacity to communicate clearly with stakeholders at all levels. The location in Long Beach, California, positions you at a strategic hub for aerospace activities, and the role may require travel in accordance with program needs. You should expect to engage in a dynamic, high-consequence environment where test processes, instrumentation, and data systems are central to program success. If you are a mission-driven problem solver who thrives on ownership, rigor, and technical excellence, this role provides an opportunity to shape the future of defensive testing and contribute directly to national security objectives.