Lead Test Engineer (Fluids and Mechanical Systems)

Lead Test Engineer – Fluids & Mechanical Systems


Role Summary
The Lead Test Engineer owns test engineering strategy and execution across both fluids (hydraulic, pneumatic, propulsion component) and mechanical (structural, prototype-to-production) test programs. This role bridges design and proof for the team's full testing scope while also leading and developing the engineers who carry out that work — setting technical direction, building test capability, and growing the people on the team.

Key Responsibilities
Test Strategy and Program Ownership

• 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