Lead Manufacturing Engineer, Test

Mach Industries • Huntington Beach, CA

21h

About The Position

Mach Industries is hiring a Lead Manufacturing Engineer, Test, to own production testing across its products and subsystems. The role covers PCB flashing and configuration, component and subassembly testing, end-of-line system functional testing, and final acceptance. The successful candidate will define what is tested, where testing occurs, and how it is performed, then design, source, and launch the stations, fixtures, software, and data flows needed for production-rate testing.

This is a hands-on technical leadership position with direct reports. The role sets technical direction for the test area and guides engineers, technicians, and integrators, while also working on the production floor to bring up stations, debug failures, and keep hardware moving. The engineer collaborates across Product Engineering, Firmware, Manufacturing Engineering, Controls, Quality, Supply Chain, and Operations to translate design intent into repeatable, high-coverage, data-rich production tests.

The position also owns the Design for Test section of the Manufacturing Engineering DFM/A Guide and the PCB flashing strategy, including production firmware configuration control and unit-specific configuration. The engineer develops and validates test stations for a range of hardware and systems, manages vendors and integrators through acceptance and commissioning, and drives test readiness for new products, design changes, and production-line launches. The role supports supplier and customer/government acceptance testing, improves failure feedback and diagnostics, and provides training, documentation, and floor support.

The stated salary range is $140,000–$180,000 USD. Mach describes its compensation package as including performance-based incentives, equity participation, healthcare, dental and vision plans, retirement savings, paid time off, and professional development support. The position may require access to export-controlled information; applicants must meet the specified U.S. export-control eligibility requirements or be eligible to obtain required authorizations. An employment offer may be conditioned on authorization to receive controlled technology without sponsorship for an export license.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, Computer, or Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field.
• At least 7 years of experience in manufacturing test, test engineering, or production validation in aerospace, automotive, electronics, or a comparable complex hardware environment.
• Demonstrated experience taking production test systems from concept through FAT/SAT, launch, and rate production.
• Experience implementing production PCB flashing and configuration for embedded electronics, including firmware image control and programming verification.
• Proficiency in at least one test development environment, such as Python, LabVIEW/TestStand, or C#.
• 3D CAD experience for fixture and test interface design; Siemens NX is preferred.
• Strong understanding of test strategy, test coverage, limit setting, MSA/Gage R&R, and statistical data analysis.
• Experience with structured problem-solving methods such as 8D, 5-Why, fishbone, and fault tree analysis.
• Experience writing equipment specifications and managing external vendors.
• Available to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
• Must meet the stated U.S. export-control eligibility requirements or be eligible to obtain required authorizations for access to controlled information or technology.

Nice To Haves

• Production test experience in aerospace and defense, especially UAS, munitions, avionics, or propulsion.
• Experience with production programming tools such as SEGGER J-Link/Flasher, Data I/O, BPM Microsystems, or similar, and with programming through ICT or boundary scan.
• Experience with secure provisioning and key injection, signed firmware, and protecting controlled firmware images on the factory floor.
• Experience developing leak test profiles and methods, including pressure decay, mass flow, or helium/tracer gas.
• Experience with turbine, jet engine, or other propulsion acceptance testing.
• Experience with PCBA and harness test methods such as ICT, flying probe, boundary scan (JTAG), functional test, and automated harness testers such as Cirris or DIT-MCO.
• Experience with vehicle and embedded communication protocols such as CAN, RS-422/485, UART, SPI/I2C, Ethernet, or MAVLink.
• Experience with RF test equipment and methods, including VNA, spectrum analyzer, datalink, and GNSS checkout.
• Experience with environmental stress screening, burn-in, or HALT/HASS.
• Electrical design experience with tools such as EPLAN or similar.
• Familiarity with AS9100, MIL-STD-810, and MIL-STD-461.
• Lean or Six Sigma experience, with statistical tools such as Minitab or JMP.
• Experience standing up new test capability in an early-stage or high-growth environment.
• Active U.S. security clearance, or the ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

• Own production test strategy and execution for assigned products and subsystems, from incoming and component testing through subassembly testing, EOL functional testing, rework and retest, and final acceptance.
• Translate product requirements, design intent, and DFMEA/PFMEA risks into test requirements, coverage maps, test limits, and pass/fail criteria.
• Author, maintain, and apply the Design for Test section of the Manufacturing Engineering DFM/A Guide, covering test access, programming and debug access, connector and harness access, built-in self-test and diagnostics, calibration, serialization, and traceability.
• Own PCB flashing strategy, including programming location and methods, equipment selection, production station/process launch, firmware image configuration control, versioning, verification, unit-specific configuration, and re-flash processes.
• Develop, validate, and launch production test stations and fixtures for avionics and PCBA, wire harnesses, leak and pressure decay, propulsion, RF/datalink/GPS, sensors and IMUs, control surfaces and actuators, and full-system EOL testing.
• Design or specify test fixtures and interfaces in 3D CAD, and develop or review test station electrical schematics and integrator designs.
• Write equipment and process specifications; assess vendors and integrators; make data-driven sourcing and make-versus-buy recommendations.
• Lead vendors and integrators through design reviews, FAT, SAT, installation, and commissioning.
• Validate test systems before release using MSA/Gage R&R, golden-unit and limit-sample correlation, and guardband analysis.
• Run DOEs to optimize test methods, improve detection sensitivity, and reduce cycle time without reducing coverage.
• Drive test readiness for new product introductions, design changes, and line bring-ups, including validation plans, cutover plans, and issue containment.
• Improve fault isolation, diagnostic coverage, troubleshooting guides, retest logic, and feedback to design, suppliers, and process owners.
• Define supplier test and programming requirements and support customer and government acceptance activities, including ATPs and first article testing.
• Act as technical lead on test projects; guide and review engineers, technicians, and integrators; and mentor junior engineers.
• Support operations with training, documentation, and work instructions, and respond to test station and test failure issues on the production floor.

Benefits

• Performance-based incentives/bonus structure.
• Stock options or equity participation; highly competitive equity grants are included in most offers.
• Healthcare/health insurance.
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• Retirement savings plans.
• Paid time off.
• Funds for continuing education, training, and career growth/professional development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior