Senior Development Test Engineer - Mechanisms

Castelion Corporation•Torrance, CA

About The Position

The Senior Development Test Engineer owns the planning, execution, and analysis of tests that turn designs into flight-ready mechanisms. The role works across engineering, manufacturing, and operations, translating requirements into real-world validation through benchtop, environmental, subsystem, and vehicle-level testing. The engineer designs test stands and writes automation software to enable rapid testing and iterative design. This is a hands-on role in a fast-paced, ambiguity-heavy environment focused on learning through testing real hardware.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, or a related engineering field.
5+ years of experience developing, integrating, or testing mechanical or electromechanical hardware.
Experience with test instrumentation and lab equipment, such as DAQs, oscilloscopes, power supplies, and sensors.
Experience with common sensors such as load cells, pressure transducers, LVDTs, and encoders.
Strong debugging, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis skills.
Comfort working across disciplines in high-ownership environments.
Willingness to support extended hours, weekends, travel, and on-site operations during critical test campaigns.
Comfort working in fast-moving environments where hardware is the source of truth.
Experience with environmental testing, including vibration, thermal-vacuum, thermal cycling, and shock.

Nice To Haves

Aerospace, automotive, defense, or other high-reliability hardware testing experience.
Flight test, range operations, or hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) experience.
Familiarity with requirements verification, qualification evidence, and failure tracking.
Hands-on machining, wiring, soldering, or rapid prototyping experience.
Python for automated test software development is preferred.

Responsibilities

Translate system and subsystem requirements into test objectives, acceptance criteria, and verification methods.
Own development and acceptance testing for flight mechanisms for Castelion’s hypersonic strike missiles.
Design and build complex test stands with integrated load actuators and instrumentation.
Develop automated test software for instrument control, test sequencing, data logging, and analysis; Python is preferred.
Maintain rigorous configuration control, data management, and test documentation.
Improve test infrastructure, automation, and data quality to increase test cadence and learning velocity.
Support flight tests and rocket motor static fires as required.