Senior Test Engineer

Senior Test Engineer Torrance, California, United States Apply for Position Or refer someone Job Openings Senior Test Engineer About the job Senior Test Engineer Why Castelion, Why Now Castelion is moving incredibly fast to develop and deliver advanced defense systems at a time when execution matters more than ever. We believe focus and technical excellence are decisive advantages - and we are building a team that can deliver real capability, not just concepts. This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage, where your work will directly shape critical systems, influence major technical decisions, and have immediate, real-world impact. Senior Test Engineer, Solid Rocket Motors & Hypersonic Systems We are seeking a Senior Test Engineer to lead testing activities for solid rocket motors (SRM) and integrated hypersonic strike vehicles at Castelion. This role is responsible for developing and executing test plans for static fire testing, environmental qualification, functional verification, and flight test support. You will work hands-on with propulsion hardware, instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and test infrastructure while ensuring the highest standards of safety, data quality, and mission success. Partnering closely with Propulsion, Manufacturing, Integration & Test, and Design teams, you will drive test readiness for prototype, qualification, and production hardware on aggressive development timelines for programs like Blackbeard. Responsibilities Lead the development of comprehensive test plans, procedures, and requirements for SRM static fires, environmental testing (vibration, thermal, shock, humidity), functional checkout, and vehicle-level integration testing. Design, commission, and operate test fixtures, instrumentation setups, and data acquisition systems for thrust, pressure, temperature, vibration, and other critical parameters. Execute and oversee static fire tests, environmental stress screening, and other qualification tests, ensuring safe operations with energetic materials and high-consequence hardware. Perform real-time test monitoring, data reduction, analysis, and reporting; identify anomalies and lead root-cause investigations with cross-functional teams. Support flight test campaigns, including pre-flight checkout, range coordination, telemetry monitoring, and post-flight data analysis. Drive continuous improvement in test processes, safety protocols, and efficiency while integrating automation and digital tools for data capture and analysis. Collaborate with Manufacturing and Propulsion on testability, design-for-test feedback, and hardware maturation from prototype to rate production. Author and maintain test documentation, safety plans, and compliance records in accordance with DoD, range safety, and energetic materials standards. Mentor junior test engineers and contribute to building robust test capabilities at Castelion facilities and partner ranges. Manage test schedules, resources, and interfaces with internal teams, suppliers, and external test ranges. Basic Qualifications Bachelor's Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field5 years of engineering test experience for solid rocket motors Preferred Skills and Experience Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field. 6–10+ years of test engineering experience in aerospace or defense, with at least 3+ years focused on propulsion, solid rocket motors, or missile systems testing. Proven track record developing and executing complex test programs from component through system level, including energetic or hazardous testing. Strong hands-on experience with test instrumentation, data acquisition (e.g., LabVIEW, MATLAB, or similar), sensors (pressure transducers, accelerometers, thermocouples), and high-speed data systems. Proficiency in test stand design, fixture development, and environmental test equipment...