Senior Manufacturing Test Engineer, Pneumatic Mechanisms & Fluid Assemblies

About the Team: 

The Stage Manufacturing team turns design into reality, owning the build of Terran R’s primary structures. This isn’t about turning the same bolt every day; it’s about building the systems to build the rocket. Engineers and technicians work side by side, with deep collaboration and real-time feedback, to shape how we build better and faster. With a manifest and a launch date, it’s up to the team to deliver on Terran R: solving challenges in real time, optimizing for scale, and constantly improving processes. As the vehicle evolves, so will the factory, with opportunities to apply automation, machine learning, and advanced technologies. What we build here sets the blueprint for the future of scaled launch.

About the Role:

• Own the development, validation, and refinement of test assets and processes across mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic systems. Collaborate with design and manufacturing partners to ensure production testing campaigns are executed efficiently, reliably and scalable over time.
• Drive the technical execution of mechanisms and integrated assembly testing through design integration, test equipment/tooling design or sourcing, test sequencing, mBOM development, work order creation, test training, and specification authoring.
• Provide technical leadership in workcenter development, offering guidance on assembly and test operations, safety compliance, tooling, capital equipment in alignment with organizational objectives.
• Provide hands-on support to the shop floor and production personnel, promptly addressing any test issues that arise and offering upstream feedback to drive design for manufacturability, testability or reparability.
• Analyze test data to evaluate assembly performance, identify recurring discrepancies, and lead cross-functional teams in root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration with design, production, supply chain, and quality teams to ensure seamless execution of manufacturing test processes while maintaining alignment with organizational objectives.

About You:

• BS degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, manufacturing engineering or other related discipline with 3+ years of experience building and testing hardware in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience authoring test procedures to build and validate mechanical, electrical and pneumatic assemblies.
• Demonstrated experience partnering with design engineering, manufacturing, and production teams to execute test procedures and lead investigations of test failures and anomalies.
• Proven experience designing, implementing, and managing large-scope test systems and process improvements with minimal oversight.
• Expert knowledge of safety standards, common test hazards and appropriate mitigations.
• Hands-on experience in at least two of the following: electromechanical or pneumatic assembly, electrical or pneumatic functional checkouts, integrated testing, leak checking, sensor checkouts, high-voltage systems (320V+), high-pressure pneumatic systems, or instrumentation and sensor setup.

Nice to haves but not required:  

• A proactive self-starter with a proven track record of defining and implementing testing processes, driving execution across diverse teams, and successfully managing and delivering testing projects in fast-paced, production-driven environments.
• Working knowledge of rocket subsystems, including structures, mechanisms, high-pressure gas systems, and avionics, with experience in planning and conducting hazardous operations for aerospace hardware systems.
• Knowledge of industry test standards, e.g., SMC-S-016, MIL-STD-1540D, MIL-STD-810G.
• Experience with test automation, data acquisitions and control systems, Electrical Test Equipment (e.g.: oscilloscopes, multimeters etc.), Pressure Test Equipment (e.g.: pressure regulators, flow meter)