Development Test Engineer - Mechanisms

Mariner - Californiafull time

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Castelioncorporation Development Test Engineer at Castelion responsible for planning, executing, and analyzing tests to validate flight-ready hardware. Design test hardware, write procedures, run tests, and collaborate with design engineering for rapid iteration.

Responsibilities

Own development and qualification testing for avionics, mechanisms, propulsion, structures, and integrated vehicle subsystems
Design and build test fixtures, ground support equipment (GSE), and instrumentation for benchtop, environmental, and system-level tests
Author test plans, procedures, and reports aligned with program requirements and qualification intent
Execute vibration, thermal, shock, EMI/EMC, functional, and performance testing
Instrument hardware and vehicles with sensors (strain, temp, pressure, accel, current/voltage) and DAQ systems
Lead anomaly detection, root-cause analysis, and corrective action closure
Partner closely with design engineering to feed test results back into rapid design iteration
Support integration operations, range testing, and flight test campaigns as needed
Maintain rigorous configuration control, data management, and test documentation
Improve test infrastructure, automation, and data quality to increase test cadence and learning velocity

Qualification

Bachelors degree in MechanicalStrong debuggingWillingness to support extended hoursOperates with high ownershipAerospaceEnvironmental testingFlight testHands-on machining

Required

Bachelors degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, or related engineering field
3+ years of hands-on development and test experience (academic, industry, or both)
Experience planning and executing hardware tests from concept through report-out
Proficiency with test instrumentation and lab equipment (DAQs, oscilloscopes, power supplies, sensors)
Ability to design and fabricate simple test fixtures and GSE (CAD + shop familiarity)
Strong debugging, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis skills
Comfortable working across disciplines in high-ownership environments
Willingness to support extended hours, weekends, travel, and on-site operations during critical test campaigns
Operates with high ownership, bias to action, attention to detail, and a test-driven engineering mindset
Comfortable working in fast-moving environments where hardware is the source of truth

Preferred

Aerospace, missile, launch vehicle, space, or defense hardware testing
Environmental testing: vibration, thermal-vacuum, thermal cycling, shock
Test automation and data analysis using Python, MATLAB, or similar
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
Castelion offers a generous benefits package. Please refer to the bottom of our Careers page for more details.
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.