The RoleWe're looking for a Lead Test Engineer to build and own the test function at Odin Dynamics from the ground up. You'll define how we verify, validate, and qualify our autonomous underwater vehicles - from subsystem bench testing through environmental qualification and in-water operations. This is equal parts technical leadership and organizational building. You'll be hands-on designing test infrastructure and running campaigns today, and hiring and leading the test team as we grow.
If you've ever wished you could build a test organization the right way from day one, this is that opportunity.
What You'll Do- Define and build the test and integration function - processes, infrastructure, tooling, and eventually the team.
- Plan and execute vehicle-level integration and test campaigns, bringing together mechanical, electrical, firmware, and software subsystems into a verified, mission-ready system.
- Design and lead environmental qualification testing - pressure, thermal, vibration, and shock - ensuring the vehicle performs across its full operating envelope.
- Plan and conduct in-water test events, from dock-side checkouts through open-water missions, coordinating logistics, safety, instrumentation, and data collection.
- Develop and maintain software and systems verification approaches, working with the software team to ensure autonomy, navigation, and control systems are tested rigorously before they hit the water.
- Build test automation and data infrastructure - instrumentation rigs, automated test sequences, data pipelines, and reporting tools that make testing repeatable and efficient.
- Author and maintain test plans, procedures, reports, and anomaly documentation to a standard that supports both internal engineering and customer deliverables.
- Serve as the engineering voice for system readiness - you'll be the person who says whether the vehicle is ready for the next milestone.
- Hire, mentor, and lead test engineers and technicians as the team scales.
What We're Looking For- B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field.
- 7+ years of experience in test engineering, systems integration, or verification and validation for complex hardware-software systems.
- Demonstrated experience planning and executing integration and test campaigns for vehicles, robots, or other complex electromechanical systems.
- Hands-on experience with environmental testing - pressure, thermal cycling, vibration, or similar qualification regimes.
- Field test experience - you've operated hardware outside of a lab and know what it takes to run a safe, productive test event in an operational environment.
- Strong instrumentation and data acquisition skills - you know how to measure what matters and how to turn test data into engineering decisions.
- Experience building or significantly improving test processes, infrastructure, or teams.
- Ability to work fluidly across mechanical, electrical, and software disciplines - test engineers touch everything.
- Strong written and verbal communication - your test reports and readiness recommendations need to be clear and defensible.
- U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain a security clearance.
Nice to Have- Experience testing underwater vehicles, marine systems, or subsea equipment.
- Background in defense or aerospace test and evaluation programs.
- Familiarity with test automation frameworks and scripting for hardware-in-the-loop or automated regression testing.
- Experience with formal verification and validation methodologies for safety-critical or mission-critical systems.
- Exposure to customer acceptance testing or government test and evaluation processes.
- Active security clearance (Secret or above).
