EnsignBickford Aerospace & Defense Co

Test Engineering Manager

Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • BS/MS in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
  • 8+ years of relevant engineering experience, including test engineering in high-reliability environments.
  • 3+ years of leadership experience in an engineering or test environment.
  • Proven ability to mentor and develop technical personnel.
  • Strong problem-solving, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis skills.
  • Effective communication skills, both technical and customer-facing.
  • Experience with 3D CAD and SolidWorks preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the execution of environmental, mechanical, and explosive testing safely and effectively.
  • Mentor and develop a high-performing team of Test Engineers.
  • Establish performance expectations aligned with business and customer goals.
  • Plan, allocate resources, and schedule testing operations effectively.
  • Ensure rigorous engineering practices for all testing activities.
  • Maintain visibility of schedules and escalate issues promptly.
  • Drive structured problem solving and continuous improvement initiatives.

Benefits

  • Opportunity for professional development and growth.
  • Work in a dynamic, collaborative team environment.
  • Exposure to cutting-edge testing technologies and methodologies.
  • Contribute to high-impact projects in aerospace and defense sectors.
  • Engagement with cross-functional teams and customer interactions.
Full Job Description
EBAD is seeking an experienced Test Engineering Manager to lead a team of Test Engineers supporting environmental, mechanical, and explosive testing across the product life cycle. Reporting to the Director of Engineering, this role combines technical leadership, people development, and operational execution to ensure safe, rigorous, and efficient testing.

The Test Engineering Manager works closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, EHS, Program Management, and customers to support product development, qualification, production, troubleshooting, and failure analysis.

This is a first-shift, on-site position in Moorpark, CA.

Responsibilities:
  • Lead the safe and effective execution of environmental, mechanical, and explosive testing.
  • Lead, mentor, and develop Test Engineers while building a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team.
  • Establish priorities, goals, and performance expectations aligned with EBAD business objectives and customer commitments.
  • Lead test planning, resource allocation, scheduling, Test Planning Meetings, and Qualification Test Readiness Reviews.
  • Ensure rigorous engineering practices for test planning, execution, data analysis, documentation, and configuration control.
  • Maintain visibility of schedules and risks, escalate issues early, and coordinate solutions across cross-functional teams.
  • Drive structured problem solving, RCCA, standard work, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement.
  • Support proposals, cost and scope estimates, customer interactions, witness testing, and technical reviews.
  • Improve test processes, equipment, fixtures, tooling, instrumentation, and laboratory capabilities.
  • Support capital planning for test equipment, infrastructure, and capability expansion.

Requirements:
  • BS/MS in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
  • Minimum of 8 years of relevant engineering experience, including test engineering experience in aerospace, defense, energetic systems, medical devices, or another high-reliability technical environment.
  • Minimum of 3 years of technical and/or people leadership experience in an engineering, manufacturing, laboratory, or test environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop engineers and technical personnel.
  • Strong problem-solving, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis skills.
  • Strong project management, resource planning, and prioritization skills.
  • Effective written, verbal, technical, and customer-facing communication.
  • Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, test requirements, and test data.
  • Experience with 3D CAD and 2D drawings; SolidWorks preferred.
  • Knowledge of manufacturing processes, rapid prototyping, and product development.

Preferred Experience:
  • Environmental and mechanical testing, including vibration, shock, altitude/vacuum, temperature, humidity, tensile, and compression testing.
  • Test instrumentation including oscilloscopes, thermocouples, accelerometers, pressure transducers, data acquisition systems, and VR9500 or similar systems.
  • Explosive materials, energetic devices, and/or explosive testing.
  • Experience improving engineering processes, standard work, test methods, or laboratory operations.


Compensation:

Salary Range: $150,000-$190,000 per year. Actual compensation will be determined based on education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, internal equity, and alignment with market data.

About EnsignBickford Aerospace & Defense Co

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBA&D) is a leading supplier of energetic materials, non-lethal products, and weapon systems to the aerospace and defense industry. The company was founded in 1836 and is headquartered in Simsbury, Connecticut. EBA&D's products are used in a wide range of applications including missile systems, aircraft ejection seats, and space launch vehicles. The company has a long history of innovation and has been awarded numerous patents for its technologies. EBA&D is a subsidiary of Ensign-Bickford Industries, a privately held company that also operates in the mining and petrochemical industries.
Learn more about EnsignBickford Aerospace & Defense Co
Size
1,000 employees
Industry

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at EnsignBickford Aerospace & Defense Co

  • EnsignBickford Aerospace & Defense Co
    Test Engineering Manager
    $150K — $190K *
    Moorpark, CA 93021 (Ventura County)
    Aerospace & Defense
    In-Person
  • Master Scheduler
    $88K — $105K *
    Simsbury, CT 06070 (Capitol County)
    Aerospace & Defense
    In-Person
  • Program Director, Space
    $225K — $275K *
    Simsbury, CT 06070 (Capitol County)
    Aerospace & Defense
    In-Person
  • Director of Operations
    $175K — $225K *
    Graham, KY 42344 (Muhlenberg County)
    Aerospace & Defense
    In-Person
  • Director of Government Accounting
    $150K — $180K *
    Simsbury, CT 06070 (Capitol County)
    Aerospace & Defense
    In-Person

More Aerospace & Defense Jobs

Find similar Test Engineering Manager jobs: