Director of Test & Evaluation

Job description

About the Role: We are seeking a visionary, highly technical, and mission-oriented Director of Test and Evaluation (T&E) to lead the comprehensive qualification testing for our interceptor system. In this role, you will own the end-to-end testing lifecycle, ensuring that both the interceptor and its corresponding ground are fully qualified to withstand extreme operational environments and meet Department of Defense (DoD) and international standards. You will build a multidisciplinary team of test engineers, interface directly with military and government stakeholders, and serve as the final authority on system readiness. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership & Test Program Ownership - Define, execute, and oversee the Test and Evaluation master plan for the entire interceptor and ground system architecture. Engineering & Technical Governance - Ensure all design and subsequent testing complies with military standards (e.g., MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-882). Stakeholder & Program Management - Serve as the primary technical point of contact for government agencies, independent authorities, and range commanders. Skills and Requirements: Education: Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline. Experience: 5+ years of progressive experience in aerospace/defense testing, with at least 2+ years in a dedicated leadership or engineering management role. Domain Expertise: Proven track record of qualifying complex missile, rocket, or space launch systems, alongside their associated ground control systems. Regulatory Knowledge: Deep familiarity with DoD T&E processes, Range Safety requirements (e.g., RCC 319), and military qualification standards. ITAR To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. About the Company: We are a stealth-mode Aerospace & Defense startup headquartered in Gardena, CA. Our founding team hails from SpaceX, Anduril, and Lockheed Martin, and we are backed by Joint Staff-level military leadership and several Silicon Valley firms. With a world-class business development & leadership team already in place, we are well positioned to capitalize on already overwhelming demand .