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Senior Test Engineer Jobs in Poway, CA (NOW HIRING)

Inversion

Senior Test Engineer

Vista, CA · On-site

What You'll Do As a Senior Test Engineer at Inversion, you will own the planning and execution of critical mechanical test campaigns for one of the most capable reentry vehicles ever developed. You ...

M9 Solutions

Senior Test Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$175K - $205K/yr

M9 Solutions is seeking a Senior Test Engineer to support a government contract hybrid remote/onsite for a client located in San Diego, CA . An active Top Secret clearance is required.

M9 Solutions

Senior Test Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$175K - $205K/yr

M9 Solutions is seeking a Senior Test Engineer to support a government contract hybrid remote/onsite for a client located in San Diego, CA . An active Top Secret clearance is required.

CTC

Senior Test Engineer- 3644432

San Diego, CA · Hybrid

$130K - $200K/yr

Computer Technologies Consultants (CTC) is seeking a Senior Test Engineer to work on a multi-disciplinary team in an Agile, fast-paced development environment. The qualified candidate will support ...

Saic

Senior Test Engineer (T&E)

San Diego, CA · On-site

$160 - $200/hr

Description SAIC is seeking a Senior Test Engineer to lead and support the planning, execution, direction, analysis, and reporting of experimental, developmental, and operational testing for advanced ...

Inversion

Senior Test Engineer (Arc Vehicle)

Vista, CA · On-site

$137K - $193K/yr

What You'll Do As a Senior Test Engineer (Arc Vehicle) at Inversion, you will report directly to the Manager of Arc Vehicle Integration & Test . In this role, you will own the preparation, execution ...

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How much do senior test engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior test engineer in Poway, CA is $121,238.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $99,700.00 and $139,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior test engineer?

Senior Test Engineers are experienced professionals responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing testing processes to ensure the quality and reliability of software products or systems. They develop test plans, create automated and manual test cases, and collaborate with developers and other stakeholders to identify and resolve issues. Their role often includes mentoring junior team members, improving testing strategies, and ensuring that products meet industry standards and customer requirements.

How does a senior test engineer typically collaborate with development and product teams during the software release cycle?

As a Senior Test Engineer, you will work closely with software developers and product managers throughout the software release cycle. You'll participate in design and requirement reviews to identify potential quality issues early, help define testing strategies, and provide feedback on testability. Regular communication and collaboration are essential, as you'll often coordinate test plans, report on defects, and ensure that issues are resolved before release. This cross-functional teamwork not only helps deliver high-quality software but also broadens your understanding of the product and enhances your problem-solving skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior test engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Test Engineer, you need advanced knowledge of software testing methodologies, test automation, and quality assurance principles, typically supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Expertise with automation tools such as Selenium, JUnit, or TestNG, and familiarity with CI/CD systems like Jenkins are often required, as well as certifications like ISTQB. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills distinguish top performers in this role. These skills are crucial for ensuring software reliability, optimizing testing processes, and collaborating effectively with development teams.

What is the difference between Senior Test Engineer vs QA Analyst?

AspectSenior Test EngineerQA Analyst
CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science or related field; experience in testing; certifications like ISTQBBachelor's in IT, Computer Science, or related; testing experience; ISTQB certification often preferred
Work EnvironmentSoftware development teams; involved in test planning, automation, and executionQuality assurance teams; focuses on manual testing, documentation, and process improvement
Industry UsageUsed across software, tech, and IT industries for testing rolesCommon in software development, IT, and tech sectors for quality assurance

While both roles focus on software quality, Senior Test Engineers typically handle more complex testing tasks, automation, and test strategy, whereas QA Analysts often focus on manual testing, documentation, and process adherence. The Senior Test Engineer role usually requires more technical expertise and experience in automation tools.

How much does a senior test engineer earn?

A senior test engineer's salary typically ranges from $80,000 to $130,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. They often have expertise in automation tools, scripting, and quality assurance processes, which can influence compensation levels.

What are popular job titles related to Senior Test Engineer jobs in Poway, CA?

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Senior Test Engineer

Inversion

Vista, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 4 days ago

Job description

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth
Who We Are:
Inversion builds advanced reentry systems to deliver next-generation capabilities from space.
Our mission is to make Earth radically more accessible by turning Low-Earth Orbit into an on-demand logistics domain. We see space not as a destination, but as a platform - one that unlocks unprecedented speed and global reach.
Our spacecraft are designed to deliver payloads anywhere on Earth in under an hour, operating through extreme reentry conditions and landing with high precision. These systems open the door to new ways of testing, delivering, and operating at hypersonic speeds.
Inherently dual-use, our technology is built to meet urgent national security needs while laying the groundwork for future commercial applications. Backed by leading investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, and working with partners such as the U.S. Space Force and NASA, Inversion is pushing the boundaries of what's possible in space-based defense and logistics.
What You'll Do
As a Senior Test Engineer at Inversion, you will own the planning and execution of critical mechanical test campaigns for one of the most capable reentry vehicles ever developed. You'll lead testing from early component and subsystem development through integrated demonstration, working closely with design, analysis, manufacturing, and external test partners to retire risk and validate system performance.
This is a unique opportunity to build and lead high-consequence mechanical test campaigns for a new aerospace vehicle from early development through qualification and production. You will be a key member of the Mechanical team, reporting to the Director of Mechanical.
Key Responsibilities
  • Own the planning and execution of component, subsystem, and system-level test campaigns supporting deployment and separation mechanism development
  • Lead complex test campaigns to demonstrate system performance under representative environments
  • Develop test plans, procedures, success criteria, and test readiness documentation for mechanical development and validation activities
  • Coordinate closely with external test facilities and vendors to define test requirements, facility interfaces, schedules, constraints, and execution plans
  • Design and develop test fixtures, adapters, support equipment, and other GSE required to safely and effectively execute testing
  • Partner with structures, mechanisms, dynamics, and manufacturing engineers to ensure test articles, fixtures, and instrumentation support key technical objectives
  • Define instrumentation and data collection needs in collaboration with internal and external partners to ensure test results can validate performance and inform model correlation
  • Drive test campaign logistics including hardware readiness, facility integration, procedural development, configuration tracking, and execution coordination
  • Lead troubleshooting and issue resolution during test preparation and execution, and drive rapid turnaround on test learnings into follow-on hardware or procedures
  • Author test reports and communicate results, risks, and recommended next steps in design reviews and cross-functional program forums

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent technical experience
  • Typically 5+ years of professional experience in development testing, qualification testing, or mechanical system test engineering for aerospace, defense, or similarly demanding applications
  • Experience developing and executing component and subsystem-level test campaigns for mechanical hardware
  • Experience writing test plans, procedures, test readiness documentation, and post-test reports
  • Experience designing test fixtures, adapters, tooling, or ground support equipment for mechanical or aerospace hardware
  • Strong understanding of mechanical systems, including structures, mechanisms, interfaces, and hardware integration
  • Experience coordinating with external test facilities, vendors, or suppliers to execute complex test programs
  • Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with design, analysis, manufacturing, and program teams to drive tests from concept through execution
  • Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment
  • Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications
  • Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience
  • Experience owning complex mechanism, deployment, or separation system test campaigns from early development through integrated demonstration
  • Experience testing hardware in high-dynamic, high-shock, vibration, or transient mechanical environments
  • Experience supporting correlation of test results to loads, structural dynamics, or multibody dynamics models
  • Experience developing and executing tests for qualified flight hardware
  • Experience with instrumentation planning, sensor selection, data acquisition coordination, and extraction of design-relevant test data
  • Experience supporting rapid hardware iteration and test-driven development in a hardware-rich environment
  • Experience working with external government, commercial, or specialized test facilities
  • Experience using CAD tools to design test fixtures, support equipment, or integration hardware

Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in office presence.
The California annual base salary for this role is currently $137,000 - $193,000. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education and experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.
ITAR Compliance:
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
Inversion provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or disability.
Inversion collects and processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws. If you are a US Job Applicant see the CCPA Privacy Policy Noticefor further details.

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