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Sr Test Engineer Jobs in California (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 ...

Inversion

Senior Test Engineer

Los Angeles, 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 ...

Kindredventures

Senior Test Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$137 - $193/hr

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

Heartflow

Test Engineer III

San Francisco, CA · On-site

This role focuses on end-to-end system testing and post-deployment verification, working closely with and taking technical direction from the Test Architect and Senior Test Engineer while bringing ...

Divergent

Senior Test Engineer

Torrance, CA · On-site

The Role We're looking for a seasoned Test Engineer who balances deep mechanical fundamentals with ... Engineer II / E04: $111,300 - $153,040 * Sr. Engineer / E05: $128,520 - $176,720 * Staff Engineer ...

New

Astro Mechanica

Senior Test Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $225K/yr

Astro Mechanica is seeking a Senior Test Engineer to join our growing team. The ideal candidate is someone who is capable of designing, fabricating, operating, and improving on complex mechanical ...

Teledyne FLIR LLC

Sr. Test Engineer

Goleta, CA · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

As a Senior Test Engineer, you'll take ownership of the characterization, development, and production testing of advanced uncooled and cooled infrared readouts, focal plane arrays, and Dewars. You'll ...

Pow.bio

Senior Test Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$100 - $130/hr

About the Role We are seeking a Senior Test Engineer to design and implement mission‑critical procedures for reactor operators managing our groundbreaking nuclear microreactor technology. This role ...

Radiant Industries

Senior Test Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$133K - $184K/yr

About the Role We are seeking a Senior Test Engineer to design and implement mission-critical procedures for reactor operators managing our groundbreaking nuclear microreactor technology. This role ...

Teledyne

Sr. Test Engineer

Goleta, CA · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

As a Senior Test Engineer, you'll take ownership of the characterization, development, and production testing of advanced uncooled and cooled infrared readouts, focal plane arrays, and Dewars. You'll ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsSr Test Engineer JobsSr Test Engineer Jobs in California

Sr Test Engineer information

See California salary details

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$117K

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How much do sr test engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for sr test engineer in California is $116,964.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $96,200.00 and $134,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Sr Test Engineer?

Sr Test Engineers, or Senior Test Engineers, are experienced professionals responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing testing processes to ensure the quality and functionality of products, typically in software or hardware development. They lead test planning, create and execute test cases, and work closely with development teams to identify and resolve defects. Additionally, Sr Test Engineers may mentor junior testers, automate test procedures, and contribute to continuous improvement of testing methodologies.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Sr Test Engineer?

To thrive as a Sr Test Engineer, you need a deep understanding of software testing methodologies, test automation, and quality assurance principles, typically supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Proficiency with automation tools like Selenium, JUnit, and CI/CD pipelines, as well as experience with bug tracking systems such as Jira, is common. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help you collaborate with cross-functional teams and address complex testing challenges. These competencies are crucial for ensuring high-quality, reliable software products and efficient development cycles.

What are some common challenges Sr Test Engineers face when coordinating with development teams?

Sr Test Engineers often encounter challenges such as aligning testing priorities with tight development deadlines, ensuring clear communication of defects, and managing expectations around test coverage and quality assurance. They play a key role in bridging gaps between QA and development, often advocating for robust testing practices while adapting to fast-paced changes. Building strong collaborative relationships and proactively participating in sprint planning or daily stand-ups can help Sr Test Engineers address these challenges and contribute to the overall success of the team.

What is the difference between Sr Test Engineer vs Test Engineer?

AspectSr Test EngineerTest Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field; experience in automation and manual testingBachelor's degree; entry-level or less experience in testing
Work EnvironmentInvolved in complex testing projects, often leading test planning and automationPerforms manual and basic automated testing under supervision
Employer & Industry UsageUsed across software, hardware, and tech companies for quality assurance rolesCommon in software development firms for entry-level testing roles

The main difference between a Sr Test Engineer and a Test Engineer lies in experience, responsibilities, and scope. Sr Test Engineers typically handle complex testing tasks, lead automation efforts, and have more industry experience, while Test Engineers focus on manual testing and basic automation. Both roles are essential in quality assurance, but the senior position involves greater leadership and technical expertise.

How much does a senior test engineer earn?

A senior test engineer typically earns between $80,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. They often possess skills in automation tools, scripting, and quality assurance processes, which can influence salary levels.

Is senior test engineer a good career?

A senior test engineer is a valuable role in software development, focusing on designing and executing test plans to ensure product quality. It offers opportunities for career growth, specialization in testing tools and automation, and typically requires strong technical skills and certifications. The role is in demand across various industries with competitive salaries and advancement potential.

What cities in California are hiring for Sr Test Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Sr Test Engineer job openings:

Sr Test Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Sr Test Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 88% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 93% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $116,964 per year, or $56.2 per hour.

Senior Test Engineer

Inversion

Vista, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 9 hours 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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