Structural Test Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

In this role, you are essential to ensure that Divergent components and assemblies never compromise on safety, durability, or performance. You'll be hands-on—designing custom hardware, building test methods from the ground up, and leading the validation work that directly shapes our engineering decisions and the quality of the final product. 

We're looking for a seasoned Test Engineer who balances deep mechanical fundamentals with a sharp eye for design-for-test and structural validation. You should be a CAD expert who thrives on the shop floor, someone who can bridge the gap between engineering theory and robust, repeatable hardware by working closely with multiple teams and suppliers. Team collaboration and strong communication are pivotal for this role. 

Mechanical Design & Manufacturing Support 

• Design custom test fixtures, rigs, tooling, and mechanical assemblies using Siemens NX. 
• Produce detailed drawings, GD&T, build instructions, and manufacturing documentation. 
• Work closely with suppliers and internal teams to ensure manufacturability and high-quality builds. 
• Good understanding of MTS hydraulic systems and the integration of hydraulic actuators. 
• Support prototype assembly and fixture integration during test setup. 

Test Planning & Project Coordination 

• Develop test plans, procedures, and schedules for component and system-level validation projects. 
• Utilize Atlassian Jira and Confluence for project tracking and technical documentation. 
• Collaborate with design, manufacturing, materials, and quality teams to define test requirements. 
• Communicate test scope, timelines, risks, and resource needs to stakeholders. 
• Prepare test documentation, readiness packages, and configuration records. 

Test Setup & Execution 

• Lead setup, instrumentation, and execution of structural component tests. 
• Operate MTS TestSuite for automated test control and execution. 
• Configure and manage hydraulic actuators, manifolds, and servo valves for structural loading. 
• Install and calibrate sensors including load cells, strain gauges, and LVDTs. 
• Utilize various DAQ software packages for high-speed data acquisition and real-time monitoring. 
• Ensure accurate, reliability, and safe operation of all tests. 
• Diagnoses and troubleshoot mechanical, instrumentation, and test execution issues. 

Data Analysis & Reporting 

• Analyze test data to evaluate component performance and verify compliance with engineering specifications. 
• Generate clear, comprehensive test reports with conclusions and recommendations. 
• Present findings to design engineers, leadership, and program teams. 

Quality, Documentation & Compliance 

• Maintain complete documentation of test procedures, configurations, and results. 
• Ensure adherence to relevant industry standards and internal processes. 
• Support traceability of test articles and fixture configurations. 

Continuous Improvement 

• Identify opportunities to improve test methods and laboratory workflows. 
• Recommend upgrades to test equipment, instrumentation, or documentation systems. 
• Stay current with emerging testing, design, and manufacturing technologies. 

Safety & Risk Management 

• Uphold all safety protocols within the lab environment. 
• Participate in risk assessments, equipment readiness checks, and safety reviews. 

• Ability to lawfully access information and technology that is subject to US export controls 
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related discipline. 
• 5+ years of experience in mechanical design, manufacturing engineering, or structural test engineering. 
• Proficiency in CAD (Siemens NX). 
• Hands-on experience with mechanical assembly, hydraulic actuators, and instrumentation (Load Cells/Strain Gauges). 
• Experience with data acquisition systems such as Dewesoft or NI FlexLogger. 
• Strong communication, documentation, and project coordination skills. 
• Self-motivated, organized, and effective in a fast-paced R&D environment. 

• Strong understanding of: 
  • Structural testing (fatigue and durability) 
  • MTS TestSuite and Atlassian Jira/Confluence 
  • Data acquisition and analysis tools 
• Experience with CAE tools like Hypermesh and ANSA. 
• Experience with Zeiss Aramis system 
• Shaker/Vibe table experience in setup and running vibration tests
• MIL-STD spec, knowledge and know how

• Factory and office environment. 
• Work near moving mechanical parts. 
• Traveling (~10%) 

At Divergent, our pay range is based on the level of the job. For this role, we will consider candidates at levels E04 - E06 as evaluated through our interview process. 

• Engineer II / E04: $111,300 - $153,040
• Sr. Engineer / E05: $128,520 - $176,720
• Staff Engineer / E06: $148,430 - $204,090