---
title: 'Senior/Staff Test Engineer - Structures and Mechanisms at AscendArc'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-staff-test-engineer-structures-and-mechanisms-ascendarc-beaverton-5ywyfz5x79hz'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# Senior/Staff Test Engineer - Structures and Mechanisms at AscendArc

- **Company:** AscendArc
- **Location:** Beaverton
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-07-10
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://jobs.gem.com/ascendarc/am9icG9zdDpBegrNwLNYdUGaxt7SYYmR

## Job description

Come join us in shaping the future! Get in on the ground floor as an early member of our Mechanical team as a Test Engineer – Structures and Mechanisms developing a revolutionary satellite communications system. Connect the vision to the hardware, build it, test it and fly it.

AscendArc is a seed stage startup founded to revolutionize the satellite communications industry. We are looking for doers who want to work in a ground-breaking and fast-paced environment. Our success will depend on your energy, skill, and creativity.

## Responsibilities

- Design, build, and integrate test fixtures, tooling, and support hardware to effectively test spacecraft structures and mechanisms.
- Assist responsible engineers in design and/or concepting of functional, environmental, and qualification tests, including thermal, vibration, shock, deployment, and pressure testing.
- Support test readiness reviews, drive testing schedules, and ensure safe test operations
- Develop responsive testing infrastructure, generate roadmap for executing spacecraft qualification, define resource and infrastructure needs to achieve company milestones

## Qualifications

- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
- 5+ years of experience designing and building test fixtures, tooling, and support hardware for aerospace or high-reliability systems
- Hands-on experience with test execution and familiarity with environmental and structural testing (thermal, vibration, shock, etc.)
- Strong ability to gather and interpret test requirements from cross-functional stakeholders to develop practical tooling and fixture solutions
- Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., NX, SolidWorks) and mechanical analysis tools
- Data acquisition and management experience
- Hands-on mindset with experience in rapid prototyping, fabrication, and iterative build-test cycles

Who We’re Looking For We’re searching for exceptional talent at any career stage — from early-career engineers to senior and staff-level experts. Compensation will be adjusted accordingly. More than years of experience, we value high-caliber individuals with the drive and creativity to help launch Oregon’s first commercial communications satellite.

We’re looking for people who:

- Thrive in a cradle-to-grave design environment and take ownership from concept through launch.
- Bring energy, curiosity, and a responsible engineering mindset.
- Want to work alongside other exceptional people in an environment where great ideas rise to the top.

Hybrid Work This position is based at our Beaverton office. We value the collaboration that comes from working together in person, while also supporting flexibility. Team members typically spend three days a week in the office and may work from home up to two days each week.

The base salary range for this position is $120,000-190,000/year. When determining an individual’s compensation, we consider several factors including skillset, experience, job scope, and current market data, so pay for this role may vary from the amounts listed.

AscendArc is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor or legally protected status.

## About AscendArc

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: AscendArc is revolutionizing satellite communications by designing and manufacturing low-cost, high-bandwidth, volume-produced small geostationary (GEO) satellites for military and commercial customers.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Seed Stage)
- **Headquarters**: Beaverton, Oregon, United States
- **Founded**: 2023
- **Founders**: Chris McLain

## Core Business
- **Primary Industry**: Satellite Telecommunications / Space Technology
- **Target Customers**: Military/Defense organizations and commercial telecommunications providers (B2B, Government)
- **Mission/Purpose**: To fundamentally change the economics of the satellite communications industry by making geostationary satellites faster to build, easier to scale, and dramatically more cost-effective — applying the scalability and production efficiency of LEO manufacturing to high-performance GEO satellites [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/).

## Products & Services
- **Small Geostationary Satellites**: Volume-produced, small GEO satellites that deliver high bandwidth at a fraction of the cost of traditional GEO satellites. They are highly reconfigurable and highly maneuverable, designed for rapid deployment and volume production [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding of $7.75M across multiple rounds [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/ascendarc).
- **Funding History**:
  - Pre-Seed Round (Jan 2024): $505,000
  - Seed Round (Mar 2025): $3.5M from 6 investors
  - Total raised: $7.75M (conflicting reports show $4M on some sources, $7.75M on others) [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/ascendarc) [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/ascendarc)
- **Notable Investors**: Hunter Communications, Everywhere Ventures, Portland Seed Fund, Thermo Capital Partners, Seraphim Space [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/ascendarc)
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Headcount grew 80% YoY, now at 22 employees [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/ascendarc)
  - LinkedIn followers grew 94.1% annually [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/ascendarc)
  - Filed at least 1 patent related to stackable satellite design and antenna technology [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/ascendarc)
  - Active job postings for senior engineering roles (Avionics, Thermal, Test, Structures) [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/ascendarc)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Cost Disruption**: Applying high-volume, low-cost manufacturing principles from LEO satellites to the GEO market, traditionally dominated by expensive, bespoke spacecraft.
- **Speed to Market**: Designed for rapid deployment compared to traditional GEO satellite development cycles (years vs. decades).
- **Reconfigurability & Maneuverability**: Satellites are designed to be highly adaptable in orbit, serving evolving military and commercial needs.
- **Small Team Agility**: A lean, driven team of ~22 people with a "cradle-to-grave" design culture where every person has real ownership [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers).

## Strategic Focus
- **Scaling Production**: Moving from design to volume manufacturing of small GEO satellites.
- **Talent Acquisition**: Actively hiring senior engineering talent across mechanical, thermal, test, and avionics disciplines to support growth [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/ascendarc).
- **Commercial & Military Expansion**: Targeting both government/defense contracts and commercial telecom applications for secure, resilient connectivity [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/).

## Why Work Here
- **Hands-On, High-Ownership Culture**: "Cradle-to-grave" design culture where ideas are built, tested, and launched — not just sketched on paper. Every voice shapes the mission [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers).
- **Hybrid & Remote Flexibility**: Most roles follow a hybrid schedule (3 days onsite in Beaverton, OR; 2 days remote). Some roles are fully remote within the US depending on position [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers).
- **Benefits**:
  - Competitive salary and equity [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers)
  - Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employee and family [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers)
  - 3 weeks paid vacation to start, with additional time for tenured employees, plus 11 paid holidays [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers)
  - 401(k) plan [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers)
- **Fast-Paced, Groundbreaking Work**: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge space technology in a startup environment that is lean, driven, and collaborative [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers).
- **Office Location**: Beaverton, Oregon — part of the Portland metro area's growing aerospace and tech ecosystem.

## Sources
1. [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/)
2. [ascendarc.com/careers](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers)
3. [linkedin.com/company/ascendarc](https://linkedin.com/company/ascendarc)
4. [cbinsights.com/company/ascendarc](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/ascendarc)
5. [builtin.com/company/ascendarc-1](https://builtin.com/company/ascendarc-1)

## Other roles at AscendArc

- [Senior/Principal Thermal Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-principal-thermal-engineer-ascendarc-beaverton-78r3q5ngpyfd) — Beaverton
- [Executive Assistant & Office Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/executive-assistant-office-manager-ascendarc-beaverton-jgbbscxwqtn8) — Beaverton
- [Supply Chain Manager/Director - Aerospace](https://feeny.ai/job/supply-chain-manager-director-aerospace-ascendarc-beaverton-cz5x48rfp945) — Beaverton
- [Senior RF Board Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-rf-board-engineer-ascendarc-beaverton-bhc2ednb1qng) — Beaverton
- [System Integration and Test Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/system-integration-and-test-lead-ascendarc-beaverton-man25wyp4y02) — Beaverton
- [Propulsion Engineering Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/propulsion-engineering-lead-ascendarc-beaverton-pn99802wf8zq) — Beaverton
- [Senior/Lead Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-lead-mechanical-engineer-ascendarc-beaverton-j17f7ewzay7a) — Beaverton
- [Senior Avionics Mechanical Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-avionics-mechanical-design-engineer-ascendarc-beaverton-19mjvbrxrp5e) — Beaverton
- [Composite Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/composite-technician-ascendarc-beaverton-0aayb9nagjva) — Beaverton