---
title: 'Senior Test Design Engineer at Astro Mechanica'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-test-design-engineer-astro-mechanica-east-bay-area-mqhndyej71h3'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-17'
---

# Senior Test Design Engineer at Astro Mechanica

- **Company:** Astro Mechanica
- **Location:** East Bay Area
- **Compensation:** $125k–$185k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Posted:** 2026-10-16
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-17
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/astro-mechanica/54952d1a-1da1-4876-8f22-64c6cdc0f5e0

## Job description

## ABOUT US:

Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company developing a scalable technology platform to power critical infrastructure, mission operations, and the future of flight. We apply aerospace engineering and quality standards across our products, delivering high performance, reliability, and efficiency for the most demanding operating environments. Astro Mechanica is backed by leading venture and strategic investors, including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Giant Step Capital, United Airlines Ventures, and Voyager Ventures.

## WHO WE ARE:

We’re a team of passionate engineers dedicated to advancing aerospace. We’re generalists with specialist depth, united by a flat structure and a shared obsession with building things that work well. We move fast, stay pragmatic, and let engineering excellence speak louder than hierarchy.

## WHO YOU ARE:

Astro Mechanica is looking for a Test Engineer to join our growing team. The ideal candidate is someone who designs, fabricates, operates, and improves the test infrastructure supporting our innovative jet engine and subsystems. Your work at Astro Mechanica will keep test operations running smoothly, while constantly expanding and improving test capabilities. You will work closely with your peers to execute projects to a high level of quality.

In this role, your mission will be to create and operate test infrastructure for hardware research and development. You will have firsthand responsibility that every new design is rigorously tested to ensure quality and performance metrics are met prior to aircraft integration and before leaving the ground. You embody the test-like-you-fly philosophy.

## WHAT YOU’LL DO:

- Design test stands, fixtures, and supporting hardware to enable new test capabilities
- Conduct analyses for appropriate fluid system component performance
- Develop detailed test plans, instrumentation schemes, and data collection methods to capture high-fidelity, decision-driving data
- Document work (P&ID, electrical schematics, test procedures) while collaborating with relevant stakeholders to ensure stand requirements are met
- Work closely with propulsion design engineers to validate models, characterize performance, and inform design iterations
- Conduct hardware testing and analyze results to verify requirements, identify discrepancies, and determine corrective actions
- Create and implement test strategies to validate and activate your test stand designs
- Implement safety best practices through engineering controls

## WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

- 5+ years hands-on experience with propulsion, fluidic, or mechanical systems, including hardware testing and analysis
- Experience with hazardous environments (flammables, high voltage, pressurized systems) and safety mitigations
- Knowledge of fluid systems hardware and instrumentation (pressure, temperature, load cells, relays, solenoids, pneumatics)
- Ability to analyze and interpret test data, and correlate results with analytical models or simulations
- Familiarity with CAD and ability to design simple test hardware, fixtures, or modifications
- Takes initiative for continuous improvement (not just completing assigned tasks)
- Flexibility to work in fast-paced environment
- Attentive to detail and maintain a high level of quality in all work

## PERKS & BENEFITS:

- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- 401(k) program and transparent stock option plan
- Self-managed and flexible time-off policy, including PTO, paid holidays, and sick time
- Flexible work environment

## ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

At Astro Mechanica, we highly value in-office work to foster collaboration and strengthen our company culture. We consider working in the office five days a week an essential part of the employee's role. Astro Mechanica is an equal opportunity employer. We proudly recruit and hire a diverse workforce and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

## About Astro Mechanica

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Astro Mechanica is building the world’s first turboelectric adaptive jet engine (Duality) that achieves high efficiency across both subsonic and supersonic speeds, aiming to democratize high-speed flight.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Venture-backed; latest round: Series A-II / Venture Round in September 2025)
- **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2021
- **Founders**: Ian Brooke (CEO & Founder)

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Aerospace, aviation propulsion, defense systems
- **Target customers**: US government (military and defense applications), commercial aviation (long-term), cargo/logistics
- **Mission/purpose**: “Democratize high-speed flight by making supersonic travel flexible, accessible, and sustainable” – developing rapid, on-demand, point-to-point global mobility.

## Products & Services
- **Duality™ Propulsion System**: A proprietary dual-use turboelectric adaptive jet engine designed to be efficient at all speeds from subsonic to supersonic. Currently in development and expected to begin altitude testing in 2027 on a dedicated testbed aircraft.
- **Airframe & Flight Systems**: Vertically integrated design of airframes and flight control systems optimized for the Duality engine, with near-term focus on government contracts.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding raised – **$54.7 million** as of the latest venture round in September 2025 (LinkedIn data; earlier reports by CBInsights indicated $27.6 million, likely reflecting a prior round)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: United Airlines Ventures (lead investor in latest round), Andreessen Horowitz, Giant Step Capital, Y Combinator (seed)
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew **228.6% year-over-year** to ~35 employees; **36 active job postings** as of mid-2025; rapid hiring across engineering, manufacturing, and leadership roles; moving toward engine flight test in 2027.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Unique engine architecture**: The turboelectric adaptive design allows a single engine to operate efficiently from subsonic to supersonic regimes, removing the need for afterburners or separate engines.
- **Vertical integration**: In-house engine, airframe, and flight systems development enables tight optimization and rapid iteration.
- **Flat engineering culture**: Described as “generalists with specialist depth” and a flat structure that accelerates decision-making and innovation.

## Strategic Focus
- **Near-term**: Engine altitude testing (scheduled for 2027) and securing US government contracts for high-speed systems.
- **Long-term**: Develop a full aircraft platform and operational model for economically viable supersonic commercial travel.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Emphasis on engineering excellence, pragmatism, and moving fast. Flat hierarchy where “engineering speaks louder than hierarchy.”
- **Work policy**: Hybrid environment – most roles are based in San Francisco with a mix of in-office and remote collaboration. The majority of job listings specify “In-Office” at the HQ.
- **Notable perks**: Not explicitly listed, but the company offers equity (typical for startups) and the opportunity to work on groundbreaking aerospace technology from concept to flight.
- **Engineering focus**: Strong technical team with talent from SpaceX, Relativity Space, Boom Supersonic, Lockheed Martin, and Astra. Active hiring in propulsion, flight software, GNC, test engineering, and manufacturing.

## Sources
1. [astromecha.co](https://www.astromecha.co/)
2. [astromecha.co/careers](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/astro-mechanica)
3. [linkedin.com/company/astro-mechanica](https://www.linkedin.com/company/astro-mechanica)
4. [cbinsights.com/company/astro-mechanica](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/astro-mechanica)
5. [builtin.com/company/astro-mechanica](https://builtin.com/company/astro-mechanica)

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