Lead Test Engineer

We’re looking for a Lead Test Engineer to build and own the test function at Odin Dynamics from the ground up. You’ll define how we verify, validate, and qualify our autonomous underwater vehicles - from subsystem bench testing through environmental qualification and in-water operations. This is equal parts technical leadership and organizational building. You’ll be hands-on designing test infrastructure and running campaigns today, and hiring and leading the test team as we grow.

If you’ve ever wished you could build a test organization the right way from day one, this is that opportunity.

What You’ll Do

• Define and build the test and integration function - processes, infrastructure, tooling, and eventually the team.
• Plan and execute vehicle-level integration and test campaigns, bringing together mechanical, electrical, firmware, and software subsystems into a verified, mission-ready system.
• Design and lead environmental qualification testing - pressure, thermal, vibration, and shock - ensuring the vehicle performs across its full operating envelope.
• Plan and conduct in-water test events, from dock-side checkouts through open-water missions, coordinating logistics, safety, instrumentation, and data collection.
• Develop and maintain software and systems verification approaches, working with the software team to ensure autonomy, navigation, and control systems are tested rigorously before they hit the water.
• Build test automation and data infrastructure - instrumentation rigs, automated test sequences, data pipelines, and reporting tools that make testing repeatable and efficient.
• Author and maintain test plans, procedures, reports, and anomaly documentation to a standard that supports both internal engineering and customer deliverables.
• Serve as the engineering voice for system readiness - you’ll be the person who says whether the vehicle is ready for the next milestone.
• Hire, mentor, and lead test engineers and technicians as the team scales.

• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in test engineering, systems integration, or verification and validation for complex hardware-software systems.
• Demonstrated experience planning and executing integration and test campaigns for vehicles, robots, or other complex electromechanical systems.
• Hands-on experience with environmental testing - pressure, thermal cycling, vibration, or similar qualification regimes.
• Field test experience - you’ve operated hardware outside of a lab and know what it takes to run a safe, productive test event in an operational environment.
• Strong instrumentation and data acquisition skills - you know how to measure what matters and how to turn test data into engineering decisions.
• Experience building or significantly improving test processes, infrastructure, or teams.
• Ability to work fluidly across mechanical, electrical, and software disciplines - test engineers touch everything.
• Strong written and verbal communication - your test reports and readiness recommendations need to be clear and defensible.
• U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain a security clearance.

Nice to Have

• Experience testing underwater vehicles, marine systems, or subsea equipment.
• Background in defense or aerospace test and evaluation programs.
• Familiarity with test automation frameworks and scripting for hardware-in-the-loop or automated regression testing.
• Experience with formal verification and validation methodologies for safety-critical or mission-critical systems.
• Exposure to customer acceptance testing or government test and evaluation processes.
• Active security clearance (Secret or above).

Founded in 2025, Odin Dynamics is a defense technology company building autonomous underwater vehicles that will define the next era of undersea warfare. We are focused on delivering capable, resilient autonomous systems that strengthen the strategic advantage of the United States and its allied navies. We move fast, build real hardware, and operate with the urgency that the mission demands.