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# Test Equipment Development Engineer (HIL and Test Equipment)

- **Company:** CHAOS Industries
- **Location:** Los Angeles, CA, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $110,000.0 - $160,000.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Board Bringup, 3d Models, Automation of Tests, C++ (Programming Language), Configuration Management, Code Coverage, Software Debugging, Network Interface Controllers, Hardware-In-The-Loop Simulation, Python (Programming Language), LabVIEW, Signal Integrity, Software Deployment, Systems Architecture, Systems Integration, Technical Data Management Systems, Build Management, Physical Design
- **Published:** October 20, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=23a11eac0abf9153

## About the Role

* Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline.
 * 5+ years experience designing and building custom test equipment for aerospace, defense, automotive, or high-reliability electromechanical systems.
 * Demonstrated experience translating product requirements into test system architecture.
 * Hands-on experience with:
*

 + Electrical schematic design
 + Wiring and panel integration
 + Mechanical fixture design
 + Data acquisition systems
 + Instrumentation integration
 * Experience debugging integrated electro-mechanical systems.
 * Familiarity with root cause methodologies and failure analysis.
 * U.S. Citizenship required; ability to obtain and maintain DoD clearance.

Preferred Requirements:

 * Experience with missile, UAV, or guided munition systems.
 * Experience designing HIL systems for avionics or control systems.
 * Experience deploying test stations into LRIP or production environments.
 * Familiarity with:
*

 + NI hardware platforms
 + RF testing
 + Actuator/servo testing
 + PCBA-level test
 * Experience integrating test systems with MES/PLM infrastructure.
 * Experience in energetics or explosive-safe environments.

## Description

We are seeking a Special Test Equipment (STE) Designer responsible for the full lifecycle of interceptor test systems - from requirements analysis and qualification strategy through physical design, hardware build, and Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) deployment.

This role owns the realization of the interceptor test ecosystem across:

 * Development benches
 * Qualification fixtures
 * Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) systems
 * Production acceptance stations

You will ensure that test systems provide rigorous requirements verification while also being physically robust, scalable, maintainable, and aligned with production rate targets. This is not solely a test planning role. It is a design-build-deploy ownership role.

Responsibilities:

 * Test Requirements & Architecture Ownership
 + Derive test equipment functional requirements from system and subsystem specifications.
 + Establish traceability between interceptor requirements and test coverage.
 + Define:
o Subassembly test strategies
o Qualification test configurations
o Production acceptance test philosophy
o Fault-injection and edge-case coverage approaches

 + Develop interface control documents (ICDs) between product and test systems.
 + Balance verification rigor with cycle time, cost, and rate considerations.
 * Physical STE Design & Hardware Realization
 + Design complete STE hardware systems including:
o Mechanical fixtures
o Electrical interface panels
o Breakout harnesses
o Load simulators
o Signal conditioning hardware
o Test racks and enclosures
o Generate full technical data packages:
o Schematics
o Wiring diagrams
o Harness drawings
o Mechanical CAD models
o Assembly documentation

 + Select and integrate instrumentation (DAQ, power supplies, RF equipment, environmental interfaces).
 + Design safe high-voltage, high-current, and energetics-compatible test interfaces as required.
 * Hands-On Build & Integration
 + Lead and directly support:
o Rack assembly
o Panel wiring
o Harness fabrication
o Fixture assembly
o Hardware bring-up and debug

 + Conduct bench-level integration of hardware and automation software.
 + Debug electrical, mechanical, and software integration issues.
 + Validate signal integrity, power distribution, and system stability.
 + This role is expected to be present at the bench and on the floor during integration.
 * Automated Test & Production Deployment
 + Develop automated test software (e.g., LabVIEW, Python, C++, etc.).
 + Architect production test stations optimized for:
o Throughput
o Repeatability
o Operator simplicity
o Error-proofing

 + Define takt-aligned test cycle times in coordination with Industrial Engineering.
 + Integrate STE into MES for data capture and traceability.
 + Lead factory installation and commissioning of LRIP test stations.
 + Drive rapid iteration and refinement during pilot and early production builds.
 * Qualification & Environmental Test Support
 + Design and build fixtures and instrumentation for:
o Vibration
o Thermal
o Shock
o EMI/EMC

 + Support qualification campaigns with robust data acquisition strategies.
 + Lead root cause analysis of test anomalies.
 + Update STE configurations as designs mature.
 * STE Lifecycle & Rate Scaling
 + Manage configuration control and revisions of test systems.
 + Improve test cycle time and reliability as production scales.
 + Establish maintenance, calibration, and sustainment strategies.
 + Drive cost-down efforts for production-deployed test systems.
 + Plan replication of test stations as rate increases.