Vehicle Hardware Test Engineer I (Fluids)

About the Team: 

The Stage Fluids team is responsible for the design and delivery of the propellant, pressurant, pneumatics, and other fluid systems that turn structures into functioning rockets! The team has full ownership across design, production, test, and flight, maintaining a holistic view of Terran R, focused not on isolated parts but integrated functionality. Working on-site at the factory means you’re never far from the hardware, enabling rapid iteration and tight feedback loops across design, test and manufacturing. You won’t just be handed requirements: you’ll be expected to ask the right questions, collaborate with partners across the company, and ultimately find the best solutions for Terran R.

About the Role:

• In this role, you will support the development and qualification of fluid system hardware for the TerranR launch vehicle. You will help translate design requirements into effective test strategies while iterating on hardware designs based on test results. Your work will ensure fluid system components are robust, well-understood, and ready for integration into the broader vehicle architecture
• Primary Responsibilities:
  • Iterate on hardware designs and supporting analysis based on learnings found in testing 
  • Design mechanical test fixtures to support component and system-level hardware testing
  • Translate hardware designs, industry test standards, system requirements, and design criteria into actionable qualification and development test campaigns
  • Accelerate the team’s ability to test hardware by clarifying test processes, capabilities, and limitations, and by developing creative solutions to testing challenges
  • Support the execution, troubleshooting, and interpretation of hardware test campaigns 
• To succeed in this role, you will bring a solid foundation in fundamental physics and the ability to apply first-principles thinking to complex problems. You are self-motivated, adaptable, and thrive in a fast-paced, highly collaborative vehicle development environment

About You:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or an equivalent engineering discipline
• Experience designing or operating with fluid system components such as fittings, seals, valves, regulators, and associated system testing
• Familiarity with FEA tools for evaluating structural margins 

Nice to haves but not required:  

• Experience in a fast-paced start-up and/or launch vehicle environment