Lead Test Engineer

At Senra Systems, we believe that the future of manufacturing lies not in automation, but in configuration. We supercharge electrical wire harness manufacturing through software configuration, transforming skilled assembly tasks into high-throughput production lines. We enable customers to design what they want, when they want it and deliver harness builds at record-breaking speed. We're building a world-class test organization at Senra Systems and are looking for a Lead Test Engineer to lead it. This role combines deep technical expertise with functional leadership. You'll be responsible for building and leading the test department, establishing scalable processes, developing the team's technical capability, and ensuring every electrical assembly leaving Senra is verified with consistent, repeatable, and robust testing. As the functional manager for Test, you'll lead a growing team of Test Specialists and Senior Test Engineers while remaining deeply involved in technical decision making. You'll establish department standards, review and approve technical work, drive process improvements, allocate resources across programs, and partner closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Production, Quality, and Program Management. Success in this role isn't measured by the number of test programs you personally write—it's measured by the performance, capability, and scalability of the entire test organization. What You'll Do Department Leadership • Lead, coach, and develop the Test Engineering organization, including Test Specialists and Senior Test Engineers. • Set priorities, allocate resources, and balance workload across multiple customer programs. • Conduct hiring, onboarding, performance management, and career development for the test team. • Build a culture of ownership, technical excellence, urgency, and continuous improvement. • Establish team objectives, KPIs, and development plans aligned with company growth. Technical Leadership • Serve as the highest level technical authority for electrical test across Senra Systems. • Review and approve test programs, fixtures, and validation methods before release. • Provide technical direction on complex electrical troubleshooting, root cause investigations, and first-build challenges. • Develop department-wide standards for test programming, fixture design, documentation, troubleshooting, and validation. • Partner with Manufacturing Engineering to improve product testability and design-for-manufacturing. Process Development & Continuous Improvement • Design and continuously improve scalable test processes that support rapid company growth. • Standardize documentation, workflows, fixtures, and programming practices across all product families. • Drive initiatives that improve throughput, first-pass yield, repeatability, automation, and overall test efficiency. • Evaluate new test equipment, software, fixtures, and technologies that improve capability and scalability. • Develop department metrics and use data to drive operational improvements. Test Program & Fixture Oversight • Provide technical oversight for development and maintenance of test programs across all active production programs. • Ensure proper revision control and configuration management of all test assets. • Oversee fixture design strategy and standardization. • Support development of new automated testing capabilities as the organization scales. Cross-Functional Leadership • Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Production, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management to remove production bottlenecks. • Support customer technical reviews, First Article Inspection (FAI), source inspections, and qualification activities. • Serve as the escalation point for production-critical testing issues. • Participate in design reviews to ensure new products are testable and manufacturable. Quality & Compliance • Ensure all testing complies with customer specifications, IPC/WHMA-A-620, AS9100 requirements, and internal quality standards. • Oversee calibration programs, equipment maintenance, and department readiness. • Ensure complete traceability of test documentation, Certificates of Conformance, and Nonconformance Reports. What We're Looking For Required • 8+ years of hands-on experience in electrical test, manufacturing engineering, production test, or a related manufacturing environment. • 2+ years leading or managing technical teams in a manufacturing environment. • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering. • Strong understanding of electrical fundamentals, including continuity, resistance, insulation resistance, dielectric withstand (hipot), and Ohm's Law. • Extensive experience developing automated electrical test programs and fixtures for complex electromechanical assemblies. • Demonstrated expertise with automated wire harness test systems (Cirris strongly preferred). • Strong background in electrical troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and failure investigation. • Experience reviewing and approving technical work completed by other engineers or specialists. • Proven ability to develop standardized engineering processes and technical documentation. • Ability to read and interpret wire lists, schematics, connector drawings, and engineering documentation. • Working knowledge of IPC/WHMA-A-620 and aerospace quality requirements. • Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills. • Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident). Preferred • Experience leading test organizations in an AS9100 or NASA 8739.4 manufacturing environment. • Experience with RF cable testing, including insertion loss (S21), return loss, VSWR, and vector network analyzers. • Experience supporting customer witness testing, First Article Inspection, and qualification programs. • IPC/WHMA-A-620 CIS or CIT certification. • Experience implementing new automated test equipment and scalable production test systems. • Experience building engineering organizations in a high-growth manufacturing environment. Success in this Role Within the first year, success looks like: • A high-performing test organization with clear roles, standards, and accountability. • Standardized review and approval processes ensure consistent, high-quality test programs across all products. • Test Specialists are being actively developed through structured mentorship, coaching, and technical training. • Test processes are scalable, documented, and capable of supporting rapid production growth. • Test-related production issues are resolved quickly through robust troubleshooting and root cause analysis. • Department KPIs—including throughput, first-pass yield, equipment uptime, and test cycle time—are improving quarter over quarter. • The test organization is recognized internally as a technical center of excellence and a critical enabler of Senra's manufacturing scale. Compensation:  • Compensation will be based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors.  • Salary Range: $170,000-$230,000  • This is an onsite role at our headquarters in Redondo Beach, CA or Cypress, CA. 10% travel to secondary site is expected. Benefits:  • Unmatched opportunities to drive impact on a friendly and mission-driven team  • Own a piece of the pie with equity participation!   • Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability coverage  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Spending Account (DSA) for health-related expenses  • 20 vacation days per year and 12 company holidays for rest and relaxation • a 401(k) plan to set yourself up for retirement • Choose a record you love, and we’ll add it to our growing vinyl collection!  • $50/month DoorDash credit – lunch is on us!   • Up to $100/month reimbursement for gym memberships   • Fully stocked kitchen with snacks and beverages  • Regular team-building events, lunches, and the occasional breakfast burrito!   • Bright, open office with communal spaces for collaboration and free parking  • Conveniently located near the metro, major freeways and local dining spots  We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Contact us at jobs@senrasystems.us or visit our website https://senrasystems.us. ITAR REQUIREMENTS: • To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here. Pay range $170,000—$230,000 USD