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Job Description

Overview

Astrolab is The Lunar Operations Company, focused on designing and building systems and hardware for the lunar economy. They are looking for a Sr. Test Engineer to support the development of lunar rovers and production processes, ensuring the success of sub-assembly and technology test campaigns.

Responsibilities

  • Design, define, and develop test processes for various components and assemblies.
  • Design flexible test equipment and setups that evolve with project scope.
  • Develop data acquisition systems and integrate with other data streams.
  • Triage and determine solutions for non-conformances, performing troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
  • Champion concurrent engineering by collaborating with cross-functional teams.
  • Perform light fabrication and assembly hands-on work.
  • Design assembly and fabrication tooling, owning them from concept through implementation.
  • Develop work instructions and documentation for build and test processes.
  • Collaborate with engineering team members to develop production systems and execute project plans.
  • Perform trade studies on capital equipment and tool procurement.
  • Support on-site and off-site vehicle testing.
  • Directly interact with customers and strategic partners.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field.
  • 5+ years of experience in production, R&D, or test operation environments.
  • Experience in DAQ systems and troubleshooting, with basic coding skills in LabVIEW, Python, etc.
  • Experience in the design, assembly, integration, and testing of electromechanical systems.
  • Experience in developing and executing qualification and acceptance test campaigns for complex hardware.
  • Experience in the setup and operation of environmental test equipment.
  • Proficient in electromechanical assembly and troubleshooting.
  • Demonstrated mastery of project management and associated tools.
  • Proficiency with CAD modeling software like NX or SolidWorks.
  • Experience in written documentation skills using Microsoft suite products.

Benefits

  • Equity ownership in the company
  • Health Insurance
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • PTO
  • 401k

Additional Information

  • Location: Hawthorne, California

Benefits

Equity ownership in the company
Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
PTO
401k
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How this job compares in Hawthorne, CA

Pay in context

At roughly $70/hr, this posting sits about 125% above the $31/hr median for welding jobs in Hawthorne, CA — toward the top of a $31–$58/hr middle band drawn from 42 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 93% of the comparable postings we have wage data for. Pay that far above local median usually comes attached to something: a harder cert requirement, travel, night shift, or overtime that isn't really optional. Worth establishing which before you accept.

The local market in Hawthorne, CA

We're tracking 46 other active welding openings in Hawthorne, CA right now, from 5 different employers. 13 of them were added in the last week. Across California as a whole we're tracking 505 other active welding openings from 240 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in Hawthorne, or widen the search to California.

Astrolab currently has 3 other openings live in California, which is usually a sign of either steady growth or steady turnover — worth asking which in the interview.

The most active employers in California at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are SpaceX (37), Relativity Space (18), and Welding Shop in Los Angeles, CA (13). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within California, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are El Segundo at $53/hr, Los Angeles at $51/hr, and Pasadena at $50/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

Similar openings near Hawthorne, CA

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Sr. Test Engineer figures were last recalculated when this page was built.