Software Manufacturing Test Engineer, Missiles
Costa Mesa · Costa Mesa, CA (OC-00) · USD 146,000-194,000 · 3+ years experience · Posted Sep 28, 2026
At a glance
- Experience
- 3+ years experience
- Location
- Costa Mesa · Costa Mesa, CA (OC-00)
- Salary
- USD 146,000-194,000 · Base salary
About the role
- As a Software Manufacturing Test Engineer, you will build, scale, and maintain the software that drives our manufacturing test systems.
- Your primary focus will be developing production software that directly tests complex hardware systems, integrates with laboratory instrumentation and DAQs, and manages the data these stations produce.
- You will bridge low-level hardware control with high-level test automation by writing robust, reliable production code in Python and C# targeting Linux/Unix and NixOS runtime environments.
Responsibilities
- Maintain ownership of software manufacturing test activities in production, ensuring test station uptime, operator usability, and smooth factory throughput
- Develop and maintain PLC-integrated station control software — commanding industrial controllers over Modbus TCP for rig actuation, interlocks, and sensor acquisition — and maintain the tag/address index as PLC programs evolve
- Build hardware-free simulation environments so test software is developed and regression-tested without occupying hardware
- Design, build, and maintain production software manufacturing test suites primarily in Python and C#
- Integrate software manufacturing test applications directly with sensors, DAQs, programmable power supplies, electronic loads, and vehicle compute hardware
- Implement low-level hardware communication using embedded protocols including UART, CAN, and RS-485 / RS-232 to command, flash, and validate devices under test
- Deploy, configure, and debug software manufacturing test systems running on Linux/Unix platforms using terminal command-line tools, SSH, and network debugging utilities
- Leverage Nix and NixOS to manage reproducible software manufacturing test environments, eliminating dependency drift between engineering development benches and production line stations
- Collaborate with hardware and firmware engineers during early-stage product development to define software manufacturing test requirements, coverage, APIs, and pass/fail limits
- Provide hands-on troubleshooting and root-cause analysis for complex electrical, firmware, and software manufacturing test issues found on the line
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related fields
- 3+ years of relevant industry experience as a Software Manufacturing Test Engineer, or in an equivalent role with an emphasis on software development for hardware test automation, lab automation, or manufacturing environments
- Strong proficiency writing production code in Python for software manufacturing test automation, device control, and data handling
- Working knowledge of C# (.NET) for developing software manufacturing test applications, operator UIs, or system services
- Strong Linux/Unix systems knowledge, including terminal proficiency, shell scripting, SSH, and network configuration/debugging
- Demonstrated hands-on experience interfacing software manufacturing test suites with embedded communication protocols: UART, CAN, and RS-485 / RS-232
- Familiarity with controlling standard test equipment via software
- Strong root-cause analysis skills for diagnosing hardware-software boundary issues using log files, terminal outputs, and basic bench tools
- Experience integrating software manufacturing test platforms with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and database backends
- Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance
Preferred qualifications
- Experience with Nix and NixOS for declarative software manufacturing test environment management and deployment
- C programming knowledge
- Familiarity with SQL for direct database querying and test record validation
- Basic familiarity with HTML/CSS for formatting internal software manufacturing test run reports or local dashboard views
- Experience working with contract manufacturers in software manufacturing test execution for PCBA and electronic assemblies
- Familiarity with hardware protocols such as Ethernet, USB, PCIe, and SPI/I2C
- Experience developing software manufacturing test solutions for aerospace, defense, or automotive hardware under environmental stress conditions
- Active U.S. Secret or Top Secret security clearance
Benefits
- Highly competitive equity grants
- Top-tier benefits for full-time employees
Skills
- Python
- C#
- .NET
- Linux
- Unix
- NixOS
- Nix
- UART
- CAN
- RS-485
- RS-232
- SQL
Show all 15 skills
- C
- HTML
- CSS
