Testing Engineer (Aerospace, Hardware)

About the role

The Testing Engineer brings hands-on testing expertise to Blackwave Texas, building and expanding our capabilities for large-scale COPV testing to ensure the highest levels of safety and reliability for spaceflight applications.

Role Mission

The mission of the Testing Engineer is to establish, develop, and own COPV testing capabilities at the Texas plant. The role is responsible for building the processes, procedures, and methods required to test large-scale COPVs to spaceflight standards — ensuring that no COPV leaves Texas without full confidence in its integrity and performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the engineer of record for all COPV testing activities in Texas
• Design, document, and continuously improve testing processes and procedures for large-scale COPVs
• Develop and validate testing methods appropriate for spaceflight qualification
• Operate and maintain testing equipment, ensuring accuracy, calibration, and readiness
• Support production and operations teams with engineering guidance and troubleshooting
• Conduct and document inspections, tests, and evaluations in accordance with applicable standards
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with testing activities and test results
• Build and transfer COPV testing knowledge within the Texas team
• Cook up and transfer process expertise from the Team in Germany to Texas
• Cook up and transfer process expertise from the engineering, quality, and operations teams to ensure testing activities support production goals
• Contribute to the development of technical documentation, test plans, and reports

Competencies

• Technical Know-How:
• Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent technical field (required)
• Experience with engineering development processes and technical documentation (required)
• Proficiency with testing equipment and instrumentation (required)
• Familiarity with aerospace qualification requirements and standards (nice to have)
• Visual inspection training or qualification (nice to have)
• Experience with risk assessment and mitigation methods (nice to have)
• Leadership and Professional Skills:
• Hands-on approach — equally comfortable at the test bench and at the desk
• Comfortable operating under uncertainty and making sound decisions with incomplete information
• Solution-oriented troubleshooter who drives issues through to resolution
• Organized and structured, but action-oriented and able to move quickly when needed
• Thrives in an environment where processes are still being built, not just followed

Required Qualifications

• Education and Experience:
• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent technical field (required)
• Several years of hands-on experience in engineering testing, preferably in aerospace or pressure vessel applications (nice to have)
• Proven experience developing technical documentation, test plans, or engineering procedures (required)
• Experience working in structured, safety-critical production or test environments (required)
• Language Skills:
• English is required
• Spanish or German are a plus

Work Model

• On-site work is mandatory
• Willingness to work both in the lab/test area and at the desk on a daily basis
• Our current facility is located in Lockhart, Texas (near Austin/San Antonio)
• In mid-2026, Blackwave will relocate to a new site in the Port San Antonio aerospace hub

Equal Opportunity Employer

Blackwave Texas Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected characteristics under applicable law.

ITAR Requirement

This position requires eligibility under U.S. export regulations (ITAR). Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, or otherwise authorized to access export-controlled information.

Locations

• Lockhart, TX
• San Antonio

Our Perks & Benefits

• 15 days paid vacation
• Health Plan included
• Regular social & team events

Workplace, Culture & Diversity

Corporate culture is essential to allow the organization to differentiate itself. In terms of image on the one hand, it has strengths both internally and externally to consumers. It is indeed a source of cohesion and motivation of employees and it limits conflicts. With customers, it conveys a positive image and can develop a feeling of closeness to the company or even become a criterion of choice.