Senior Test Engineer - Gas Turbine Rig Testing

1w1 week ago

Beehive Industries

Loveland, US · Full-time · $120,000 – $160,000

About this role

Beehive Industries is dedicated to Powering American Defense by revolutionizing the design, development, and delivery of jet propulsion systems. The company integrates additive manufacturing to improve speed to market, fuel efficiency, and cost for unmanned aerial defense. Founded in 2020, it is headquartered in Centennial, Colorado, with facilities including Loveland, Ohio.

This Senior Test Engineer role focuses on gas turbine component and subsystem rig testing. Responsibilities include designing, building, instrumenting, and executing tests on propulsion hardware like compressors, combustors, bearings, starter generators, and fuel systems. It is a hands-on position in a lab/test cell environment supporting early-stage R&D.

Daily work involves partnering with design engineering to define test objectives and developing instrumentation plans with sensors like thermocouples and pressure transducers. Engineers configure data acquisition systems such as NI or Dewesoft and execute test programs including troubleshooting. The role demands direct experience with physical systems, not software QA.

Work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment at the Loveland, Ohio facility to validate designs and generate data for engineering decisions. Beehive commits to advancing the defense industrial base through USA manufacturing. U.S. citizenship is required for security clearance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or related engineering field
5+ years of experience in hands-on hardware or mechanical system testing
Experience working with instrumented test setups and physical systems (e.g., lab testing, rig testing, or test stands)
Familiarity with data acquisition systems and sensor integration
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot mechanical and test system issues
Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative engineering environment
Strong communication and technical documentation skills
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance; U.S. Citizenship required

Responsibilities

Partner with design engineering to define test objectives, requirements, and success criteria for component and subsystem testing
Design, build, and commission mechanical test rigs for turbomachinery and propulsion subsystems (e.g., compressors, combustors, starter generators, fuel and bearing systems)
Develop and implement instrumentation plans, including installation of thermocouples, pressure transducers, flow meters, and other sensors
Configure and operate data acquisition systems (e.g., NI, Dewesoft, or similar) to capture high-quality test data
Execute test programs, including test setup, operation, troubleshooting, and data post-processing
Lead Test Readiness Reviews and support design reviews with test planning input
Develop clear and repeatable test procedures for rig operation and data collection
Troubleshoot issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions