Engineering Manager Test and Launch Site
True Anomaly · Long Beach, CA
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $150k–$205k
- Degree
- Required
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management manufacturing role at True Anomaly (aerospace & defense) in Long Beach, CA. You will own all aspects of site operations supporting propulsion, fluids, and structures testing.
- They ask for
- degree required
- Tools it names
- Automation, Capacity planning
- Base pay
- $150k–$205k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $115k–$169k. This one lists $150k–$205k.
Median of the low and high ends of 126 live postings that list pay, out of 346 manufacturing engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 345 other live manufacturing postings in California.
- Base pay
- About 32% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $111k–$159k, from 112 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Tooling 51%
- ✓ New product launch 49%
- Root cause 39%
- ✓ Automation 36%
- CATIA / NX 27%
- Machining 27%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Capacity planning, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at True Anomaly
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: True Anomaly in Long Beach
5 other open roles at this site.
- Fluids and Propulsion Production Engineer (Senior-Staff) · Production · Senior
- Avionics Production Engineer (Senior-Staff) · Production · Senior
- Head of Non-Production Operations, Facilities · Reliability · Director+
- Electrical Engineering Manager, eGSE · Reliability · Manager
- Spacecraft Mechanical Production Engineer (II-III) · Reliability · Senior
Full description from True AnomalyAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Site Operations: Own day-to-day operations of the test facility, including staffing, scheduling, facility maintenance, and infrastructure readiness. Ensure the site is always prepared to support active test campaigns with zero unplanned downtime.
- ◆Test Campaign Execution: Lead and coordinate propulsion, fluids, and structures test campaigns from setup through data delivery. Drive test readiness reviews, manage test article configuration, and hold the team accountable to campaign milestones.
- ◆Team Leadership: Hire, develop, and manage a team of engineers, test technicians, and site personnel. Foster a high-performance culture built on safety, precision, and urgency.
- ◆Safety and Range Safety: Own site safety for all hazardous operations including propellant handling, pressurized systems, high-energy testing, and structural load applications. Develop and enforce safety plans, procedures, and emergency response protocols. Interface with range safety authorities and regulatory agencies as required.
- ◆Facility and Ground Support Equipment: Establish and oversee maintenance, calibration, and certification of test stands, ground support equipment, data acquisition systems, and site infrastructure. Manage vendor relationships and service contracts to keep critical systems operational.
- ◆Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the primary interface between the test site and engineering, quality, and program management teams. Communicate test status, anomalies, site risks, and resource needs clearly and proactively.
- ◆Regulatory Compliance: Ensure site operations comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations including FAA, EPA, and fire authority requirements. Maintain permits, safety documentation, and inspection records.
Qualifications
- ✓Technical degree in aerospace, mechanical, chemical, or a relevant engineering or technical field
- ✓Significant experience in aerospace test operations, including propulsion or fluids system testing
- ✓Proven experience managing a test site, test team, or remote operations facility
- ✓Deep understanding of hazardous materials handling, pressurized systems safety, and high-energy test protocols
- ✓Experience leading test readiness reviews and managing test campaigns end-to-end
- ✓Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple concurrent test programs
Preferred qualifications
- ✓Master’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, chemical engineering or equivalent discipline.
- ✓Experience with multiple types of propulsion systems
- ✓Familiarity with data acquisition systems and test instrumentation
- ✓Experience interfacing with regulatory agencies and range safety authorities
- ✓Prior experience standing up or scaling a test facility
- ✓Active DoD clearance or ability to obtain one
Requirements
- ✓Work Location — this a fully onsite position based out of our Long Beach, CA office.
- ✓Work environment —the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing t
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Space is a warfighting domain. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build the technology that secures it.
Our mission
True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors — enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground.
Our values
- •Be the offset. We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity.
- •What would it take? We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results.
- •It’s the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together.
Benefits & perks *
- •Best-in-class healthcare: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, with HSA/HRA options
- •Generous time off: Flexible Time Off (FTO) for exempt employees, accrued PTO of up to 25 days for non-exempt employees, plus 12 paid holidays; Parental Leave; Sick Leave
- •Fuel for your day: Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks for in-office employees
- •And more: 401(k) retirement plan, fitness reimbursement, and Dog Fridays
- •Equity participation: Equity is included as part of our total compensation package, giving you an opportunity to share in the company’s success.
- •Do not apply to fixed term and temporary roles
Your mission
As the Test and Launch Site Engineering Manager of True Anomaly's off-site tests, you will own all aspects of site operations supporting propulsion, fluids, and structures testing. You will lead a multidisciplinary team of test technicians and engineers, drive test campaign execution, and ensure the facility operates safely, efficiently, and in compliance with all regulatory requirements. You are the on-site decision-maker — accountable for people, hardware, schedule, and site readiness.
What success looks like
- •Test schedules executed with milestones met and acceptance/qualification delivered at required quality.
- •Efficiency and automation efforts measurably reduce turn time and increase throughput each iteration.
- •Capacity plans that maximize utilization, minimize downtime, while preventing bottlenecks.
- •High first-time yield at quality with reduced anomalies demonstrate process maturity.
- •Team engagement and technical excellence known across the organization.
- •Test processes that are scalable, disciplined, and trusted by stakeholders.