Development Engineer

Eleven Recruiting is searching for a Senior Development Engineer to join a leading space and defense manufacturer at its growing build-and-test facility in Decatur, AL. The site supports defense programs including munition dispensing systems, carriage and release of air-launched weapon systems, and ramp-launched ejection systems. The Principal Development Engineer plays the lead role in program development and test execution — guiding programs through all phases of the lifecycle, including early prototype build, prototype testing, environmental testing, and flight testing.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You'll lead a small team of development engineers while remaining a strong individual contributor — planning the test, designing the fixturing, building the hardware, and executing the test yourself. The team runs lean, and you're expected to turn a wrench.

A near-term priority: leading a small team supporting a series of government flight tests at a major Air Force test range — building and assembling hardware, integrating weapons, and going downrange to support test execution. You'll be the technical lead representing the team and the company in front of the customer.

Responsibilities

• Lead test planning and execution activities, data collection, reduction, and analysis, and product development on a multi-discipline team supporting multiple programs.
• Take a Verification Cross Reference Matrix (VCRM) and work with the design team and chief engineer to develop a test plan that satisfies verification requirements by test.
• Generate detailed test procedures, with support from junior development engineers.
• Own test execution end to end, including:
• Test design and test fixture design
• Instrumentation selection and setup (strain gauges, load cells, pressure transducers)
• Data acquisition system setup and use
• High-speed video capture
• Shock and vibration testing (vibe profiles per MIL-STD-810, coordinated with outside test houses)
• Thermal testing
• Energetic assembly and function testing (training provided)
• Perform data collection and reduction using Excel and Python (MATLAB welcome).
• Support test scheduling and duration estimates in partnership with program management.
• Mentor and direct junior development engineers; take high-level direction from the chief engineer and run independently.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (or related).
• 5–10 years of experience in development, test, or integration of aerospace or military hardware.
• Mechanically confident and hands-on — comfortable assembling and building development hardware yourself.
• Test planning and test design experience — you've built test plans and written test procedures, not just executed someone else's.
• Data acquisition and test execution experience — instrumentation fundamentals and DAQ setup/use.
• Self-starter who can take high-level direction and lead a small test team without detailed oversight.
• VCRM / requirements verification experience.
• MIL-STD-810 familiarity.
• US Person (ITAR); ability to obtain a DoD security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Python experience.
• SolidWorks or comparable CAD.
• High-speed video experience.
• Shock and vibe testing experience.
• Energetics handling experience; willingness to pursue ATF licensing (blaster certification) with company support.
• Active clearance.
• Basic electrical fluency (DC circuits, solenoids, harnessing).

Salary: $130,000 - $150,000