Testing Team Lead (Hardware Testing)

About BlackwaveBlackwave designs, manufactures and ships flight-qualified, commercial off-the-shelf composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) for launch vehicles and satellites. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Munich, Germany, the company delivers COPVs from a standardized portfolio with flight heritage. The approach reduces lead time from months to days while ensuring that each tank is qualified and flight-ready. Blackwave's mission is to end COPV failure in spaceflight. The company employs more than 150 people across manufacturing facilities in Germany and Texas.More information at Blackwave.com and the procurement platform COPV.com.Role MissionThe mission of the Testing Lead is to ensure high product quality, system reliability, and release readiness by defining, executing, and continuously improving testing and quality assurance practices. The role ensures that our COPVs (Carbon overwrapped Pressure Vessels) meet functional, technical, and business requirements before release and supports scalable, repeatable quality processes as the organization grows.Key ResponsibilitiesWithin the role, the Testing Lead is expected to:Ensure timely and high-quality releases with reduced defect leakage into productionProvide transparent reporting on quality status, risks, and test resultsImprove test coverage, efficiency, and reliability across releasesEnable strong collaboration between testing, engineering, and other production teamsBuild and sustain a high-quality, on-site testing functionIn charge of testing team members executing the processesCore ResponsibilitiesOwn and lead all on-site testing and quality assurance activitiesPlan, execute, and oversee manual and automated testing (functional, integration, system, regression)Coordinate testing activitiesIdentify, document, prioritize, and track defects through resolutionEnsure re-testing and validation of fixes before release approvalCollaborate closely with engineering, quality, and operations teamsProvide regular quality reports, metrics, and risk assessments to stakeholdersContinuously improve testing processes, tools, and methodologiesMentor and guide testers and quality engineers on-siteRequired QualificationsEducation & Experience3+ years of experience in hardware testing or quality assuranceProven experience as a Manufacturing Team Lead, QA Lead, or similar roleStrong understanding of testing methodologies and QA best practicesTechnical & Professional SkillsExperience with both manual and automated testingAbility to structure, document, and communicate test results clearlyStrong coordination and stakeholder management skillsLanguage SkillsEnglish: Fluent (required): Must be able to communicate clearly and professionally in spoken and written English in a US business environmentGerman and/ or Spanish is a plusLocation & TravelOur 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 hubOn-site presence is mandatoryAbility to collaborate daily with on-site teams and stakeholdersPreferred QualificationsHands-on experience with test automation tools and frameworksPrior experience building or scaling testing processesFirst people leadership or mentoring experienceEqual Opportunity EmployerBlackwave Texas Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected characteristics under applicable law.ITAR RequirementThis 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.For this U.S.-based role, your application will be managed by our global People Team in Germany.