Building a Test Program Where None Exists
For early-stage aerospace companies that need to go from zero to a structured, executable test program — without spending six months figuring it out on their own.
Schedule Free Consultation"We Need a Test Program" Isn't the Same as "We Need a Test"
Most aerospace startups hit a point where the engineering team has finished early hardware iterations and someone asks the obvious question: what's our test program? Not "what's our next test" — what's the structured program that takes us from where we are to a system we can defend in a design review.
"Our test plan is whatever we did last time, plus more."
"We need to budget for test, but we don't know what test costs yet."
"We've never had a formal test process and now we need one."
What You Receive
The process, documentation, and structure that take a test program from "we'll figure it out" to "here's our plan."
Test Strategy Definition
A clear test strategy mapping program risks to verification activities. What gets tested, why it gets tested, when in the program lifecycle, and what evidence each test produces. Built for your specific program — not a templated framework.
Test Matrix Development
A structured test matrix that ties requirements to test points to procedures to results. The master tracking artifact that every test in the program references back to.
Test Plan Document Structure
The overarching Test Plan document and supporting subordinate documents. Establishes the master plan every individual test maps to — purpose, scope, success criteria, organization, and references.
Process Scaffolding for New Programs
The minimum process documentation a new test program needs: roles, decision authority, change control, documentation conventions, review cadence, and cross-functional coordination between test, engineering, manufacturing, quality, and program management.
Test Documentation Architecture
How all test artifacts connect: naming conventions, version control structure, document hierarchy, and bidirectional traceability across test plans, procedures, data packages, and reports. The paperwork backbone of a defensible test program.
Test Design Review (TDR) Process
Peer review framework for individual tests before execution. Covers test objectives, test article requirements, test setup design, measurement plan, data evaluation criteria, and pass/fail thresholds. Catches problems on paper — before they cost a campaign.
Common Engagement Patterns
Most Test Program Development engagements fall into one of three patterns:
Greenfield Test Program Buildout
No existing test program. No matrix, no strategy, no budget structure. We build the program from zero — strategy, matrix, budget, vendor plan, and process scaffolding — sized to the program's actual stage and team.
Test Program Restructure & Formalization
Test work has been happening but is ad-hoc — no documented process, scattered documents, informal reviews. We formalize the program structure (matrix, plan, documentation architecture) without disrupting ongoing work.
Design Review Readiness
Targeted preparation for an upcoming PDR, CDR, or TRR. Gap analysis against entrance criteria, evidence pack assembly, and walkthrough rehearsal — so the team enters the review prepared rather than hoping.
What This Does Not Cover
Our Process
Four phases from program assessment through design review readiness.
Program Assessment
Understand the program, the hardware, the team, the timeline, and the existing process maturity. Identify the gap between where the test program is and where it needs to be at the next major milestone.
Matrix & Plan Development
Build the test strategy, master test matrix, and test plan document structure. Reviewed and iterated with engineering and program leadership.
Process Scaffolding
Document the minimum process: roles, decision authority, change control, and review cadence. Built lightweight enough that the team will actually follow it.
Documentation & TDR Setup
Test documentation architecture, naming and version control conventions, and a Test Design Review (TDR) framework the team can use across the test program.
Why Solrise Engineering for Test Program Development
What separates a test program a new team can actually run from one that lives on a shared drive.
Specialty: Zero to Structured
This is the engagement where there is no existing test program. No matrix, no strategy, no budget structure. Solrise Engineering has built test programs from this starting point — both for early-stage eVTOL companies and for mature Part 25 programs starting new test campaigns.
Lightweight Process, Executable Program
Aerospace test programs fail in two ways: too little process (chaos) or too much process (paralysis). We build the minimum process scaffolding a new program needs — not the maximum.
Honest About Where the Engagement Ends
The test program is one part of a larger program. Certification strategy, organizational design, and safety case construction live in other roles. We're explicit about that split so the engagement scope matches the actual deliverable.
Engagement Structure
Test Program Development engagements are scoped individually based on program stage, team size, and the next major milestone. Engagements range from focused contributions (test matrix only, TDR setup only, documentation architecture only) to full program buildout from strategy through documentation and TDR readiness.
Remote with on-site visits for assessment and design review preparation. Engagement structure — fixed-scope, time-and-materials, or milestone-based — is defined during the discovery phase.
Contact Us to Scope Your EngagementFrequently Asked Questions
We're pre-funding. Can you still help?
Yes — early-stage planning is the strongest fit for this service. Test program structure influences how you budget, how you hire, and how you build your facility. Earlier is better.
We have a senior test engineer already. Where do you fit?
Best fit is where you need a specific engagement-shaped contribution — building the test matrix, structuring the budget, preparing for a specific design review — rather than ongoing team augmentation.
Will you stay on through execution?
Test Program Development is upstream. Execution typically rolls into Ground Test Campaign Leadership as a separate engagement.
Can you help with our test facility design too?
Yes — that's our Test Infrastructure & Lab Design service. Many programs need both, scoped as connected engagements.
How is this different from V&V Planning?
V&V Planning structures what gets verified — requirements, verification matrix (RVM), method assignment, and traceability. Test Program Development structures how the test program runs — test matrix, plan documents, process scaffolding, documentation architecture, and TDR framework. V&V Planning answers "what proves compliance." Test Program Development answers "how does the test work get done." Programs often need both.
Build the Test Program Before You Need It
If your hardware is moving faster than your test program structure, a 30-minute consultation will tell us if Solrise Engineering is the right fit.
Schedule Free Consultation