Link Layer Integration Testing Manager (35387)

Key Responsibilities

• Own the integration, verification, and validation strategy for communication link systems across multiple product releases.
• Lead end-to-end system integration and testing spanning ground infrastructure, communication payloads, network control systems, and operational environments.
• Develop and maintain verification plans, test procedures, acceptance criteria, and verification matrices.
• Ensure complete traceability between system requirements, verification activities, test execution, and certification evidence.
• Identify technical risks and implement mitigation strategies throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Plan and execute laboratory, simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, and integrated system testing activities.
• Lead system readiness efforts supporting Test Readiness Reviews (TRR), System Readiness Reviews (SRR), Operational Readiness Reviews (ORR), and production milestones.
• Review and approve supplier verification plans, validation reports, and release documentation.
• Drive issue investigation, defect triage, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and verification closure in collaboration with engineering teams and external partners.
• Ensure system performance meets functional, reliability, availability, and operational objectives.
• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing Verification & Validation engineering team.
• Assign priorities, manage project workloads, and ensure delivery against program schedules.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and technical guidance to engineers.
• Support recruiting, onboarding, career development, and succession planning for the engineering organization.
• Foster a collaborative, quality-focused engineering culture.
• Serve as the primary Verification & Validation representative for communication link systems.
• Collaborate closely with: Systems Engineering, RF Engineering, Payload Engineering, Network Engineering, Software Engineering, Operations, Program Management, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance.
• Communicate project status, risks, technical issues, and verification results to engineering leadership and executive stakeholders.
• Produce complete, traceable, and auditable verification evidence supporting internal acceptance, customer delivery, and regulatory certification.
• Ensure all verification activities comply with organizational engineering processes, quality standards, and governance requirements.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives for verification methodologies, automation, and testing best practices.

Leadership & Team Development

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing Verification & Validation engineering team.
• Assign priorities, manage project workloads, and ensure delivery against program schedules.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and technical guidance to engineers.
• Support recruiting, onboarding, career development, and succession planning for the engineering organization.
• Foster a collaborative, quality-focused engineering culture.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the primary Verification & Validation representative for communication link systems.
• Collaborate closely with: Systems Engineering, RF Engineering, Payload Engineering, Network Engineering, Software Engineering, Operations, Program Management, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance.
• Communicate project status, risks, technical issues, and verification results to engineering leadership and executive stakeholders.