Principal Test Engineer (Contingent)- Onsite

Date Posted: 2026-08-14 | Location: Aurora, CO (onsite) | U.S. citizenship and an active, transferable TS/SCI security clearance are required prior to start.

About the Role

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is seeking a Principal Test Engineer to perform a Test Architect role supporting the AF DCGS High Band Mission Applications Software (HBMAS) Sustainment and Development program. The role focuses on defining and executing verification strategies for distributed, cloud-enabled mission applications responsible for ingesting, tagging, auditing, and securing mission data. Work is performed using modern agile methods in close collaboration with customer and operational stakeholders. Position includes occasional CONUS/OCONUS travel (up to 25%). This position is contingent upon contract award and customer funding.

Responsibilities

• Test Architecture & Strategy
  • Develop and refine the program’s test architecture and end-to-end verification strategy.
  • Assess and approve acceptance criteria aligned to needs, interfaces, and operational mission threads.
  • Create automated and manual test approaches aligned with DevSecOps deployment pipelines.
  • Identify test environment needs and testbed design for distributed, cloud-enabled systems.
  • Participate in technical discussions to ensure test influences design and deployment patterns.
  • Validate containerization, cloud deployment patterns, and security controls through structured testing.
• Integration & Verification
  • Oversee installation, deployment, and test of cloud-enabled mission applications across enclaves.
  • Review verification strategies, test procedures, automated scripts, and manual tests.
  • Execute test demonstrations, evaluate results, and verify acceptance criteria have been met.
  • Support troubleshooting of integration, deployment, and dataflow issues across multidiscipline teams.
  • Maintain test artifacts and configuration consistency through disciplined configuration processes.
  • Participate in interface control working groups and validate compliance during integration.
  • Ensure verification activities align with cybersecurity and mission assurance requirements.

What You Will Learn

• Evolution of mission systems across cloud, cyber, data ingestion, and distributed architectures.
• Integration of automated testing with DevSecOps pipelines and modern deployment workflows.
• How operational constraints influence architectural, test, and sustainment decisions.
• Strategies for validating modernization while supporting legacy system interoperability.

Requirements

• Experience in system verification, test engineering, or integration engineering.
• Demonstrated ability to develop test procedures, automated scripts, and structured verification plans.
• Experience with cloud-based, distributed, or containerized systems.
• Understanding of interface and configuration management practices.
• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 8 years of prior relevant experience, or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience.
• Active and transferable U.S. government-issued TS/SCI clearance is required prior to start date.
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• CompTIA Security+ certification.
• Experience with Kubernetes, Docker, or other cloud-native technologies.
• Familiarity with DevSecOps pipelines, automated testing, and CI/CD.
• Experience with observability, monitoring, and logging tools.
• Knowledge of DoD mission systems, cybersecurity requirements, and secure-by-design practices.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees.
• Generous 401(k) plan with employer matching funds and separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option.
• Tuition reimbursement program.
• Student Loan Repayment Program.
• Life insurance and disability coverage.
• Optional coverage: pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection.
• Birth, adoption, and parental leave benefits.
• Ovia Health: fertility and family planning.
• Adoption Assistance.
• Autism Benefit.
• Employee Assistance Plan, including up to 10 free counseling sessions.
• Healthy You Incentives: wellness rewards program.
• Doctor on Demand: virtual doctor visits.
• Bright Horizons: child and elder care services.
• Teladoc Medical Experts: second opinion program.
• Relocation assistance may be provided.

Pay

The salary range for this role is $107,500 – $204,500 USD. The salary range provided is a good-faith estimate representative of all experience levels. RTX considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.