Senior Flight Test Engineer – Active TS/SCI

Essential Job Functions

• Strategy & Planning: Build the Program-level Test & Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) that links Nomad hardware, Smith software, and Watch ops-support elements to CJADC2 mission threads and MR 2 exit criteria. Define DT/OT entrance & exit gates, traceability matrices, and milestone metrics within the Integrated Master Schedule.
• SIL Leadership: Design lab architectures replicating platform power, data, and environmental interfaces; oversee daily ops, configuration control, and security accreditation. Implement automated regression suites (Python/Robot Framework, Jenkins, Ansible, IXIA/Spirent) covering functional, performance, and cyber-resilience tests.
• Developmental & Operational Test Execution: Lead ground and flight-test events: draft test cards, hazard analyses, Interim Authorizations To Test (IATT), and Safety-of-Flight packages. Serve as lead flight-test engineer or ground-test conductor, capturing telemetry, logs, and spectrum traces; troubleshoot anomalies in real time.
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Perform statistical analysis of throughput, latency, crypto handshake times, SWaP-C impacts, and mission-effect metrics. Produce concise after-action reports, deficiency reports (DRs), and recommendations for corrective action to IPTs and senior USAF stakeholders.
• Continuous Integration/DevSecOps: Integrate test automation hooks into the PG DevSecOps pipeline; ensure every 90-day Smith build passes gated SIL tests before promotion. Champion a "shift-left" testing mindset—embedding verification earlier in design reviews and digital engineering artifacts.
• Mentorship & Collaboration: Guide junior test engineers, platform SPO test reps, and Government civilians on best practices for agile T&E. Interface with NSA, DISA, and flight-safety authorities to align test artifacts with certification needs (ATO, crypto, airworthiness).

Required Skills

• Active TS/SCI clearance.
• B.S. in Aerospace, Electrical, Computer Engineering, or related discipline (M.S. a plus) and 15+ years of DoD system-of-systems test engineering, including lab-to-flight progression.
• Proven leadership of large-scale DT/OT efforts for avionics, communications, or C2 systems.
• Hands-on with test automation frameworks, instrumentation, and data-analysis tools (MATLAB, Pandas, JMP, or similar).
• Familiarity with MIL-STD-810/461, RCC 324/125-15, or comparable environmental and EMI/EMC standards.

Desired Skills

• Previous work on ABMS, CJADC2, OMS/UCI, or tactical data-link programs.
• Experience with Type-1 crypto, cross-domain solutions, and RMF/eMASS artifacts.
• Flight-test credentials (USAF TPS grad, FAA DER, or equivalent).
• Agile/Scrum or SAFe certification; knowledge of Model-Based Test (MBSE-driven test cases).