Sr Test Engineer

Bedford, MA, US (Onsite) Clearance: Active TS/SCI clearance required

Are you a highly experienced Test Engineer passionate about ensuring the quality and performance of next-generation airborne systems? Join the Phalanx Griffon (PG) program, the Air Force's cutting-edge airborne node connecting warfighters to decision-quality data across the DAF BATTLE NETWORK. As a Senior Test Engineer, you will be responsible for architecting and executing the end-to-end verification, validation, and flight-test strategy for Major Release 2 (FY 25-27), spanning from bench-level checkout in the Integration System Integration Laboratory (SIL) to operational acceptance on multiple aircraft.

This pivotal role offers a unique opportunity to lead critical test efforts for a high-impact national defense program, ensuring the reliability and effectiveness of vital airborne communication and data solutions.

What You'll Do:

• Strategy & Planning:
  • Build the Program-level Test & Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP), linking Nomad hardware, Smith software, and Watch ops-support elements to CJADC2 mission threads and MR 2 exit criteria.
  • Define Developmental Test (DT)/Operational Test (OT) entrance and exit gates, traceability matrices, and milestone metrics within the Integrated Master Schedule.
• System Integration Laboratory (SIL) Leadership:
  • Design lab architectures that replicate platform power, data, and environmental interfaces.
  • Oversee daily operations, configuration control, and security accreditation within the SIL.
  • 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, drafting test cards, hazard analyses, Interim Authorizations To Test (IATT), and Safety-of-Flight packages.
  • Serve as the lead flight-test engineer or ground-test conductor, capturing telemetry, logs, and spectrum traces, and troubleshooting 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 Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) and senior USAF stakeholders.
• Continuous Integration / DevSecOps:
  • Integrate test automation hooks into the PG DevSecOps pipeline, ensuring 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 System Program Office (SPO) test representatives, and Government civilians on best practices for agile Test & Evaluation (T&E).
  • Interface with NSA, DISA, and flight-safety authorities to align test artifacts with certification needs (Authority To Operate (ATO), crypto, airworthiness).

What You'll Bring:

• Due to the sensitivity of customer related requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Electrical, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline (Master's a plus) and 15+ years of DoD system-of-systems test engineering, including lab-to-flight progression.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.
• Proven leadership of large-scale DT/OT efforts for avionics, communications, or Command and Control (C2) systems.
• Hands-on experience with test automation frameworks, instrumentation, and data-analysis tools (e.g., 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 Risk Management Framework (RMF)/eMASS artifacts.
• Flight-test credentials (USAF Test Pilot School (TPS) graduate, FAA Designated Engineering Representative (DER), or equivalent).
• Agile/Scrum or SAFe certification; knowledge of Model-Based Test (MBSE-driven test cases).