Principal/Sr Principal Engineer Systems Test - Active Secret Clearance Required

Description

The company's aeronautics systems business in Rancho Bernardo, CA is hiring a Principal or Sr. Principal System Test Engineer for its Test and Evaluation organization.

The role centres on planning and running system-level tests, aiming for first-time quality and disciplined engineering, and using the Test Like You Fly approach.

You would work with system test engineers, test integrated product team leads, lab operations leads, and test planning and execution teams.

Responsibilities

• Plan and run dry-run and formal system-level tests to evaluate and certify hardware and software for ground and flight release.
• Write, run, and record integrated hardware and software test procedures that confirm compliance with system requirements and support verification of architecture and protocol upgrades.
• Design nominal and off-nominal end-to-end scenarios that measure performance, reliability, interoperability, and operational effectiveness, including navigation, communications, and networking subsystems.
• Turn system requirements into test strategies, test plans, procedures, acceptance criteria, and requirement-to-test traceability.
• Support integration, functional, and regression testing in lab and operational environments, including data collection, analysis, reporting, and closure of verification metrics.
• Keep lab configuration and processes rigorous and compliant with company, program, and security requirements; support lab operations and hot bench work as needed.
• Apply Agile testing, including continuous integration and test-driven development where suitable, to get fast, iterative feedback.
• Work with the systems, software, hardware, cybersecurity, and network and communications teams to integrate and verify subsystem changes.
• Report test status, findings, risks, and recommendations to engineering leaders and program stakeholders, and present at pre- and post-test reviews.
• Handle several priorities on your own and deliver to program schedules in a fast-paced setting.

Requirements

• Principal level (T03): a Bachelor's degree in a STEM field with 5 years of related engineering, professional, or military experience; or a Master's in STEM with 3 years; or a PhD in STEM with 1 year.
• Sr. Principal level (T04): a Bachelor's degree in a STEM field with 9 years of related engineering, professional, or military experience; or a Master's in STEM with 7 years; or a PhD in STEM with 4 years.
• Experience in system test, software development, and/or systems engineering.
• Experience writing and executing system-level test procedures and maintaining requirement-to-test traceability.
• Experience with Windows and Linux operating systems and virtual machines.
• An active DoD Secret clearance or higher, with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or current enrollment in Continuous Evaluation.
• Ability to work weekends, multiple shifts, and off-hours onsite as required.
• Ability to communicate with leadership and across teammates and team members.
• Ability to work well in a fast-paced environment with high expectations, varied assignments, and collaborative teams at all levels.
• A solid record of program performance and test experience.
• Preferred: hands-on system-level lab test execution, including test planning and event coordination, and experience supporting lab operations or hot bench.
• Preferred: understanding of Agile testing methodology and experience with CI and/or automated test frameworks.
• Preferred: scripting experience, with Python preferred; Java or C++ is a plus.
• Preferred: tools such as IBM Rational (DOORS, ClearQuest) and/or Atlassian (JIRA, Git, Confluence).
• Preferred: developing verification and validation strategy and maintaining verification metrics.
• Preferred: test equipment implementation, lab design, and infrastructure readiness.
• Preferred: experience with communications and networking subsystems.
• Preferred: strong written and verbal communication skills.

Conditions

A Secret clearance is required to start.

Travel is about 10% of the time.

Based in Rancho Bernardo, CA.

Relocation assistance may be available.

The company offers flexible work arrangements and a 9/80 schedule with every other Friday off.

The application window is estimated at 20 days from the posting date, and may be shortened or extended based on business needs and candidate availability.

Benefits

• Primary level base salary range: $103,600.00 to $155,400.00.
• Secondary level base salary range: $129,300.00 to $193,900.00.
• Pay is a general guideline; the company considers scope, responsibilities, experience, education, skills, and current market conditions.
• Depending on the role, you may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus. Annual bonuses reward individual contributions and share company results.
• Vice President and Director roles may be eligible for Long Term Incentives.
• Health insurance, life and disability insurance, a savings plan with 401K matching, paid company holidays, and paid time off for vacation and personal business.
• Learning opportunities and exposure to a wide range of projects and customers, in a friendly team environment.