Sr Principal Test Engineer - Active Secret Clearance Required

Description

This senior principal test engineer role sits in the test and evaluation engineering organization and supports the research and advanced design operating unit within the aeronautics systems group.

The unit acts as the front-end design group, turning early ideas into mission-ready capabilities, including next-generation future aircraft and collaborative autonomous platforms.

The team handles the full life of advanced concept work, from early designs and rapid prototyping to demonstrations and hard technical problems in survivability, autonomy and battle management.

The role is based in San Diego, CA or El Segundo, CA, and it supports test activities in the System Integration Lab in Rancho Bernardo as well as ground and flight tests.

Success depends on being highly motivated, able to work without close direction, and bringing relevant test experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead lab, ground and flight integration and developmental testing for the aeronautics systems group.
• Make sure engineering tests support development goals and that the mechanisms to run them are in place.
• Track test requirements status, manage schedules, and write test plans and test reports.
• Find all test and program risks, issues and pressures, and build plans to mitigate and close them.
• Coordinate ground test engineering and operations and the aircraft changes needed for testing, working often with engineering teams in Rancho Bernardo, Space Park, El Segundo and Palmdale, while keeping cost and schedule targets on track.
• Give program leadership forecasts for test site staffing and resources, so the staffing needed for the Test Statement of Work is in place.
• Be responsible for every part of the test program, including staffing, planning, running and reporting on lab and flight tests.

Requirements

• Hold a Bachelor of Science degree in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) field plus 8 years of relevant lab, ground and flight test military or professional experience, or a Master's degree in a STEM field plus 6 years of that experience, or a PhD plus 4 years of that experience.
• Have experience leading flight test programs.
• Have experience managing program risk, opportunity and issues.
• Have experience in lab environments.
• Hold an active US Government Secret clearance, with a background investigation in the past 6 years or enrollment in Continuous Evaluation, and be able to obtain and keep a Top Secret US clearance.
• Be able to obtain and keep a Special Access Program (SAP) clearance within a reasonable time set by business needs, before you start work.
• Be able to travel up to 25% of your time.
• Preferred: experience leading a test team in a fast-changing environment.
• Preferred: strong organizational, written communication, project management planning and presentation skills.
• Preferred: proficiency in MS Project, Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
• Preferred: a record of building trusted working relationships.
• Preferred: experience with Jira and Confluence.
• Preferred: an active US Government Top Secret clearance, with a background investigation completed in the last 6 years or current enrollment in Continuous Evaluation.
• Preferred: prior clearance for a Special Access Program (SAP) or Special Compartmented Information (SCI).

Conditions

Relocation assistance may be available.

A Secret clearance is required before you start.

Travel is required, at about 50% of the time.

You may be asked to work extended shifts and some weekends to keep the program on schedule.

Flexible work arrangements are offered, including a 9/80 or 4/10 work schedule.

The base salary range is $129,300.00 - $193,900.00. Final pay depends on the scope of the role, your experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

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

Benefits

• Work on cutting-edge aircraft development with many career paths across a broad program portfolio.
• Join an inclusive, close-knit environment with strong learning opportunities and exposure to many projects and customers.
• Access to exceptional benefits and healthcare, plus a 401K matching program.
• Depending on the position, you may be eligible for overtime, shift differential and a discretionary bonus on top of base pay.
• Annual bonuses reward individual contributions and let you share in company results.
• Vice President and Director roles may be eligible for Long Term Incentives.
• Benefits include health insurance, life and disability insurance, a savings plan, paid company holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation or personal business.