Senior Flight Test Engineer - Active TS/SCI

s Senior Test Engineer , you will architect and execute the end-to-end verification, validation, and flight-test strategy for Major Release -from bench-level checkout in the Integration SIL to operational acceptance on multiple aircraft.
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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Integrate test automation hooks into the PG DevSecOps pipeline; ensure every 90-day Smith build passes gated SIL tests before promotion.
• Champion "shift-left" testing mindset-embedding verification earlier in design reviews and digital engineering artifacts.

• 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).

• ctive 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.

• 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).
• gile/Scrum or SAFe certification; knowledge of Model-Based Test (MBSE-driven test cases).