Sr Test Engineer
Sierra Nevada Corporation · Hagerstown, MD ·
- Seniority
- Senior
- Category
- QA
- Experience
- 10+ years
The Senior Test Engineer plays a critical role in the planning, execution, and certification of advanced aircraft and avionics systems for U.S. Department of Defense, allied, and international customers. This position leads requirements based verification activities across System Integration Labs (SIL), aircraft integration, and ground and flight test environments. The ideal candidate brings strong avionics expertise, disciplined test planning experience, and hands on execution skills to support development, qualification, and operational test objectives.
Our testing approach evolves with the design maturity, extending from initial stages through to post-production follow-ups on subsequent articles.
The role involves extensive system testing, aimed at assessing a broad spectrum of mission equipment such as communication, computing, navigation, and surveillance systems, to ensure they meet design and functionality standards.
Please note, this role does not require any knowledge or skills related to software or automation testing.The Mission Solutions and Technologies (MST) business area provides affordable, turn-key command/control, communications, integrated ISR, force protection and security solutions worldwide. The MST team has a long legacy of supporting the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, commercial and international customers with years of experience in platform operations, engineering and full lifecycle management across domains – air, land, sea, space and cyber.
Responsibilities:
Planning & Documentation
Develop, review, and maintain comprehensive test artifacts, including flight test plans, test procedures, and test reports, in accordance with program, regulatory, and customer requirements
Pilot program‑level test strategy development, including schedule planning, risk identification, configuration management coordination, and resource alignment.
Hands‑On Testing
Execute developmental, qualification, and flight test activities for mission systems, sensors, and avionics across SIL, ground, and aircraft test environments.
Operate and configure RF and electronic test equipment, including spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, multimeters, data acquisition systems, transducers, and accelerometers.
Integration & Troubleshooting
Lead aircraft system integration efforts, subsystem functional checkout, and end‑to‑end system verification.
Lead test anomaly investigations, root‑cause analysis, and corrective action coordination.
Champion in Test Readiness Reviews (TRR), Safety Review Boards, Flight Readiness Reviews (FRR), and post‑test data analysis activities.
Collaboration & Leadership
Coordinate with systems engineering, avionics, software, program management, and quality teams to ensure test activities align with technical, cost, and schedule objectives.
Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and leadership to junior test engineers and support personnel.
Qualifications You Must Have:
Bachelor's of Science in Engineering or related field.
10+ years of experience in test engineering or a related role.
Higher level relevant degree may substitute for experience.
FAA Class III Medical Certificate, with the ability to complete Altitude Chamber training.
Expert understanding of test and evaluation principles and methodologies.
Thorough understanding of engineering principles and practices.
Experience leading multi-disciplinary design and development teams.
Advanced proficiency with RF and electronic test equipment, including spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, multimeters, data acquisition units, transducers, and accelerometers.
Strong knowledge of aircraft avionics systems and architectures, including integration of mission systems, communication, navigation, surveillance, and related subsystems.
Ability to interpret engineering schematics and technical data, troubleshoot complex systems, and apply structured diagnostic methods.
Experience developing, executing, and documenting ground and flight test plans and procedures, from planning through requirements-based verification and selloff.
Demonstrated capability in requirements management, including derivation, allocation, traceability, verification, and compliance documentation.
Excellent technical communication and documentation skills, with the ability to produce clear test artifacts, reports, and engineering correspondence
Active United States Top Secret Security clearance with SCI eligibility required.
Qualifications We Prefer:
Experience supporting DoD programs, ISR platforms, and other missionized aircraft efforts.
Strong familiarity with MIL-STD and aerospace environmental and electromagnetic standards, including DO‑160, MIL‑STD‑810, and MIL‑STD‑461.
Hands-on experience supporting FAA and/or military airworthiness certification activities.
Proficiency with requirements management tools, such as DOORS or Jama, for requirement traceability and verification.
Proven experience serving in a lead test engineering or integration IPT role, including coordination across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Working knowledge of Product and Quality Assurance principles, including the creation, analysis, and disposition of non‑conformance reports.
Broad experience with test equipment, standards, and methodologies, including both manual and automated test execution.
Essential Functions:
Ability to work on a computer for extended periods.
Ability to lift up to 25 lbs regularly.
Occasional travel may be required.
Ability to work in an office, lab, hangar, or offsite environment.
This posting will be open for application for a minimum of 5 days and may be extended based on business needs.
Estimated Starting Salary Range: $113,428.57 - $155,964.28. Compensation varies depending on a wide array of factors, such as candidates' key skills, relevant work experience, and education/training/certifications. The disclosed range estimate may be adjusted for any applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.SNC offers annual incentive pay based upon performance that is commensurate with the level of the position.
SNC offers a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
This position requires current/active Top Secret with SCI eligibility U.S. Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. Citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance. The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination include, but are not limited to, allegiance to the U.S., foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations and illegal drug use.Learn more about the background check process for Security Clearances.
SNC is a global leader in aerospace and national security committed to moving the American Dream forward. We’re known and respected for our mission and execution focus, agility, and disruptive and rapid innovation. We provide leading edge technologies and transformative solutions that support our nation’s most critical security needs. If you are mission-focused, thrive in collaborative environments, and want to make our country stronger with state-of-the-art technologies that safeguard freedom, join our team!
SNC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an environment free of discrimination. Employment decisions are made based on merit without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.