Senior Test Engineer

Senior Test Engineer

LOCATION: Langley AFB, VA

JOB STATUS: Full-time

CLEARANCE: Top Secret

TRAVEL: Limited, as needed

Astrion has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Test Engineer located at the Langley AFB in Hampton Virginia providing support to the Command, Control, Communications (C3C)/Kessel Run Division.

Kessel Run is an Air Force unit that delivers resilient command and control and targeting software capabilities that provide warfighters with decision advantage. Under the Department of the Air Force Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communication, and Battle Management (DAF PEO C3BM), Kessel Run technologies make up the DAF BATTLE NETWORK, the systems-of-systems designed to help the Joint Force make operational decisions faster than our adversaries. The Division architects and acquires the means to connect weapon systems with warfighters and decision makers to enable the warfighter to win against the pacing challenge in an era of great power competition.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS:

• Citizenship: Must be a US citizen
• Clearance: Must have and be able to maintain a Top Secret Level Clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICIATIONS / SKILLS:

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's Degree in related field

• Years of experience: 10 years of directly related experience with 4 years of experience in a DoD setting

• Technical Skills
  • Expertise in operational and mission systems, with the ability to translate mission needs into technical requirements and system capabilities.
  • Experience developing and executing Test and Evaluation (T&E) strategies, including planning, verification/validation methods, and data-driven assessments.
  • Proficiency in Agile methodologies and DevSecOps practices to support rapid, secure, and iterative software development and delivery.
  • Strong technical oversight and systems engineering background, including architecture evaluation, requirements analysis, integration, and risk management.
  • Familiarity with DoDI 5000.87 and related regulatory frameworks, with experience ensuring program compliance and proper documentation.
• Interpersonal Skills
  • Partnership-oriented: Ability to build a "one team" environment and foster a strong, collaborative partnership with the contractor.
  • Strategic Thinker: Can translate high-level operational needs into clear, testable criteria and navigate complex regulatory requirements without causing bureaucratic delays.
  • Influential Communicator: Able to provide immediate, clear feedback and confidently represent the program to senior leadership and external organizations.
  • Mission-Focused: Possesses a deep understanding of the user's perspective (e.g., combat air operations) and can immediately identify when a feature is technically correct but operationally inefficient or unsound.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The selected candidate will supports support the Maven Smart System (MSS), a high-priority artificial intelligence-powered battle command platform that accelerates intelligence analysis, targeting, and logistics for critical warfighter operations. In this role, you will provide Test and Evaluation (T&E) leadership, develop and execute comprehensive testing strategies, and serve as the primary government representative for testing activities across the program. This position offers significant visibility with senior leadership and the opportunity to shape an integrated testing approach supporting advanced AI, machine learning, computer vision, and cloud-based technologies.

Duties include, but not limited to: 

• Develop and document the program’s overarching Test and Evaluation (T&E) Strategy.
• Lead government oversight activities within an integrated test team environment.
• Document test concept development, test methodologies, test plans, test execution, test reporting, data reduction, analysis, and operational testing activities.
• Validate software capabilities against intended operational outcomes from an end-to-end mission perspective.
• Assess the adequacy and coverage of contractor test automation for mission-critical capabilities.
• Utilize Design of Experiments methodologies to plan and conduct test programs.
• Evaluate test environments to ensure they are properly configured and capable of supporting software release testing, including fault insertion and fault identification activities.
• Prepare or advise on criteria, analyses, specifications, cost estimates, test plans, technical reports, and related documentation.
• Apply engineering techniques and procedures to analyze complex technical issues and evaluate testing outcomes.
• Review and evaluate the quality, adequacy, and effectiveness of test results and conclusions.
• Develop innovative solutions to testing challenges and provide recommendations to improve program execution.
• Deconflict testing schedules across multiple software releases and provide recommendations to program leadership.
• Serve as the primary testing lead for MSS leadership and manage interactions with external testing organizations, including Air Combat Command and other stakeholders.
• Ensure testing activities comply with DoD and USAF regulations while supporting agile and streamlined testing processes.
• Support Integrated Test and Evaluation (IT&E) efforts to increase testing velocity, reduce costs, and accelerate capability delivery to the warfighter.