Test Engineer, Staff Principal

Test and Evaluation Manager (Principal) 

LOCATION: Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 

JOB STATUS: Full-time 

CLEARANCE: SECRET 

TRAVEL: 10-25% 

Astrion has an exciting opportunity for a Test and Evaluation Manager located at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH working with the Air Force Division.  

Join the team supporting the F-15 program—one of the most operationally lethal and enduring fighter aircraft platforms in the world. As the workhorse of the U.S. Air Force, the F-15 has proven itself as the most lethal and reliable combat aircraft in service, with unmatched speed, agility, and payload capacity. Our program team consists of dedicated, mission-focused professionals who bring technical expertise, operational insight, and a commitment to excellence in support of this critical national defense capability. Be part of a program that directly impacts air superiority, national defense, deterrence, and alliances across the world. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS 

• Expert knowledge, experience and recognized ability to be considered an industry leader in their technical/professional field.   

• Typically performs the following kinds of functions: initiates, oversees, and/or develops requirements from a project’s inception to conclusion for complex to extremely complex programs; provides strategic advice, technical guidance, and expertise to program and project staff; provides detailed analyses, evaluations, and recommendations for improvements, optimization development, and/or maintenance efforts for client-specific or mission critical challenges/issues; consults with client to define needs or problems; oversees studies; and leads surveys to collect and analyze data to provide advice and recommend solutions. 

• Have a minimum of ten (10) years of experience as a US military fighter/bomber, pilot, or weapons systems officer background and an understanding of 4th/5th generation fighter weapons systems integration operational employment and weapons capability and software development processes. 

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in test and evaluation/test management, to include software development, test planning, certification, and evaluation. 

• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience supporting the requirements of the foreign partner through the FMS programs/policies. 

• Possesses the ability to perform tasks and oversee the efforts of junior, journeyman, and senior contractor personnel within and across multiple technical/professional disciplines. 

• 30 years of directly related experience with proper certifications, 20 years of which must be in the DoD, OR 

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field and 25 years of experience in the respective technical/professional discipline being performed, 15 years of which must be in the DoD, OR 

• Master’s or Doctorate Degree in a related field and at least 20 years of experience in the respective technical/professional discipline being performed, 12 years of which must be in the DoD.  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS  

• Leadership experience in wide/varied operational and test organizations and fighter/bomber platforms; operational experience as a pilot or weapons system operator in a test environment; 4th generation fighter aircraft, systems, and subsystems familiarity; the ability to travel frequently for program reviews and/or site visits; and other airframe, system and sub-system Contractor, test range and laboratory, or customer locations as directed/required.  Finish

• Ability to provide detailed analyses, evaluations, and recommendations for improvements, optimization development, and/or maintenance efforts for client-specific or mission critical challenges/issues. 

• Have a general understanding of current DoD and USAF-specific acquisition regulations, guidelines, and processes.   

 RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Supports complex FMS test tasks coordinating and managing test planning, development and execution.  

• Works with outside offices including, but not limited to, DCMA, FMS partners, test organizations, and AFSAC to coordinate activities and to resolve issues.  

• Supports partner nation F-15 avionics and weapons capabilities; complex weapon(s) integration; aircraft operations and employment; OFP requirements development; aircraft mission and support equipment; authorized aircraft configurations and capabilities; aircraft subsystems; and systems integration.   

• Provide expert-level issue resolution and recommendation support to achieve desired program outcomes to situations that may include, but not limited to, test site planning and stand up, DCMA and prime weapon system contractor roles, CONOPS development, and test process implementation. 

• Provide capability of the T&E processes to assist in the designing, planning, execution, analysis and reporting phases of T&E programs to assess the performance of aeronautical systems, subsystems, and equipment, as they progress through the various acquisition phases and milestones. 

• Review/develop/update applicable program documentation for T&E management relevant requirements across the full spectrum of actions required to award contracts and accomplish test program execution, to include, but not be limited to, tasks related pre-award documentation, evaluation criteria development, contractor proposals evaluation, post-award documentation actions, Statement of Capabilities, TEMPs, and Operational Test Readiness Review (OTRR) documentation. 

• Perform an advisory role, as required, for Government program source selections on all T&E management-related requirements.   

• Support program team meetings, working groups, and reviews as required.  The Contractor shall provide support to any Integrated Test Team (ITT) activities as required. 

• Assist in the determination and definition of aircraft configuration requirements, and modifications. 

• Review, analyze and identify potential updates to TOs and TCTOs, drawings, ECPs, IPBs and other applicable SI technical data.   

• Determine the capability and availability of major DoD and civilian test resources and facilities to include planning and organizing the flight and ground testing of an aircraft, subsystems or components involving weapon system contractors, other USAF or Allied test organizations, and DoD agencies.  

• Recommend and assess test data requirements necessary to meet Government program test objectives within program cost and schedule constraints.     

• Prepares, maintains, updates, and reviews the full range of test plans and test-related (T&E strategies, requirements and objectives) documentation for adequacy, specification/performance requirement compliance, conformity with mandatory guidance, and provide recommendations as necessary for improvement