Design Assurance Quality Engineering Scientist

University of Texas at Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 104,000 - 174,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin's Applied Research Laboratories seeks a senior Design Assurance Engineer to oversee DO-278A certification of mission-critical web applications. You will lead a team of engineers, eliciting scope, deriving requirements, translating them into designs, and guiding verification and delivery to the customer.

Requires a Bachelor’s in engineering, 3+ years as a technical team leader for safety-critical systems, and strong knowledge of DO-178C/278A/331.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science, applied science or engineering.
• Three years of experience as a technical team leader with safety-critical systems.
• Understanding of RTCA DO-178C, DO-278A, and DO-331 software processes.
• Experience in developing and maintaining quality assurance frameworks.
• Experience in addressing Design Assurance gaps and DO-278A audits.
• Strong verbal and written communication and ability to work across teams.
• Ability to make security-related architectural decisions for web applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead safety-critical system design, development, decomposition, and tracking of requirements per DO-278A.
• Identify safety-critical interfaces and allocate FHA objectives for system safety.
• Map FHA objectives to DA levels and evidence.
• Provide Design Assurance engineering analysis and reviews.
• Support Gap Analysis based on program documents and safety artifacts.
• Develop DO-278A Compliance Audit and Development Assurance report.
• Perform other related functions as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Safety-critical systems

Communication skills

Independent work

Security architecture decisions

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science, applied science, or engineering

Tools

Jira

Job description

Job Posting Title:

Design Assurance Quality Engineering Scientist

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Hiring Department:

Applied Research Laboratories

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt from FLSA

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

PICKLE RESEARCH CAMPUS

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Job Details:

Purpose

We are seeking a senior design assurance engineer to oversee the implementation and DO-278A certification of mission-essential web applications. They will serve as a technical leader within the laboratory in the areas of design assurance. As a key member of a team of engineers, they will be responsible for guiding the team to ensure the resulting product can achieve certification. The team is responsible for eliciting systems scope from stakeholders, allocating and deriving requirements, translating requirements into systems designs, implementing the components, verifying the implementation, and delivering to the customer.

Responsibilities

• Lead safety-critical system design, development, decomposition, and tracking of safety-critical system requirements from initial design to formal validation and verification activities per DO-278A.

• Lead identification of safety-critical system interfaces and conduct Functional Hazard Analysis (FHA) allocations to define objectives for system safety.

• Identify evidence supporting the achievement DA levels identified in the FHA and map to Design Assurance objectives.

• Provide Design Assurance Engineering Analysis and DA Reviews support.

• Provide engineering services supporting Gap Analysis based on final Program Requirements Document (fPRD), Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA), and other safety artifacts.

• Develop DO-278A Compliance Audit, compile a Development Assurance Compliance Report, deliver synopsis of work performed and support integration.

• Other related functions as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science, applied science, or engineering.

• Three years of experience as a technical team leader with responsibilities for the development and implementation of safety-critical systems.

• Understanding of software development processes according to RTCA DO-178C, DO-278A, and DO-331.

• Experience in developing and maintaining quality assurance frameworks.

• Experience in identifying and addressing Design Assurance (DA) gaps.

• Experience in conducting Compliance Audits for DO-278A.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including demonstrated ability to communicate technical detail to staff and stakeholders of varying backgrounds and experiences.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively, both independently and collaboratively, with a strong commitment to contribution and enabling the entire team.

• Demonstrated ability to make security-related architectural and implementation decisions for web applications throughout the stack.

Applicant must have a dynamic skill set, be willing to work with new technologies, be highly organized and capable of planning and coordinating multiple tasks. The position will require attention to detail, effective problem‑solving skills and excellent judgment. Ability to work independently with sensitive and confidential information, maintain a professional demeanor, work as a team member without daily supervision and effectively communicate with all groups of clients. Able to work under pressure and accept supervision. Regular and punctual attendance.

US Citizen. Applicant selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information at the level appropriate to the project requirements of the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in systems engineering, engineering management, engineering mechanics, operations research, industrial engineering, or related field.

• Specialized study, research, or work‑experience with a specific emphasis on software architecture, data engineering, real‑time data streams, TCP/IP networking, GNSS systems and/or GNSS signal structure.

• Demonstrated experience with cloud computing platforms such as Amazon Web Services (preferred), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud.

• Demonstrated experience participating in an Agile project management using Jira or similar Agile management tools.

• Work experience specific to GNSS observation and navigation data.

• Eligibility for immediate access to classified information.

• Cumulative GPA of 3.0.

General Notes

An agency designated by the federal government handles the investigation as to the requirement for eligibility for access to classified information. Factors considered during this investigation include but are not limited to allegiance to the United States, foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations, drug involvement, the likelihood of continuation of such conduct, etc.

UT Austin offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• 100% employer‑paid basic medical coverage
• Retirement contributions
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid holidays

Please visit our Human Resources (HR) website to learn more about the total benefits offered.

Salary Range

$104,000-$174,000+/negotiable based on qualifications.

Working Conditions

• Standard office conditions

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation

• Use of manual dexterity

• Some weekend, evening and holiday work

• Possible interstate/intrastate travel

Required Materials

• Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

• Letter of interest

• Unofficial college transcripts

Employment Eligibility: Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University‑Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility: The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks: A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency: The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification: If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]

• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]

• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.