Field Support Officer (Test and Evaluation)

Darkwolfsolutions; Tucson (AZ); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Dark Wolf is seeking a Field Support Officer (FSO) to join our Test & Evaluation team. Serving as the on-site representative on DoD ranges and vendor trial sites, you ensure non-traditional technologies are validated against rigorous, defensible standards and coordinated with range control and vendor staff.

This hybrid, travel-heavy role requires independent judgment, ORM-based risk management, and authoritative communication to bridge commercial innovation and military adoption.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in test planning and full lifecycle T&E within DoD or national security domains.
• Experience conducting on-site test execution and test range logistics.
• Experience applying ORM frameworks and Range Safety Officer authority.
• Knowledge of DoD range protocols, flight clearances, spectrum authorizations, and cyber security approvals.
• Strong communication with range commanders, military units, and vendors.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily range operations and test logistics, coordinating instrumentation, telemetry, targets, airspace, and positioning.
• Manage day-to-day execution of test events on military ranges, acting as government point of contact for range control and vendor staff.
• Enforce gating compliance including airworthiness, flight releases, spectrum and cyber clearances, using ORM frameworks.
• Hold stop-work/halt-event authority when safety limits are exceeded.
• Interact with range commanders and partners to maintain smooth operational workflows and data integrity.

Skills

Test planning

Test management

DoD T&E experience

ORM/RSO authority

Operational communication

Security clearance

US Citizenship

Travel readiness

Job description

Dark Wolf is seeking a Field Support Officer (FSO) to join our Test & Evaluation (T&E) team. Serving as the critical on-site representative on DoD ranges and vendor trial sites, the FSO ensures non-traditional commercial technologies are validated efficiently against rigorous, defensible standards. This execution-focused role requires strong independent judgment, operational risk management expertise, and authoritative communication to bridge commercial innovation and military adoption. This position will require around 50% travel. Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Oversee daily range operations and test logistics. Coordinate instrumentation, telemetry, targets, airspace, and operator positioning to ensure test plans are executed precisely as written.
• Manage day-to-day execution of test events on military ranges, acting as the primary government-affiliated point of contact for range control, ground crews, and vendor staff. Enforce gating compliance—including airworthiness, flight releases, spectrum/emitter authorizations, cyber clearances, and range safety approvals—using Operational Risk Management (ORM) frameworks.
• Hold active stop-work/halt-event authority when operating envelopes or safety limits are exceeded.
• Resolve range schedule shifts, resource dropouts, and unpredictable field conditions in real time, maintaining execution integrity so generated data remains defensible and credible.
• Act as the direct on-site representative interacting with range commanders, military operators, commercial tech vendors, and downstream Service partners to maintain smooth operational workflows.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of directly relevant test planning, test management, and full lifecycle T&E experience within DoD or national security domains.
• Experience conducting on-site test execution, range logistics management, and field data collection within DoD test range environments.
• Experience applying ORM frameworks and acting with Range Safety Officer (RSO) authority, including enforcing compliance and exercising halt-event authority.
• Understanding of DoD range protocols, flight clearances, spectrum/emitter authorizations, airworthiness releases, and cyber security approvals.
• Authoritative communication skills capable of credibly engaging range commanders, military units, and commercial vendors.
• Ability to travel up to 50% to support range events, partner facilities, and vendor sites.
• US Citizenship and a Secret security clearance.

This position is hybrid with travel requirements in the Southwest region of the United States.
The estimated salary range for this position is $130,000.00 - $175,000.00, commensurate on experience and technical skillset.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity, confirm US Citizenship, and complete the required employment eligibility verification upon hire.