Hardware in the Loop Test Engineer

Leidos LLC; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 87,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos Defense seeks a Hardware-in-the-Loop Test Engineer to support Hypersonics programs in Huntsville, AL. You will contribute to electrical engineering development, HWIL/SIL test systems, and integration of real-time simulation with hardware.

Responsibilities include designing HWIL interfaces, data acquisition, test automation (Python/C#/LabVIEW), and verifying system performance across nominal and fault conditions. U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain Secret clearance required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 4+ years of experience in electrical engineering, HWIL/HIL development, or related technical discipline.
• Experience with HWIL/SIL, automated testing, or verification systems.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to HWIL test system development and integration for avionics and embedded hardware.
• Design and troubleshoot HWIL interfaces including analog, digital, and serial connections.
• Develop test cases, data acquisition, and automated procedures using Python, LabVIEW, and MATLAB/Simulink.
• Support verification activities, data analysis, and regression testing across programs.

Skills

Electrical engineering

HWIL development

SIL testing

Python

C/C++

LabVIEW

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Oscilloscopes

DMMs

Power supplies

DAQ

LabVIEW

Job description

Looking for an opportunity to make an impact? At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business. Are you ready for your next career challenge? Leidos Defense provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the world’s toughest security challenges for customers with “can’t fail” missions. Leidos Defense is seeking a talented Hardware in the Loop Test Engineer to support Hypersonics programs. The selected candidate will support integration, verification, validation, and field-testing activities for advanced air and missile defense systems.

Primary Responsibilities

Contribute to the electrical engineering development, integration, and execution of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) test systems supporting avionics, embedded systems, electronic hardware, and associated software. Develop HWIL electrical architectures that provide representative interfaces between the system under test and the simulated environment. Design, integrate, and troubleshoot electrical interfaces including analog, digital, discrete, serial, Ethernet, power, and other system-specific interfaces. Develop and integrate signal conditioning, switching, loads, power supplies, signal generation, data acquisition, instrumentation, and other HWIL interface hardware. Interpret system requirements, electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, interface control documents, and equipment specifications to develop effective HWIL solutions. Develop and maintain HWIL interface designs, wiring, cable assemblies, electrical drawings, interface documentation, and configuration information. Select and configure laboratory and test equipment including oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, power supplies, electronic loads, signal generators, data acquisition systems, and related instrumentation. Support integration of real-time simulation platforms with electronic hardware and systems under test. Develop test cases and scenarios that exercise nominal, off‑nominal, fault, startup, shutdown, degraded, and boundary operating conditions. Develop and implement automated test procedures and supporting software using Python, C/C++, C#, LabVIEW, MATLAB/Simulink, or similar tools. Integrate embedded software, firmware, and electronic hardware into HWIL environments to support system‑level verification and validation. Analyze test data and instrumentation results to identify anomalies, characterize system performance, and support verification activities. Develop and maintain test requirements, procedures, test reports, electrical documentation, configuration records, and requirements traceability. Support regression testing and integration of HWIL test activities into software development and CI/CD environments. Maintain configuration control of HWIL hardware, electrical interfaces, instrumentation, test software, simulation models, and associated test artifacts. Collaborate with electrical, software, firmware, systems, mechanical, manufacturing, and program engineering organizations to resolve technical issues and improve product performance. Participate in design reviews, test readiness reviews, technical interchange meetings, customer meetings, and supplier discussions. Provide technical guidance and mentorship to less‑experienced engineers supporting HWIL activities. Support technical planning, task estimation, scheduling, equipment selection, and execution of HWIL test activities. Identify opportunities to improve HWIL test efficiency, repeatability, maintainability, safety, and cost effectiveness.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related engineering discipline. 4+ years of experience in electrical engineering, test engineering, HWIL/HIL development, avionics, embedded systems, or a related technical discipline. Demonstrated experience developing, integrating, or troubleshooting Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop (HWIL), Software‑in‑the‑Loop (SIL), automated test, or comparable verification systems. Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, interface control documents, electrical specifications, and related engineering documentation. Experience integrating electronic hardware, instrumentation, data acquisition, signal conditioning, power systems, and automated test equipment. Experience using laboratory test equipment such as oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, power supplies, signal generators, electronic loads, and data acquisition equipment. Familiarity with communication protocols such as Ethernet, CAN, SPI, I2C, RS‑232/422/485, ARINC‑429, MIL‑STD‑1553, or similar. Experience troubleshooting complex electrical and hardware/software integration issues. Experience with verification and validation, automated testing, regression testing, or formal test methodologies. Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem‑solving skills. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to work effectively across electrical, software, firmware, systems, and other engineering disciplines. Must be able to work full‑time in Huntsville, AL. Must be a U.S. Citizen and eligible to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

Direct experience developing HWIL systems for aerospace, defense, avionics, or other safety‑critical embedded systems. Experience designing custom HWIL interface electronics, signal‑conditioning circuits, I/O architectures, switching systems, or load banks. Experience with NI PXI, cRIO, DAQ, LabVIEW, TestStand, or similar test platforms. Experience with MATLAB/Simulink and real‑time simulation environments. Experience developing reusable HWIL electrical architectures and test infrastructure. Experience integrating embedded software and firmware into hardware verification environments. Experience with systems engineering, requirements traceability, verification planning, and formal test documentation. Experience supporting DoD programs or working within classified environments. Existing Secret security clearance. Experience representing engineering organizations during customer reviews, design reviews, technical interchange meetings, or supplier engagements.

If you’re looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We’re not hiring followers. We’re recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We’re already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting: October 1, 2026 For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range

Pay Range $87,100.00 - $157,450.00 The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That’s why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available here.

Securing Your Data

Leidos will never ask you to provide payment‑related information at any part of the employment application process. And Leidos will communicate with you only through emails that are sent from a Leidos.com email address. If you receive an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment‑related information or any other personal information, please report the email to [e-mail].

Commitment and Diversity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.