Lead Maritime Test and Evaluation Director

STR; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 147,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

STR is seeking a senior Test & Evaluation professional to own end‑to‑end testing lifecycle across RF, acoustic, and electro‑optical sensor systems. You will establish strategy, govern standards, and determine system readiness, interfacing with leadership and government stakeholders as the final authority on test readiness.

You will lead test and evaluation master plans, assess technical risk, and drive cross‑program reuse of test infrastructure and methodologies, ensuring rigorous yet efficient

Qualifications

• BS with 8+ years in Mechanical Engineering or Ocean Engineering.
• Experience in developmental testing, system integration (HIL/SIL), environmental/structural testing, and instrumentation.
• Working knowledge of software‑intensive system testing, including autonomy, AI/ML model validation, sensor fusion.
• Ability to operate without positional authority, briefing senior leadership and influencing engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Define, execute, and oversee the Test and Evaluation master plans.
• Independently assess technical risk and system readiness, final authority for test readiness.
• Serve as primary technical advisor with cross‑program view of T&E readiness, risk, and gaps.
• Drive standardization of test architectures, methodologies, and acceptance criteria across software, hardware, and system-level testing.
• Act as connective tissue between T&E efforts to accelerate other programs.
• Oversee major qualification campaigns and developmental test programs.
• Direct the T&E organization in technical reviews and program milestone gates.

Skills

Testing

System integration

AI/ML validation

Sensor fusion

Operational testing

Education

BS in Mechanical/Ocean Eng

Tools

HIL/SIL testing

Job description

About the Team:

The Sensors Division within STR focuses on the development and analysis of advanced sensor systems in the RF, acoustic, and electro-optical domains. This includes the design and development of novel sensors and advanced information processing techniques from ideation to prototype implementations. The Ocean Technologies & Acoustic Systems (OTAS) Group develops and delivers advanced undersea sensors, payloads, and signal processing systems for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) applications.

The Role:

In this role, you will own the end-to-end testing lifecycle. You will establish test strategy, govern testing standards, independently determine system readiness, provide objective assessments of testing risk, and be final authority determining when a system under test is ready to move forward. You will also interface directly with company leadership, military and government stakeholders, and serve as the final authority on system readiness.

What You Will Do:

• Test and Evaluation Program Ownership reporting directly to the group lead - Define, execute, and oversee the Test and Evaluation master plans
• Independently assesses technical risk and system readiness, serving as the final authority for test readiness, execution, and procedural compliance
• Serve as a primary technical advisor, owning a cross-program view of T&E readiness, risk, and capability gaps across a portfolio of future undersea systems and advanced signal processing algorithms
• Drive standardization of test architectures, methodologies, and acceptance criteria across software, hardware, and system-level testing—ensuring consistency without sacrificing development speed
• Act as connective tissue between multiple T&E efforts: identify where one program’s test infrastructure, tooling, or lessons learned can accelerate another, and drive reuse
• Drive hands‑on technical oversight of major qualification campaigns and developmental test programs
• Direct the T&E organization in technical reviews (e.g., TRRs, CDRs, PDRs) and program milestone gates through ownership of independent technical assessment and risk characterization

Who You Are:

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance, for which U.S. citizenship is needed by the U.S. Government
• Exceptional military operational leadership will be considered in lieu of degree
• BS with 8+ years relevant experience in Mechanical Engineering or Ocean Engineering (equivalent experience considered)
• Demonstrated technical knowledge and hands‑on experience in developmental testing, system integration (HIL/SIL), environmental/structural testing, and instrumentation, developmental testing, maritime or autonomous systems, software‑intensive systems, and operational test experience
• Working knowledge of software‑intensive system testing, including autonomy, AI/ML model validation, sensor fusion, or similar disciplines
• Working knowledge of relevant compliance frameworks and repeatable quality control outcomes
• Proven ability to operate effectively without positional authority—influencing outcomes through technical credibility, relationships, and clear communication rather than org‑chart power
• Strong track record of independently assessing technical risk, determining system readiness, briefing senior leadership, influencing engineering teams through technical credibility, and developing repeatable T&E processes

Even Better:

• Breadth of experience operating and testing systems in forward, limited-access environments
• Direct experience testing or operating autonomous systems, robotics, unmanned systems, counter-UAS systems, weapon systems, or integrated hardware/software defense platforms
• Prior military operational service, or in test, range operations, fires, air defense, special operations support, or unmanned systems roles
• Experience supporting U.S. government exercises and evaluations, foreign military sales demonstrations, or international partner field events
• Experience serving as the responsible technical authority for testing
• Experience leading root-cause investigations and corrective actions following test failures
• Experience balancing technical rigor, schedule, mission objectives, and program risk
• Experience planning and executing operational demonstrations, fleet experimentation, or government evaluations
• Willingness to travel to test events and field demonstrations

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $147,000 - $200,000

The salary range listed is based on external market data. Offers are based on factors, such as but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills/critical skills, security clearances, and prevailing market and business conditions.

STR is a growing technology company with locations near Boston, MA, Arlington, VA, near Dayton, OH, Melbourne, FL, and Carlsbad, CA. We specialize in advanced research and development for defense, intelligence, and national security in: cyber; next generation sensors, radar, sonar, communications, and electronic warfare; and artificial intelligence algorithms and analytics to make sense of the complexity that is exploding around us.

STR is committed to creating a collaborative learning environment that supports deep technical understanding and recognizes the contributions and achievements of all team members. Our work is challenging, and we go home at night knowing that we pushed the envelope of technology and made the world safer.

STR is not just any company. Our people, culture, and attitude along with their unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives put us on a trajectory to change the world. We can’t do it alone, though - we need fellow trailblazers. If you are one, join our team and help to keep our society safe! Visit us at www.str.us for more info.

STRis an equal opportunity employer. We are fully dedicated to hiring the most qualified candidate regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any portion of the employment process, email us at [e-mail] and provide your contact info.

Pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations, positions at STR require employees to obtain national security clearances and satisfy the requirements for compliance with export control and other applicable laws.