Lead Test Engineer - Guided Munitions & Optical Systems

Elbit Systems of America, LLC; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9/80 schedule with every other Friday

401(k) program

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Life Insurance and AD&D

Flexible Vacation & PTO

Employee Referral Program

Voluntary benefits

Tricare supplement for retirees

Job summary

Elbit America in Fort Worth, TX seeks a Principal Test Engineer for Guided Munitions Programs. You will lead design, integration, and verification of sophisticated Automated Test Equipment supporting advanced optical sensor systems, interfacing hardware, software, and verification methods.

You will supervise test activities, mentor engineers, and ensure compliance with defense requirements while driving continuous improvements in testing processes and data logging. >

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related field.
• 9+ years of engineering experience with minimum 5 years developing optical systems.
• Proficiency with Python, C++, and NI LabVIEW/TestStand for instrument control and test sequencing.
• Experience with MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, RS-232/422, Ethernet, PCIe interfaces.
• Hands-on PXI/GPIB instrumentation and optical test benches.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary technical interface for milestone reviews, test planning, and test execution.
• Collaborate with design, mechanical, systems, QA, and program management to refine test requirements.
• Standardize hardware/software architecture across ATE platforms for modularity and automation.
• Analyze test data and recommend corrective actions.
• Translate system test requirements into automated test cases and scripts.
• Provide technical direction and code reviews to junior/mid-level engineers.
• Validate test solutions for requirement compliance.
• Contribute to process improvements in testing procedures.
• Author BOEs for RFIs and RFPs.

Skills

DoD security clearance

Python

C++

LabVIEW

TestStand

Defense/aerospace experience

Network architecture

JIRA

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related field

Tools

PXI/GPIB instrumentation

MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, RS-232/422, Ethernet, PCIe

DOORS

MS Project

PLM

Job description

Job Summary: The Principal Test Engineer serves as a primary technical authority for the design, integration, and verification of complex Automated Test Equipment (ATE) supporting advanced optical sensor systems. This role will combine deep technical expertise with proven technical leadership. Additionally, this role will bridge the gap between hardware design, software development, and verification/validation methodologies to ensure the test solutions meet rigorous defense requirements. The Engineer will possess a strong understanding of the product lifecycle and a proven track record of successful program execution in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.

Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Serves as the primary technical interface for milestone reviews, test planning and test execution phases.
• Collaborate with design engineers, mechanical engineers, systems engineers, quality assurance, program managers and project engineering managers to refine test requirements and ensure product readiness.
• Standardize hardware and software architecture/design across ATE platforms with focus on modularity, reusability, and automated data logging systems.
• Analyze test data and recommend corrective actions.
• Translate systems engineering test requirements into actionable automated test cases and executable scripts.
• Provide technical direction, code reviews, and hardware troubleshooting mentorship to a team of junior and mid-level test engineers.
• Validate test solutions to ensure compliance to requirements.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of testing processes and procedures.
• Author Basis of Estimates (BOEs) for RFIs and RFP responses.

Education, Experience, License, or Certification:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related fields
• 9+ years of engineering experience with minimum 5 years developing optical systems.
• Demonstrated proficiency in various programming languages such as but not limited to Python, C++, and NI LabView/Test Stand for instrument control and automated test sequencing.
• Mastery of standard defense communication interfaces such as MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, RS-232/422, Ethernet, and PCIe.
• Hands-on experience with PXI/GPIB instrumentation, optical test benches (collimators, blackbodies, lasers), oscilloscopes, and spectrum analyzers.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to obtain an active DoD Security Clearance or ability to obtain one.
• Proficiency in network architecture design, managed switch configuration, packet analysis, and hardware level interface debugging.
• Experience supporting government contracts or working in a defense/aerospace environment.
• Experience with enterprise level tools to aid in program management such as but not limited to DOORS, JIRA, Risk/Opportunity tools, MS Project, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM).

Travel/Physical Requirements:

• Routine travel not expected.#LI-AH1