Lead Validation Test Engineer/Principal Software Engrg Onsite

Prattwhitney; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 108,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Short-term disability

Long-term disability

401(k) match

Flexible spending accounts

Flexible work schedules

Employee Assistance Program

Employee Scholar Program

Parental leave

Paid time off

Holidays

Job summary

RTX is seeking a Principal Software Test Engineer for its Patriot Software Team in Huntsville, Alabama. The role focuses on leading testing across projects, creating test plans, and mentoring junior engineers in a fast-paced defense environment.

You will collaborate with software developers, system architects, and product leads to ensure requirements are testable and met, with on-site testing and occasional travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM)
• Experience with software engineering and testing
• Familiarity with validation, verification, and requirements analysis

Responsibilities

• Lead test efforts across projects with quality focus
• Create comprehensive test plans and test cases
• Mentor junior engineers and guide cross-functional teams
• Execute manual and automated tests in on-site lab
• Analyze results and report discrepancies and risks

Skills

Software engineering

Validation & Verification

Requirements analysis

Testing methodologies

Bug tracking tools

Test management tools

Leadership in testing

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Tools

DOORS

Bug tracking systems

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-10-14 Country: United States of America Location: US-AL-HUNTSVILLE-401 ~ 401 Jan Davis Dr NW ~ JAN DAVIS 401

Position Role Type: Onsite U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance Security Clearance Type: DoD Clearance: Secret Security Clearance Status: Ability to obtain INTERIM U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date

At RTX, the world's largest aerospace and defense company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world's most complex problems. With our three market leading businesses, world-class operations and investments in research and development, we offer capabilities and opportunity no one else can. Together, we push the boundaries of known science and find new ways to connect and protect our world. Raytheon brings the strength of more than 100 years of experience and renowned engineering expertise to meet the needs of today's mission and stay ahead of tomorrow's threat. We deliver solutions that help our nation and allies defend freedoms and deter aggression, creating a safer, more secure world. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

We are seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Principal Software Test Engineer to design, implement, and execute tests as part of our Patriot Software Team in Huntsville, Alabama. Patriot is the world's pre-eminent air defense system, and we are currently developing software in support of new system capabilities. In this role, you will work closely with software developers, system architects, and product leads to ensure that the solutions we deliver meet our customers' requirements. You'll have the opportunity to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment where your contributions will have a direct impact on the success of our products around the world.

What You Will Do

• Lead Test Efforts: Oversee and guide testing activities across projects, ensuring quality and efficiency.
• Create Test Plans: Develop comprehensive test plans that outline strategies, objectives, and timelines for successful testing.
• Mentor and Guide: Support junior engineers by sharing expertise, providing training, and fostering a culture of continuous learning.
• Collaborate Across Teams: Partner with developers, system architects, and cross-functional teams to ensure seamless software integration and functionality.
• Provide Status Updates: Regularly communicate progress, issues, and risks to stakeholders and leadership.
• Review Software Requirements: Analyze and verify software requirements for clarity, completeness, and testability.
• Write Test Objectives: Define clear and concise test objectives that guide the testing process and ensure thorough coverage.
• Review Software Requirements: Analyze and understand software requirements to ensure clarity and testability.
• Write Test Objectives: Develop clear and concise test objectives that guide the testing process and ensure comprehensive coverage.
• Design Test Cases: Create innovative and effective test cases, both manual and automated, based on test objectives.
• Execute Test Cases: Conduct thorough testing of new and modified software in our on-site lab environment.
• Data Analysis: Analyze test results in relation to specified requirements and clearly document any discrepancies. Analysis is primarily manual and data-intensive.
• This position requires onsite presence and extensive interaction with other groups including Systems Design engineering and the Software Development Team. Light travel may be required.

Qualifications

• You Must Have Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 8 years of experience unless prohibited by local laws/regulations.
• Experience with Software Engineering.
• Experience in Validation, Verification, Requirements Analysis and/or Testing.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued Secret security clearance is required.
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.
• Qualifications We Prefer Active Secret security clearance.
• Experience applying principles of Earned Value Management
• Knowledge of software testing methodologies (functional, integration, regression, performance, etc.) and best practices
• Experience with DOORS (Dynamic Object-Oriented Requirements System) or other requirements traceability tool.
• Experience with bug tracking and test management tools.
• Exceptional attention to detail to identify and document any anomalies or inconsistencies in software performance.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to effectively diagnose and address issues.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to effectively report defects, progress, and test results to stakeholders.
• Leadership experience in a testing environment, including creating effective test plans, providing meaningful status updates, and guiding technical teams.
• Expertience in creating detailed test plans and leading test efforts for complex projects.

Clearance Information

This position requires a security clearance. DCSA Consolidated Adjudication Services (DCSA CAS), an agency of the Department of Defense, handles and adjudicates the security clearance process. More information about Security Clearances can be found on the US Department of State government website here: https://www.state.gov/m/ds/clearances/c10978.htm

Onsite

Onsite: Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the development of our products. Huntsville, AL:https://careers.rtx.com/global/en/raytheon-huntsville,-al-location

The salary range for this role is 107,500 USD - 204,500 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. RTX considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.

• medical
• dental
• vision
• life insurance
• short-term disability
• long-term disability
• 401(k) match
• flexible spending accounts
• flexible work schedules
• employee assistance program
• Employee Scholar Program
• parental leave
• paid time off
• holidays

Specific benefits are dependent upon the specific business unit as well as whether or not the position is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement.

Hired applicants may be eligible for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs depending on the level of the position and whether or not it is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company's performance.

This role is a U.S.-based role. If the successful candidate resides in a U.S. territory, the appropriate pay structure and benefits will apply. RTX anticipates the application window closing approximately 40 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require RTX to shorten or extend the application window.

Equal Opportunity Employer

RTX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class.

RTX provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.

About RTX

RTX is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. It comprises three industry-leading businesses - Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. Its 195,000 employees enable the company to operate at the edge of known science as they imagine and deliver solutions that push the boundaries in quantum physics, electric propulsion, directed energy, hypersonics, avionics and cybersecurity. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.