Mission, Planning & Execution Engineer III

Kratos Defense & Rocket Support Services, Inc; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Kratos Defense & Rocket Support Services, Inc in Huntsville, AL seeks a Test Engineer to plan, coordinate, and execute complex missile flight tests. You will develop truth-data collection architectures, manage instrumentation and range assets, and lead multi-disciplinary teams.

The role includes acting as on-site Test Director, coordinating FAA airspace, and ensuring test readiness across DoD and commercial ranges. This position requires travel and security clearances as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor or Associate's Degree; 6–8 years of relevant experience.
• Missile flight test experience with leadership in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience coordinating with DoD, test ranges, FAA airspace, and budgets.
• Ability to obtain security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement truth-data collection and flight test resource architectures.
• Plan, assign, coordinate, and deconflict test resources, personnel, ranges, and infrastructure.
• Establish and maintain configuration control for instrumentation and tracking assets.
• Prepare and maintain test schedules, documentation, and funding coordination.
• Serve as on-site Lead Test Director during execution and liaison with FAA.
• Lead and chair Mission Execution Team Working Groups and readiness reviews.
• Oversee development and quality control of test execution documentation.
• Interface with test analysis, sensors/vehicle elements, contractors, and range personnel.
• Conduct after-action reviews and maintain records for compliance.

Skills

Missile flight test knowledge

DoD test ranges knowledge

FAA airspace coordination

Technical writing oversight

SIMDIS tooling

Education

Bachelor or Associate's Degree

Tools

SIMDIS

Telemetry systems

Job description

GENERAL JOB SUMMARY:

Test Engineer responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing complex missile flight tests by developingflight resource architectures, securing and configuring instrumentation and range assets, and managing multi-disciplinary teams and contractors. Serves as the on-site Test Director during test execution, maintains configuration and schedule control, negotiates airspace and FAA approvals, leads working groups, and oversees documentation and funding coordination to ensure test readiness and successful mission outcomes across DoD and commercial ranges.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Develop and implement truth-data collection and flight test resource architectures to meet test objectives.
• Plan, assign, coordinate, and deconflict test resources, personnel, ranges, and infrastructure for complexflight test events.
• Establish and maintain configuration control for instrumentation, tracking assets, and test supportequipment.
• Prepare and maintain test schedules, Bluewater charts, Test Information Sheets, Launch Commit Criteria,funding summaries, deployment plans, daily status reports, and other mission documentation.
• Serve as on-site Lead Test Director during execution: provide on-console status reporting, enforce LaunchCommit Criteria, lead issue resolution, and represent test resources at mission-level briefings.
• Act as FAA liaison for airspace coordination: pre-coordinate airspace requests, negotiate NOTAMs andlaunch windows, and resolve airspace conflicts with FAA centers and range partners.
• Lead and chair Mission Execution Team Working Groups and readiness reviews.
• Oversee development and quality control of Test Execution documentation; manage and mentor technicalwriters and support staff.
• Interface with Test Analysis, sensors/vehicle elements, contractors, and range personnel to ensure properasset siting, coverage, and integration.
• Conduct after-action reviews, provide lessons-learned input, and maintain records for configuration andcompliance.
• Travel to and deploy at test ranges as required; maintain required security clearances and adhere to safetyand government policies.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

Supervises a multidisciplinary team of contractor personnel supporting test execution and resource planning, including technical writers, instrumentation leads, range coordinators, and deployed test directors and technicians. Assigns work, establishes priorities and schedules, monitors performance, provides coaching and mentoring, and conducts performance evaluations and feedback. Provides hiring recommendations, training plans, and professional development to ensure team readiness and technical competency. Delegates authority for on-site roles, maintains accountability for resource configuration and compliance, and resolves personnel and technical conflicts. Leads and chairs working groups and readiness reviews, making decisions on resource allocation, launch commit criteria incorporation, and mission execution actions within delegated authority. Ensures adherence to safety, security, and government policies while fostering cross-organizational collaboration with contractors, range partners, and FAA liaisons.

Keyword: Mission, Planning & Execution Engineer III

Required Experience:

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Knowledge

• In-depth knowledge of missile flight test processes, instrumentation, and truth-data collection architectures.
• Familiarity with DoD and commercial test ranges (e.g., Wallops Flight Facility, PMRF, PSCA, Point Mugu, Reagan Test Range, Western Range) and their operational constraints.
• Understanding of FAA airspace procedures, NOTAM processes, and airspace coordination for flight tests.
• Configuration management, test readiness review processes, and test documentation standards.
• Test planning and resource allocation across complex, multi-site missions.
• Schedule development, budget/funding coordination, and cost estimating for test support.
• Risk management, problem resolution, and on-console reporting during live test events.
• Technical writing oversight and ability to produce/coordinate formal support requirements and mission documentation.
• Proficiency with test analysis and visualization tools (e.g., SIMDIS) and instrumentation/telemetry systems.

Abilities

• Lead and supervise multidisciplinary teams and working groups; make decisive operational decisions under pressure.
• Communicate clearly with senior leadership, contractors, range partners, and FAA counterparts.
• Coordinate logistics and personnel deployments for distributed test events.
• Maintain attention to detail for configuration control, safety, and compliance with government policies.
• Travel and deploy to test sites; obtain and maintain required security clearances

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor or Associate's Degree
• 6 - 8 years of relevant experience
• Missile Flight test and evaluation experience, with significant experience in missile or complex flight test programs.
• Demonstrated leadership in test team management, mission management, or similar roles supporting multi-disciplinary teams and flight tests.
• Proven experience coordinating with DoD and commercial test ranges, FAA airspace coordination, configuration management, and test documentation.
• Experience managing budgets/funding for test support and leading working groups and readiness reviews.
• Ability and willingness to travel to test ranges; possession of or ability to obtain required U.S. security clearance.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• The role operates in office settings, assembly/integration settings, and field operation/test range environments.
• Office work includes being seated or standing at a desk, operating a computer and reading a monitor.
• Assembly/integration work includes extended standing/walking; use of hand tools and test equipment; repetitive tasks; reaching/stooping; occasional lifting/moving of equipment or materials; adherence to safety protocols and required PPE.

From: Kratos Defense