Mission, Planning & Execution Engineer III

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental & Vision insurance

401(k) Savings Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Paid Time-Off (PTO)

Holidays

Education Reimbursement

Job summary

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions in Huntsville, AL seeks a Test Engineer to plan, coordinate, and execute complex missile flight tests. You will develop flight resource architectures, secure instrumentation, and manage multi-disciplinary teams and contractors to ensure test readiness and mission success across DoD and commercial ranges.

The role involves serving as on-site Test Director, negotiating airspace approvals with FAA, leading readiness reviews, and maintaining documentation and

Qualifications

• 6–8 years of missile flight test experience or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement truth-data collection and flight test resource architectures.
• Plan, assign, coordinate, and deconflict test resources, personnel, ranges, and infrastructure for complex flight test events.
• Establish and maintain configuration control for instrumentation, tracking assets, and test support equipment.
• 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 Launch Commit 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 and launch 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 technical writers and support staff.
• Interface with Test Analysis, sensors/vehicle elements, contractors, and range personnel to ensure proper asset siting, coverage, and integration.
• Conduct after-action reviews, provide lessons-learned input, and maintain records for configuration and compliance.
• Travel to and deploy at test ranges as required; maintain required security clearances and adhere to safety and government policies.

Skills

Missile flight tests

Test planning

Resource coordination

FAA liaison

Leadership

Technical writing

SIMDIS

Configuration management

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor or Associate's Degree

Tools

SIMDIS

Test instrumentation

Job description

GENERAL JOB SUMMARY: Test Engineer responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing complex missile flight tests by developing flight 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.

Job Description

Test Engineer responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing complex missile flight tests by developing flight 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 complex flight test events.
• Establish and maintain configuration control for instrumentation, tracking assets, and test support equipment.
• 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 Launch Commit 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 and launch 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 technical writers and support staff.
• Interface with Test Analysis, sensors/vehicle elements, contractors, and range personnel to ensure proper asset siting, coverage, and integration.
• Conduct after-action reviews, provide lessons-learned input, and maintain records for configuration and compliance.
• Travel to and deploy at test ranges as required; maintain required security clearances and adhere to safety and 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.

Experience And Skills

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.
• 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.

Job Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Coverage
• Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Savings Plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Paid Time-Off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Education Reimbursement

Kratos Defense is an Equal Opportunity Affi­native Action Employer. EOE, Minorities, Females, Vet, Disabled, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or any other protected class. All qualified job seekers are encouraged to apply. Kratos Defense is committed to America's veterans by providing opportunities for them to continue contributing after service to our nation. We also work to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.

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