Mission Planning Test Engineer, F-16 Test Lead

COLSA; United States; On-site; USD 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A defense contractor is seeking aviation professionals to support the U.S. Air Force 45th Test Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The ideal candidate will have mission planning expertise and the ability to assess software integration and testing processes. Responsibilities include planning tests, coordinating projects, and adapting methodologies for optimal results. Candidates should have experience with automated mission planning software and be prepared for extended hours to meet project needs.

Qualifications

• Experience with aviation roles such as pilots, navigators, or combat system officers.
• Ability to conduct mission planning using integrated systems.
• Familiarity with Air Force directives, processes, and software testing methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Provide mission planning expertise and serve as authority on software integration.
• Plan tests, assess program effectiveness, and analyze unusual testing conditions.
• Maintain working knowledge of mission planning software including automated systems.

Skills

Aviation expertise

Mission planning

Test planning and execution

Communication skills

Tools

Windows 10

JMPS

Job description

Job Description

This position provides support to the United States Air Force 45th Test Squadron based at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida as a member of our mission planning software team. The Mission Planning Systems Test Team conducts independent assessments on Air Force mission planning systems to determine if the software is suitable for operational use.

We are looking for aviation professionals (pilots, navigators, weapon system officers and combat system officers), with Air Combat Command (ACC) experience (mission planning, weapons delivery, smart weapons, defensive management systems, data links). Test experience (requirements, test planning, test execution and reporting) is desired but not required. Professional interaction and communication with non-collocated team members (developers, program managers, Major Command representatives, military users, other test agencies) is essential.

Testing activities will occur at both onsite and offsite locations. When executing offsite test events, work hours can be extended and may vary. Events are typically 1-2 weeks in length, with estimated Travel requirements being 1 week per quarter. This support includes the following:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide mission planning domain expertise and frequently serve as the final authority on software integration, test, and deployment.
• Provide mission planning domain expertise in questions/issues of critical importance to the customer.
• Plan tests, establish criteria, assess program effectiveness, and investigate/analyze unusual testing conditions, problems, or questions. Work facilitates software development, production, design, or procurement, and affects the efficiency or productivity of a test facility or test activity. Software evaluations may result in new testing techniques or involve assessments, which are often the basis for large expenditures.
• Plan, coordinate, and monitor test projects that frequently require significant modifications of standard practices or adaptation of instrumentation to obtain valid results. Plan, monitor and evaluate tests, and assess the feasibility and soundness of proposed evaluation methods. Make recommendations and commitments to program management leadership/personnel.
• Demonstrate software experience with Windows 10 or newer environments.
• Demonstrate strong aviation or mission planning experience with functions provided by the software including operational use of comparable systems.
• Maintain a working knowledge of the software or software class being tested, to include experience with the existing software, previous versions, future versions or any associated software used in conjunction with the software being tested. Ability to conduct mission planning using JMPS is highly desirable.
• Maintain testing/test methodology experience, including testing of software/hardware, such as unit, integration, system, or acceptance testing, and familiarity with Air Force directives, processes and procedures.
• Maintain experience in the developmental/operational testing of any research, development, or test and evaluation software associated with aircraft, weapons, range instrumentation, or other computer systems.
• Maintain experience in the use of automated mission planning software.
• Be able to travel to attend required meetings (such as Program Management Reviews, Engineering Design Reviews, Formal Qualification Tests, and other mission planning enterprise/program meetings) CONUS and OCONUS.
• Normally work 40 hours per week. Must be willing to work extended hours, including weekends and holidays, when required, to meet mission requirements.