Principal Test Engineer, Level 3

Caribou Thunder; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

401(k) with 6% Company Match

Flexible PTO & Work Schedule

Education & Certification Reimburs e_

Support for Military Leave

Work–Life Balance & Traditional Family

Job summary

Caribou Thunder in Huntsville, AL is seeking a Principal Test Engineer (Level 3) to lead system-level integration and verification testing for the Ground Weapon System, ensuring mission readiness and validated requirements. Travel up to 10% and onsite work are required as part of the role.

The position requires a DoD Secret clearance, a STEM degree, and extensive experience with C++, Java, Python, and GUI-based automated testing platforms like Eggplant.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline from an accredited institution.
• 5 years of relevant experience with a Bachelor’s degree, or 3 years of relevant experience with a Master’s degree.
• Active DoD Secret security clearance required at time of application.
• Experience designing, developing, implementing, and executing system-level integration and test plans.
• Experience developing integration procedures, test procedures, and verification methodologies.
• Ability to interpret requirements, technical documentation, and test guidance to support system-level testing efforts.
• Experience developing test criteria to successfully validate system requirements.
• Experience with C++ and Java software development.
• Experience using Python and other scripting languages for test automation and analysis.
• Experience using Eggplant or similar GUI-based automated testing platforms.
• Experience using GitLab, Bitbucket, or similar source code management tools.
• Familiarity with automated software requirements testing and analysis methodologies.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% in support of program requirements.
• Ability to support a full-time onsite secure work environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, coordination, and execution of system-level integration and verification testing activities.
• Develop, maintain, and execute comprehensive test plans, test procedures, integration plans, and test documentation.
• Schedule and coordinate test execution activities across multiple engineering teams and stakeholders.
• Monitor, measure, control, and report testing progress, product quality metrics, and overall test status.
• Analyze evolving program requirements and adapt test strategies to support changing mission priorities.
• Develop test criteria and success metrics that validate system requirements and mission objectives.
• Support software integration, verification, validation, and regression testing activities.
• Perform automated software testing and analysis to improve test coverage and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with software engineers, systems engineers, cybersecurity teams, and government stakeholders to resolve defects and improve system performance.
• Support test readiness reviews, technical interchange meetings, and engineering assessments.
• Document test results, identify deficiencies, perform root cause analysis, and support corrective action implementation.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives focused on software quality, test automation, and mission assurance.
• Support operations within secure, closed-area environments requiring onsite presence.

Job description

Principal Test Engineer (Level 3)
Senior Level | Active Secret Clearance Required | $70,000 - $95,000 | Travel: Yes (10%) | Onsite: Huntsville, AL

Support mission-critical missile defense operations—leading system integration and verification testing efforts for the Ground Weapon System (GWS), ensuring mission capabilities are validated, requirements are satisfied, and software releases meet operational readiness standards in support of the Missile Defense Agency’s national defense mission.

A Day in the Life - What you’ll do

Lead planning, coordination, and execution of system-level integration and verification testing activities.

Develop, maintain, and execute comprehensive test plans, test procedures, integration plans, and test documentation.

Schedule and coordinate test execution activities across multiple engineering teams and stakeholders.

Monitor, measure, control, and report testing progress, product quality metrics, and overall test status.

Analyze evolving program requirements and adapt test strategies to support changing mission priorities.

Develop test criteria and success metrics that validate system requirements and mission objectives.

Support software integration, verification, validation, and regression testing activities.

Perform automated software testing and analysis to improve test coverage and operational efficiency.

Collaborate with software engineers, systems engineers, cybersecurity teams, and government stakeholders to resolve defects and improve system performance.

Support test readiness reviews, technical interchange meetings, and engineering assessments.

Document test results, identify deficiencies, perform root cause analysis, and support corrective action implementation.

Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives focused on software quality, test automation, and mission assurance.

Support operations within secure, closed-area environments requiring onsite presence.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) discipline from an accredited institution
• 5 years of relevant experience with a Bachelor’s degree, or 3 years of relevant experience with a Master’s degree
• Active DoD Secret security clearance required at time of application
• Experience designing, developing, implementing, and executing system-level integration and test plans
• Experience developing integration procedures, test procedures, and verification methodologies
• Ability to interpret requirements, technical documentation, and test guidance to support system-level testing efforts
• Experience developing test criteria to successfully validate system requirements
• Experience with C++ and Java software development
• Experience using Python and other scripting languages for test automation and analysis
• Experience using Eggplant or similar GUI-based automated testing platforms
• Experience using GitLab, Bitbucket, or similar source code management tools
• Familiarity with automated software requirements testing and analysis methodologies
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and within multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% in support of program requirements
• Ability to support a full-time onsite secure work environment

Preferred Qualifications

• CompTIA Security+ certification or equivalent DoD 8140/8570 certification
• Experience developing software using Ada
• Experience supporting Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) programs
• Experience supporting Missile Defense Agency (MDA) systems and architectures
• Experience using CAMEO or similar Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools
• Experience supporting large-scale integration and verification efforts for complex defense systems
• Knowledge of systems engineering processes, requirements traceability, and verification methodologies
• Experience supporting automated test frameworks and continuous integration environments
• Active Top Secret clearance or TS/SCI eligibility preferred

Who is Caribou Thunder?

Caribou Thunder is a HUBZone-certified small business providing advanced technical and engineering services to the U.S. Department of War and its mission partners.

35+ states and 20+ countries. We’ve delivered trusted solutions for over two decades — strengthening national readiness across missions on land, undersea, in the air, and throughout LEO, MEO, GEO, and deep space.

Why Caribou Thunder? TEAM THUNDER — Mission Focused. Delivery Proven. Ready to Serve.

Employee Advocacy
Mission Proven
Global Reach
Skilled Teams
Modern Tools
Empowering Culture

Our engineers and innovators ensure capability from sea floor to space frontier — delivering on time, maintaining compliance, and performing with precision in high-consequence environments.

We specialize in Engineering Services, Cybersecurity, Software Development, Modeling & Simulation, Digital Engineering, and Artificial Intelligence — disciplines powering the nation’s most complex technical missions.

Employee Advocacy + Benefits

Our people are the heart of Caribou Thunder. We invest in their growth, flexibility, and well-being — knowing their success drives ours.

• Premium Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with 6% Company Match
• Flexible PTO & Work Schedule
• Education & Certification Reimbursement
• Support for Military Leave
• Work–Life Balance & Traditional Family Values

Your future, your flexibility, your well-being — we invest in you. Apply and let’s connect.