Senior Test Engineer

mcbrideconsulting; Hampton (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) retirement plan

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Professional development assistance

Referral program

Vision insurance

Job summary

McBride Consulting invites applications for a Senior Test Engineer to support the Command, Control, Communications (C3C) program for the U.S. Air Force. The role is full-time at Langley AFB, Virginia, or Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts, focusing on AI-related testing in military applications.

The ideal candidate should have over ten years of experience in a DoD setting, expertise in Test and Evaluation methodologies, and the ability to maintain a Top Secret clearance. A suite of benefits, including health and retirement plans, is offered.

Qualifications

• 10 years of directly related experience, including 4 years in a DoD setting.
• Ability to maintain a Top Secret Level clearance.
• Experience evaluating system architectures and risks.

Responsibilities

• Develop and document the program’s overarching Test and Evaluation strategy.
• Lead government oversight activities within an integrated test team environment.
• Ensure testing activities comply with DoD regulations while using agile processes.

Skills

Test and Evaluation planning

Agile software development

CI/CD pipelines

Design of Experiments

DoD Test and Evaluation processes

Cloud architectures

Software testing automation

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a related field

Job description

Job Overview

McBride Consulting invites applications for a Senior Test Engineer to support the Command, Control, Communications (C3C)/Kessel Run Division. The role supports the Maven Smart System (MSS) program – an AI‑powered battle command platform for the U.S. Air Force that accelerates intelligence analysis, targeting, and logistics. The position is based full‑time at Langley AFB, Hampton, Virginia, or Hanscom AFB, Bedford, Massachusetts.

Responsibilities

• Develop and document the program’s overarching Test and Evaluation (T&E) strategy.
• Lead government oversight activities within an integrated test team environment.
• Document test concept development, methodologies, plans, execution, reporting, data reduction, analysis, and operational testing.
• Validate software capabilities against intended operational outcomes from an end‑to‑end mission perspective.
• Assess the adequacy and coverage of contractor test automation for mission‑critical capabilities.
• Utilize Design of Experiments methodologies to plan and conduct test programs.
• Evaluate test environments to ensure they are properly configured and capable of supporting software release testing, including fault insertion and fault identification.
• Prepare or advise on criteria, analyses, specifications, cost estimates, test plans, technical reports, and related documentation.
• Apply engineering techniques and procedures to analyze complex technical issues and evaluate testing outcomes.
• Review and evaluate the quality, adequacy, and effectiveness of test results and conclusions.
• Develop innovative solutions to testing challenges and provide recommendations to improve program execution.
• Deconflict testing schedules across multiple software releases and provide recommendations to program leadership.
• Serve as the primary testing lead for MSS leadership and manage interactions with external testing organizations, including Air Combat Command and other stakeholders.
• Ensure testing activities comply with DoD and U.S. Air Force regulations while supporting agile and streamlined testing processes.
• Support Integrated Test and Evaluation (IT&E) efforts to increase testing velocity, reduce costs, and accelerate capability delivery to the warfighter.

Requirements

• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Security clearance: Must have and be able to maintain a Top Secret Level clearance.
• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a related field.
• Experience: 10 years of directly related experience, including 4 years in a DoD setting.
• Technical skills:
  • Expertise in Test and Evaluation (T&E) planning, strategy development, execution, and reporting.
  • Experience with Agile software development methodologies.
  • Experience supporting CI/CD pipelines, DevSecOps, and DevOps environments.
  • Strong understanding of DoD Test and Evaluation processes and methodologies.
  • Knowledge of Design of Experiments techniques and their application to testing programs.
  • Experience evaluating system architectures, requirements, integrations, and technical risks.
  • Understanding of cloud architectures and their impact on testing methodologies.
  • Familiarity with DoDI 5000.87 and applicable DoD acquisition and testing regulations.
  • Ability to assess software testing automation and operational effectiveness.
  • Experience supporting mission systems, operational users, and warfighter‑focused capability development.
• Interpersonal skills:
  • Partnership‑oriented with the ability to foster collaboration between government and contractor teams.
  • Strategic thinker capable of translating operational needs into measurable and testable outcomes.
  • Strong communicator able to provide clear feedback and effectively brief senior leadership.
  • Mission‑focused mindset with the ability to evaluate technical solutions from an operational user perspective.
  • Ability to operate independently while managing competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of AI, machine learning, computer vision, and cloud‑based technologies.
• Experience with U.S. Air Force or DoD test programs.
• Previous experience in command and control or battle network systems.

Additional Information

• Locations: Langley AFB, Hampton, Virginia or Hanscom AFB, Bedford, Massachusetts.
• Travel: 10% onsite.

Benefits

• 401(k) retirement plan
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Vision insurance