Space Protection Software Test Engineer

SAIC; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

SAIC is seeking a Space Protection Software Test Engineer to join the Air Force, Space, and Intelligence Business Group in Chantilly, VA. The role serves as SME and SPO representative coordinating with contractors and end users for test verification of space protection and I&W capabilities before deployment.

The engineer plans validation testing, leads enterprise test events, tracks discrepancies, and supports transition to operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 9+ years or Master’s with 7+ years or PhD with 5+ years in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems or related field.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with Poly.
• Experience developing, testing, or fielding space software systems, space or ground components.
• Hands-on experience applying standard testing principles (functional, regression, integration, system, UAT).
• Familiarity with space mission operations, preferably at NRO.

Responsibilities

• Completes validation testing to ensure Space Protection and I&W software operate as expected in its environment.
• Performs oversight, planning, and execution of requirements verification testing.
• Leads planning and coordination for designated enterprise System Test events.
• Identifies and reports testing discrepancies and suggests workarounds or fixes.
• Participates in refinement of requirements, designs, and testing capabilities.
• Assists in overseeing software development, deployment, and operation of ground processing systems for space protection capabilities.
• Represents the SPO during Program Increment planning and related events to convey test priorities.

Skills

Test planning

Requirements verification

Software testing

System testing

Space domain knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/Engineering/Information Systems

Master’s degree in CS/Engineering/Information Systems

PhD in related field

Tools

Jira

Azure DevOps

TestRail

Bugzilla

Confluence

Job description

Job ID 2618522

Location

Chantilly, VA, US

Date Posted

2026-10-28

Category

Engineering and Sciences

Subcategory

Systems Engineer

Schedule

Full-Time

Shift

Day Job

Travel

Yes - 10% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required

TS.SCI_wPoly

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain

None

Potential for Remote Work

ORA_ON_SITE

Description

SAIC is seeking a Space Protection Software Test Engineer to join the Air Force, Space, and Intelligence Business Group providing systems engineering and technical advisory services to a Government Intelligence Community (IC) customer. The customer is developing the next generation of space and ground systems, architectures, and hardware and software solutions. The Space Protection Software Test Engineer will serve as the subject matter expert (SME) and System Program Office (SPO) representative coordinating with the development contractor and stakeholders (including end user operators) for test verification of new space protection and Indications and Warning (I&W) capabilities prior to deployment into operations. The Space Protection Software Test Engineer collaborates within a team of mission-related SMEs to coordinate requirements/mission validation testing, support verification testing (and sell-off), identify/track discrepancies, and assist transition to operations activities.

The Space Protection Software Test Engineer responsibilities include, but are not limited to

• Completes validation testing to ensure Space Protection and I&W software operate as expected in its intended environment and meets user expectations.
• Performs oversight, management, planning, and execution of requirements verification testing.
• Leads the planning and coordination efforts required to support designated enterprise System Test events.
• Identifies and reports software testing discrepancies, assesses their impacts, and makes recommendations on potential workarounds and fixes to ensure requirement verification.
• Participates in refinement of requirements, designs, and testing capabilities to meet user needs.
• Assists the SPO in providing oversight of software development, implementation, deployment, and operation of ground processing systems providing space protection capabilities.
• Represents the SPO during third-party software developer’s Program Increment (PI) planning, Pre-planning, Sprint Close-out, and Demonstration events providing SPO’s priorities for test events.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s and 9 or more years of experience; master’s and 7 or more years of experience; PhD and 5 or more years of experience in Computer Science, Engineering, Information systems, related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with Poly.
• Experience developing, testing, or fielding space software systems, either space or ground components.
• Hands-on experience using industry standard testing principles and methodologies (functional, regression, integration, system, UAT) for software testing and analysis.
• Familiarity with space mission operations, preferably at NRO.

Desired

• Experience in space protection or space domain awareness systems, activities, or operations.
• Experience in developing automated integration tests.
• Experience with test management and use of defect tracking tools (e.g., Jira, Azure DevOps, TestRail, Bugzilla, or similar).
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies and tools (Confluence/Jira) to include participation in scrums, development of solution epics/features, and continuous integration/continuous deployment.
• Familiarity with NRO’s System’s Engineering Directorate (SED) and its Requirements Development/Management, RFC, and Lifecycle Readiness processes.

Target salary range $160,001 - $200,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.