Sr. Agile Software Test Engineer

aero; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation seeks a Sr. Agile Software Test Engineer to join the Space Rapid Capabilities Directorate. This 100% onsite role at Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM (or Colorado Springs) focuses on testing ground software for highly classified space capabilities.

You will lead test strategy, ensure speed and rigor, and coordinate with government and contractor teams. Qualified candidates have a BS in a STEM field, 12+ years in systems engineering, and hands-on agile testing experience.

Qualifications

• BS degree in engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, or related STEM field.
• 12+ years of progressively responsible experience in systems engineering.
• Experience with agile software development and testing.
• Ability to work in a dynamic Program Office environment with government, FFRDC and SETA personnel.

Responsibilities

• Review requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria with product owners and engineers.
• Design and execute integration, regression, and exploratory tests for ground software.
• Apply agile testing practices to ensure testability, verifiability, and traceability to requirements.
• Integrate automated tests into build, deployment, and verification in a cloud environment.
• Analyze test results, document defects with reproduction steps, and drive timely resolution.
• Participate in agile ceremonies and coordinate with Government, SETA, and contractor teams.

Skills

Agile testing

Collaboration

Communication skills

Education

BS degree in engineering or related STEM

Job description

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation's space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space- delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you'll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.

Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, technology development, warfighter capability enablers, systems integration, defense industrial base, and threat reduction to help shape existing and future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, Air Force Materiel Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of technical support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers' portfolios as well as horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation. Additionally, DSG provides deep technical expertise to the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception, design, acquisition, launch and operations of satellite, launch vehicle, ground control, and range systems.

The Sr. Agile Software Test Engineer in the Space Rapid Capabilities Directorate within the Agile Acquisition Division will support the testing and integration of critical ground system software for the Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO). The Space RCO is rapidly developing and fielding highly classified critical space capabilities for the space enterprise. The Sr. Agile Software Test Engineer will actively participate in all phases of the ground development to ensure operationally dominant space capabilities are delivered at the speed of warfighting relevance. This includes technical support for assisting with developing the test strategy, verifying that the strategy is followed, providing recommendations on how to improve and increase the speed of the testing, providing engineering support and contractor oversight of the testing, and working with mission delta 9 and STARCOM.

This is a 100% onsite position located at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, New Mexico or in Colorado Springs.

What You'll Be Doing

• Collaborate with product owners, system engineers, and software developers to review requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria for space and ground software
• Support the design and execution of the integration, regression, and exploratory tests for mission‑critical satellite ground applications (e.g., ground control, mission planning, modeling and simulation, data processing)
• Apply agile testing practices (test‑first, risk‑based testing) within Scrum or Kanban teams to ensure features are testable, verifiable, and traceable to requirements
• Work closely with design agents to integrate automated tests into build, deployment, and verification workflows in a commercial cloud environment
• Analyze test results, document defects with clear reproduction steps and impact assessment, and collaborate with product owners to drive timely resolution
• Participate in agile meetings (backlog refinement, sprint planning, daily standups, reviews, and retrospectives)
• Coordinate with Government, SETA, and contractor teams to field a critical ground system
• Support program reviews, design, development, test, and transition to operations efforts
• Provide mission assurance and assist with ground architecture development and integration
• Work closely with Program Manager (O-5)
• Solicit and oversee members of the Aerospace Engineering Technical Group (ETG) to employ their expertise on critical problems the local program office may find difficult to solve
• Interface with multiple government agencies to provide capability to the warfighter

What You Need to be Successful

• Minimum Requirements for Senior Project Engineer - Systems Test Engineering: BS degree in engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, or related STEM field is required
• Agile software development with test experience
• 12 or more years of progressively responsible experience in systems engineering
• Demonstrated ability to work within teams
• Demonstrated ability to work in a highly dynamic Program Office environment with a mix of government, FFRDC, and SETA personnel
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills; experience presenting and writing technical information
• Travel is required
• This position requires a current TS/SCI security clearance with SAP eligibility, which is issued by the US Government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.