SW Test & Evaluation Engineer

RPMGlobal; Dayton (OH); On-site; USD 115,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

DCS is an employee-owned engineering team delivering cutting-edge testing and evaluation for U.S. Defense, Aerospace, and security domains. You will assess software and hardware, prototype performance enhancements, and guide DoD-aligned architectures in a fast-paced, high-security environment.

As a SW Test & Evaluation Engineer, you will work with cross-disciplinary experts, ensure DevSecOps practices, and produce clear documentation to support field deployments across national security programs.

Qualifications

• Active Secret clearance required.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in system/software test & evaluation.
• BS degree in engineering or science.
• Strong object-oriented programming experience.
• CI/CD pipeline automation with embedded security checks.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Test and push forward complex systems and capabilities.
• Evaluate cutting-edge software and hardware in research environments.
• Research and prototype performance-enhancing technologies.
• Design capabilities for AFRL programs to support DoD missions.
• Guide development teams with technical direction for near-term and long-term goals.
• Strengthen system reliability with DevSecOps updates and cybersecurity compliance.
• Document innovations and produce user-ready deployment manuals.
• Collaborate with engineering teams, SMEs, and mission partners to co-create solutions.

Skills

Secret clearance

8+ years experience

OO programming

CI/CD security

Communication skills

Independent & collaborative

Education

BS in engineering/science

Tools

CI/CD tooling

Security tooling

Job description

Join a mission-driven engineering team operating at the cutting edge of U.S. Defense, Aerospace, Human Factors, and Security innovation. As a SW Test & Evaluation Engineer, you’ll help shape next‑generation software and hardware capabilities supporting the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). DCS is an employee‑owned organization where bold ideas, technical rigor, and creative problem‑solving fuel real‑world impact.

This role places you right in the center of high‑tempo R&D efforts — working hands‑on with advanced tools, multidisciplinary experts, and emerging technologies to evaluate, refine, and enhance systems critical to national security. If you love transforming complex technical challenges into validated, high‑performance solutions, this is your arena.

Essential Job Functions:

• You won’t just test systems — you’ll push them forward.
• Evaluate cutting‑edge software and hardware capabilities and explore their performance envelope in real research environments.
• Research & prototype new performance‑enhancing technologies to improve existing platforms.
• Design and develop forward‑leaning capabilities for AFRL programs that directly support DoD missions.
• Guide development teams with technical direction that influences both near‑term deliverables and long‑term architecture.
• Strengthen system reliability through DevSecOps updates, cybersecurity compliance, vulnerability scans, and ATO‑supporting activities.
• Document innovations and build user‑ready manuals that help deploy new capabilities with clarity and confidence.
• Collaborate across engineering teams, SMEs, and mission partners to co‑create solutions that matter.
• Your contributions will shape mission systems used by the Air Force — and improve how operators interact with and rely on emerging technologies.

Required Skills:

• Due to the sensitivity of customer related requirements, U.S. Citizenship
• Must have an active Secret (or higher) clearance
• BS degree (or higher) in engineering/science + 8 years of relevant experience
• Proven experience in system/software test & evaluation
• Strong object‑oriented programming experience
• CI/CD pipeline automation with embedded security checks
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Excellent written & verbal communication skills

Desired Skills:

• AFRL system familiarity
• Experience with sensing, tracking, or fusion algorithms
• 5+ years in SW/HW T&E
• Cloud expertise (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• DoD/IC tool knowledge
• Advanced STEM degree preferred
• Team leadership & mentoring capability

Why Join DCS:

You’ll be part of a powerful, multidisciplinary ecosystem where innovation is expected, ideas matter, and your technical influence has tangible impact on DoD mission success. Employee ownership means your success is tied to the organization's success — and your work contributes to advancing national defense across air and space domains.