SW Test & Evaluation Engineer

DCS Corp; Dayton (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

DCS Corp is a mission-driven engineering firm tackling cutting-edge Defense, Aerospace, Human Factors, and Security challenges. As a SW Test & Evaluation Engineer, you’ll shape next‑generation software and hardware capabilities supporting the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

This role places you at the center of high‑tempo R&D efforts, collaborating with multidisciplinary experts and emerging technologies to evaluate, refine, and enhance critical mission systems.

Qualifications

• BS degree in engineering or science is required.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in system/software test & evaluation.
• Active Secret clearance (or higher) is required.
• U.S. citizenship is required for access to sensitive data.

Responsibilities

• Test and evaluate cutting-edge software and hardware in real research environments.
• Research and prototype performance-enhancing technologies for AFRL programs.
• Design and develop capabilities to support DoD missions and DoD programs.
• Guide and provide technical direction to development teams for near-term and long-term goals.
• Strengthen system reliability through DevSecOps updates and cybersecurity compliance.

Skills

Object-oriented programming

CI/CD with embedded security

Strong communication

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

BS in Engineering/Science

Tools

CI/CD pipelines

Embedded security checks

DoD/IC tools knowledge

Cloud expertise (AWS/Azure/GCP)

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.