TECHNICAL PROGRAM MANAGER, DIGITAL TEST & EVALUATION

Ignite IT, LLC; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Ignite IT, LLC seeks an experienced Technical Program Manager and SME in Digital Test & Evaluation to modernize defense T&E with digital engineering, modeling and simulation, and cloud/edge tech. You will connect users, tools, data, models, simulations, and test resources to enable rapid, data-driven testing and decision-making.

Responsibilities include leading prototypes, translating operational needs into software requirements, and coordinating cross-functional teams with government and

Qualifications

• Five+ years of defense T&E, systems engineering, digital engineering, or related field.
• Familiarity with MBSE, mission engineering, modeling and simulation, digital twins, DevSecOps/CI/CD, data orchestration, AI/ML.
• Ability to understand software integration in defense environments including APIs, cloud/edge, containers, RMF/ATO processes.
• Strong systems-thinking to translate problems into actionable software requirements and pilots.

Responsibilities

• Lead Digital T&E prototype efforts from problem definition through pilot execution and transition.
• Translate mission requirements into software requirements, user stories, and integration criteria.
• Design end-to-end T&E workflows connecting engineering, simulations, data, and test planning.
• Coordinate integration of commercial software into defense RDT&E infrastructure with cloud/edge environments.
• Develop executive briefs, pilot plans, and roadmaps with risk and outcomes.

Skills

T&E lifecycle

MBSE

DevSecOps

Cloud/Edge

Executive writing

Education

Five+ years defense T&E exp

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Technical Program Manager and Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Digital Test & Evaluation (T&E) to help modernize traditional defense T&E processes through digital engineering, modeling and simulation, software integration, data orchestration, DevSecOps, and cloud and edge technologies. This role will support the development and implementation of an enterprise Digital T&E ecosystem that connects users, tools, data, models, simulations, and test resources to enable faster, more continuous, data-driven testing and decision-making. Working across test organizations, program offices, ranges, laboratories, cybersecurity teams, operational users, and commercial vendors, the Technical Program Manager will translate mission and technical requirements into executable pilots, software requirements, integration plans, and transition strategies to support the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and manage Digital T&E prototype efforts from problem definition and market research through technical diligence, pilot execution, user evaluation, and transition.
• Translate military T&E workflows, capability claims, operational needs, and program decisions into software requirements, user stories, integration requirements, acceptance criteria, and measurable pilot outcomes.
• Design and evaluate end-to-end T&E workflows that connect requirements, mission and systems engineering, modeling and simulation, test planning, test execution, test data collection, analysis, reporting, and decision support.
• Apply working knowledge of test strategy and design to help teams define Measures of Performance (MoPs), Measures of Effectiveness (MoEs), test objectives, data requirements, evidence thresholds, and the appropriate mix of modeling and simulation, laboratory, cyber, and physical-range testing.
• Serve as a technical integrator across Digital T&E tool categories including mission engineering, systems engineering / MBSE, DevSecOps and CI/CD, modeling and simulation, detailed test planning, risk management, test execution, test-data monitoring, test management, analysis, visualization, reporting, and data governance.
• Develop and validate digital-thread concepts that allow authoritative data and artifacts to flow between engineering, test, and assessment tools without unnecessary manual re-entry or duplication.
• Coordinate integration of commercial software into defense RDT&E infrastructure, including government and commercial cloud, edge environments, RDT&E networks, and classified/unclassified enclaves, while accounting for cybersecurity, identity and access management, data protection, interoperability, and accreditation requirements.
• Identify and resolve technical barriers associated with APIs, data schemas, metadata, containerization, software deployment, network connectivity, data federation, tool interoperability, and integration with existing systems of record.
• Work with Government test organizations, program offices, users, data owners, security teams, software vendors, and infrastructure providers to establish realistic pilot architectures and execution plans.
• Conduct technical due diligence of commercial software and emerging T&E technologies, assessing product maturity, architectural fit, interoperability, security posture, data rights, scalability, user experience, and potential to improve T&E outcomes.
• Create and lead collaborative teams of Government and commercial entities to prototype, integrate, test, and evaluate commercial Digital T&E solutions in operationally relevant environments.
• Develop executive-level briefs, test concepts, pilot plans, integration roadmaps, decision memos, and other technically sound documentation that clearly communicates program status, risks, outcomes, and recommendations.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Five or more years of directly relevant experience in defense Test & Evaluation, systems engineering, digital engineering, software-intensive acquisition, or a closely related national-security technical field.

Skills and Experience

• Working knowledge of the defense T&E lifecycle, including test strategy, developmental and operational testing, test planning and execution, MOPs/MOEs, risk management, data collection, analysis, reporting, and the role of modeling and simulation versus physical test.
• Demonstrated familiarity with one or more Digital T&E / digital engineering disciplines such as MBSE, mission engineering, modeling and simulation, digital twins, test management, DevSecOps/CI/CD, automated test, data orchestration, data analytics/visualization, AI/ML, or digital-thread architectures.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and manage software integration in defense environments, including APIs and data exchange, cloud and edge deployment, containerized applications, government networks, cybersecurity/RMF and ATO processes, identity/access controls, CUI and classified-data handling, and interoperability with legacy systems.
• Strong systems-thinking skills and the ability to translate operational and test-user problems into technically actionable software requirements and pilot architectures.
• Experience working across Government program offices, test organizations, engineering organizations, operational users, and commercial technology companies.
• Experience with rapid acquisition or non-traditional acquisition pathways such as CSOs and OTAs is highly desirable.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment in planning and executing complex Digital T&E initiatives, proactively identifying technical, integration, and execution risks and providing recommendations to senior Government stakeholders.
• Strong engineering literacy in a relevant discipline such as Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Cybersecurity, or a related technical field.
• Demonstrated ability to lead diverse, cross-functional project teams and manage multiple technical workstreams with limited supervision.
• Outstanding executive writing, briefing, stakeholder-management, and technical communication skills.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Secret security clearance required; ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI eligibility preferred.
• Ability to travel 30% of time.
• Location: Mountain View, CA