Test Lead Engineer

UICGS / Bowhead Family of Companies; Crane (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Bowhead seeks a Test Lead Engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, IN, to lead test efforts for qualifying shipboard equipment and ensuring operations meet program milestones.

The role involves test development, execution, failure analysis, and comprehensive reporting, with collaboration across prime contractors to validate product requirements and test plans.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, science, or technical discipline.
• 5–8 years of technical experience on high reliability systems.
• Hardware experience to identify and solve design and integration problems.
• Knowledge of missile system design/testing; TRIDENT D5 preferred.
• MS Office proficiency (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Ability to communicate with all levels; strong interpersonal skills.
• Good judgment; able to work independently or in a team.

Responsibilities

• Test development and planning.
• Test execution and operations.
• Failure analysis and investigation.
• Reporting and documentation.
• Develop and review test plans and procedures for shipboard equipment.
• Manage test schedules and resources to meet milestones.
• Collaborate with Prime Contractor to define requirements and test plans.
• Support fixture design and liaison with machine shop.
• Coordinate testing at facilities and ensure data collection and analysis.
• Support failure evaluation and recommend mitigations.
• Generate and review final test reports.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/science/tech

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

Test Lead Engineer (GXP 2026-25664) – Bowhead seeks a Test Lead Engineer to join our team at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, IN. The Test Lead Engineer will lead and coordinate test efforts for evaluating and qualifying shipboard equipment in support of Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) to ensure components can withstand shipboard environments.

Responsibilities

• Test development and planning
• Test execution and operations
• Failure analysis and investigation
• Reporting and documentation
• Develop and review test plans and procedures to validate product requirements using applicable test standards and methods for shipboard equipment.
• Manage and maintain test schedules that identify all tasks required to execute the test effort, establish start and finish dates of required tasks, allocate the necessary resources, and maximize efficiency of test assets and facilities to ensure program milestones and project deadlines are being met.
• Collaborate with Prime Contractor or Design Organization personnel to define product requirements, review test plans and schedules, track test statuses, and propose test recommendations and mitigation plans for approval with the respective Program Management Office.
• Facilitate and support the design, development, and manufacturing of required fixtures for testing as well as acting as a liaison with machine shop personnel during fabrication of test fixtures.
• Schedule testing with appropriate personnel at the performing test facilities by submitting test requests for quotation and test execution that include all defined test requirements. Coordinate and assist with delivery, setup, instrumentation, and operation of test equipment at these facility locations.
• Support monitoring of tests to collect and analyze data to evaluate results against pass/fail criteria along with troubleshooting equipment issues during test failures. As part of the Failure Evaluation Team, support failure analysis and investigation of component failures and recommend any mitigations for product redesign.
• Generate and review final test reports that contain all pertinent test information and data for customer review and approval.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in an engineering, scientific, or technical discipline.
• Must have five (5) to eight (8) years technical experience working on high reliability systems.
• Have sufficient hardware experience to identify and solve hardware problems associated with design, development, and integration of high reliability systems.
• Must have knowledge of the missile system design and testing requirements. Knowledge of the TRIDENT D5 (UGM-133a TRIDENT II) preferred.
• Intermediate to advanced level skills in Microsoft Office software suite – Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint.
• Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of employees and outside contacts.
• Strong interpersonal skills and good judgment with the ability to work alone or as part of a team.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds.
• Must be able to stand and walk for prolonged amounts of time.
• Must be able to twist, bend and squat periodically.

Security Clearance Requirements

Must be able to obtain a security clearance at the Secret level. Applicants who currently hold a Secret clearance are strongly encouraged to apply. US Citizenship is a requirement for Secret clearance at this location.