Lead Tester

Omitron, Inc.•Beltsville, MD

4d•$125,000 - $150,000

About The Position

Omitron is hiring an experienced Lead Tester to lead system-level testing and verification of its Ground System Tools at the company’s headquarters in Beltsville, Maryland. The role owns system-level quality end to end, from the operator’s console through the socket that sends commands to a spacecraft. It is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing the test program and ensuring system releases are ready for operational use. Some travel and occasional off-hours support may be required. Hybrid work arrangements and remote telework opportunities may be available based on operational requirements.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
At least 8 years of professional experience in testing, verification and validation (V&V), or integration and test (I&T), including at least 4 years supporting spacecraft ground systems or satellite operations. A master’s degree may substitute for 2 years of professional experience.
Demonstrated experience developing and executing system-level test plans and procedures with requirements traceability.
Hands-on experience with spacecraft command and control systems such as OpenC3 COSMOS, ITOS, ASIST, EPOCH, or a mission-specific equivalent.
Experience developing automated tests using Python, TypeScript, or JavaScript, including REST API testing and browser automation tools such as Playwright.
Experience leading, managing, or coordinating system testing teams and activities.
Experience using defect tracking and test management tools such as Jira.
Working knowledge of satellite operations processes and the spacecraft mission lifecycle.
Proficiency with Linux, Docker, Git, and SQL, including troubleshooting through service logs and root cause analysis.
Ability to independently establish testing priorities, make technical decisions, and manage competing requirements.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.
No specific certifications are required.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
Previous experience serving as a Test Lead or I&T Lead for spacecraft missions or ground system development and delivery.
Familiarity with CCSDS standards, including Space Packet Protocol, Telecommand/Telemetry (TC/TM) Space Data Link, Space Data Link Security (SDLS), and XML Telemetric and Command Exchange (XTCE).
Knowledge of ground communications networks, including NASA’s Near Space Network (NSN), Deep Space Network (DSN), Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN), and commercial ground station providers.
Familiarity with flight dynamics concepts, including orbit determination, maneuver planning, ephemeris generation, and Two-Line Element (TLE) products.
Experience with flight dynamics tools such as GMAT, STK, or FreeFlyer.
Experience conducting simulator-based testing, FlatSat testing, and fault injection.
Familiarity with performance and load testing tools such as k6, JMeter, or Locust.
Experience with message brokers, including RabbitMQ/AMQP, and time-series databases.
Knowledge of cybersecurity testing practices and supporting Authority to Operate (ATO) documentation and evidence.
Experience working with Amazon Web Services (AWS), particularly AWS GovCloud.
Previous operational experience supporting NASA, NOAA, or Department of Defense (DoD) space missions.
Relevant industry or technical certifications are preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead comprehensive system-level test strategies covering unit, service contract, integration, end-to-end, and operational scenario testing, prioritizing activities based on mission risk.
Plan, coordinate, and execute testing across integrated ground system tools to ensure operational readiness and requirements compliance.
Design and execute end-to-end operational test scenarios validating functionality across multiple tools, services, and interfaces.
Develop, maintain, and execute automated regression, smoke, and scenario test suites using tools such as Playwright, Vitest, and Python.
Validate system outputs against independent references, including simulator truth states, interface definitions, and legacy operational results.
Conduct performance, stress, fault-injection, and recovery testing to evaluate reliability under high telemetry loads, spacecraft anomalies, communication disruptions, service outages, and database recovery scenarios.
Verify server-side role-based access controls and mission data isolation while supporting security compliance activities aligned with NIST 800-53, DISA STIG, and FIPS 140 requirements.
Lead release validation, including smoke and regression testing, and provide documented go/no-go recommendations for operational deployments.
Identify, document, prioritize, and track software defects through resolution using Jira or similar tools.
Evaluate system functionality and usability from an operator’s perspective, recommending improvements to operational effectiveness and product development priorities.
Manage test environments, representative datasets, and fresh-install verification activities to ensure consistent and repeatable testing.
Collaborate with cross-functional development teams to troubleshoot issues, resolve defects, and improve system performance.
Provide technical direction and coordinate testing activities to meet quality objectives, schedules, and mission requirements.