Principal Software Test Engineer (Contractor)

Sierra Space•Centennial, CO

3d•$87 - $119

About The Position

Sierra Space Careers: At Sierra Space, we build the missions and systems that keep our world secure in the domain above Earth. Sierra Space team members share a spirit of innovation and collaboration and a belief that we can deliver on the boldest missions in space today. Together with our customers, we aim to safeguard our nation, sustain human presence in space, and secure the freedom of operations in low Earth orbit and beyond. Our success is measured by the trust of those who rely on what we build and deliver, and our technologies keep the United States and its allies mission-ready throughout space. We are mission-driven, and together, we are an extraordinary team. About the Role The Principal Software Test Engineer is a recognized expert in software testing, providing strategic direction and technical leadership over large and complex software testing campaigns. You will lead the development and implementation of innovative testing solutions, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and ensure alignment with industry best practices. Your role will involve managing complex, high-impact projects, collaborating with senior leadership, and influencing the overall software test engineering strategy. This position requires a deep understanding of software development principles, software testing tools, methodologies and process, and strong technical leadership skills. This role also requires the ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences and present to executive leaders and senior customer representatives. As a senior technical team member you will help establish company best practices, mentor both junior and mid-level career software test professionals and liaise with other senior technical leaders performing engineering functions across the whole software development life cycle. You will help lead the way in fostering a culture of continuous improvement and technical excellence while contributing to the success of complex space missions. In this role, you will oversee the design, development, and execution of comprehensive software test plans, test cases, and test procedures to ensure the functionality, performance, and reliability of complex software systems. You will architect and oversee the technical aspects of large-scale test campaigns for complex aerospace software systems, providing leadership in the innovation and adoption of new software test technologies and methodologies. Collaborating with software developers, systems engineers, and other engineering functions, you will design effective test strategies and direct others in overseeing the defect lifecycle from discovery to resolution, ensuring fixes meet requirements. You will lead the definition of software test risks and opportunities while managing cost and schedule impacts, guiding teams of software test engineers and providing mentorship to ensure high-quality deliverables. Additionally, you will review, analyze, and contribute to the development of software design descriptions, ICDs, and requirements in coordination with software development teams, oversee software test trade studies such as test management tools and Continuous Integration Test techniques, and direct the development and execution of formal verification and qualification tests. Managing test result analysis, generating test reports, and addressing issue definitions, investigations, and closures will be key, along with collaborating closely with cross-functional peers such as Program Management, Software Development, and Flight Operations to ensure quality throughout the software development lifecycle. You will coordinate and define test roles and responsibilities across multiple simultaneous test campaigns, direct continuous improvement initiatives, and develop enterprise best practices in testing processes and methodologies. Architecting and designing sophisticated automated testing tools and frameworks to optimize testing processes will be a critical focus, along with directing the development, peer review, and management of test plans, test harnesses, test cases, test scripts, test procedures, and test reports for aerospace software systems. You will liaise with senior-level internal and external stakeholders to clarify requirements and discuss testing strategies, oversee team execution of software release tests, acceptance tests, and qualification tests, and champion the use of commercial software standards to ensure all test artifacts adhere to Sierra Space quality standards. Leading regression testing efforts to ensure new software updates do not negatively impact existing functionality or performance, orchestrating initiatives to improve automated testing tools and frameworks, and developing critical test artifacts such as test plans and reports are essential aspects of this role. You will provide leadership in code reviews, offer feedback on software quality and testability, and stay up-to-date with new testing tools and strategies, incorporating best practices into the testing cycle. Mentoring and guiding junior and mid-level test engineers, conducting root cause analysis on defects, and recommending improvements to prevent recurrence will help drive the success of your team. You will make high-level software test design decisions that impact program cost, schedule, and technical performance, drive the strategic direction of the software testing team to align with organizational goals, and communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical senior-level stakeholders to provide updates on testing progress, issues, and resolutions. Finally, you will provide strong leadership to teams of test engineers, ensuring effective collaboration and project success.

Requirements

Requires bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree or master's +10 yrs experience).
Typically, 12+ years of related experience.
Extensive expertise in multiple programming languages and software development principles.
Ability to design, architect, and implement complex software systems.
Strong leadership skills to lead a team of engineers.
Ability to make high-level design decisions.
Ability to drive the strategic direction of the software engineering team.
Demonstrated project leadership, strong problem-solving skills, and effective communication with non-technical stakeholders.
Experience with different software development methodologies such as Agile and Scrum/Kanban.
The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance is required.
U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
Proficiency in multiple software development environments such as Linux, Windows, containerized environments, etc.
Experience with at least one of the following: spacecraft flight software, ground command and control software, or other aerospace application software products.
Experience architecting and maintaining automated testing tools and frameworks.
Extensive experience employing software testing methodologies and best practices.
Practical experience using continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) tools and processes.
Extensive experience and understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC) and agile methodologies.
Proficiency with multiple agile methodologies such as Scrum and Kanban.
Ability to lead teams on complex projects involving both small and large engineering teams.
Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative environment across multiple engineering disciplines and functions.
Experience with testing software systems used in aerospace or other highly regulated industries.
Proficiency in multiple scripting languages such as Python, JavaScript, or Shell.
Proficiency with object-oriented software design patterns.
Experience with security testing practices and tools.
Experience using cloud-based testing environments and tools.
Experience with test management tools such as JIRA, TestRail, or similar.
Experience in leading and managing software testing teams and testing campaigns.
Experience with spacecraft simulation software, discrete time simulation or software modeling of hardware.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
Practical experience utilizing software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop test methods.
Familiarity with fault-tolerant software design and safety-critical systems.
Demonstrated ability to mentor junior and mid-career engineers.
Strong understanding of software system architectures and design patterns.
Proven track record of making impactful design decisions in complex software projects.
Demonstrated leadership of software test teams or software test campaigns.

Responsibilities

Oversee the design, development, and execution of comprehensive software test plans, test cases, and test procedures to ensure the functionality, performance, and reliability of complex software systems.
Architect and oversee the technical aspects of large-scale test campaigns for complex aerospace software systems, providing leadership in the innovation and adoption of new software test technologies and methodologies.
Collaborate with software developers, systems engineers, and other engineering functions to design effective test strategies and direct others in overseeing the defect lifecycle from discovery to resolution, ensuring fixes meet requirements.
Lead the definition of software test risks and opportunities while managing cost and schedule impacts, guiding teams of software test engineers and providing mentorship to ensure high-quality deliverables.
Review, analyze, and contribute to the development of software design descriptions, ICDs, and requirements in coordination with software development teams, oversee software test trade studies such as test management tools and Continuous Integration Test techniques, and direct the development and execution of formal verification and qualification tests.
Manage test result analysis, generate test reports, and address issue definitions, investigations, and closures, along with collaborating closely with cross-functional peers such as Program Management, Software Development, and Flight Operations to ensure quality throughout the software development lifecycle.
Coordinate and define test roles and responsibilities across multiple simultaneous test campaigns, direct continuous improvement initiatives, and develop enterprise best practices in testing processes and methodologies.
Architect and design sophisticated automated testing tools and frameworks to optimize testing processes, along with directing the development, peer review, and management of test plans, test harnesses, test cases, test scripts, test procedures, and test reports for aerospace software systems.
Liaise with senior-level internal and external stakeholders to clarify requirements and discuss testing strategies, oversee team execution of software release tests, acceptance tests, and qualification tests, and champion the use of commercial software standards to ensure all test artifacts adhere to Sierra Space quality standards.
Lead regression testing efforts to ensure new software updates do not negatively impact existing functionality or performance, orchestrating initiatives to improve automated testing tools and frameworks, and developing critical test artifacts such as test plans and reports.
Provide leadership in code reviews, offer feedback on software quality and testability, and stay up-to-date with new testing tools and strategies, incorporating best practices into the testing cycle.
Mentor and guide junior and mid-level test engineers, conduct root cause analysis on defects, and recommend improvements to prevent recurrence.
Make high-level software test design decisions that impact program cost, schedule, and technical performance, drive the strategic direction of the software testing team to align with organizational goals, and communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical senior-level stakeholders to provide updates on testing progress, issues, and resolutions.
Provide strong leadership to teams of test engineers, ensuring effective collaboration and project success.