Principal Systems Engineer - SM-3 Test Qualification Lead
About The Position
The Principal Systems Engineer serving as the SM-3 Test Qualification Lead plans, executes, and documents environmental test campaigns to demonstrate compliance with system- and component-level requirements. The role ensures products meet program, customer, and industry standards through environmental qualification testing and serves as the technical authority for environmental test methods, test readiness, anomaly resolution, and verification closure. The position leads qualification testing across vibration, shock, temperature, humidity, altitude, and electromagnetic environmental effects. It develops test plans, procedures, and reports; coordinates among engineering design teams, laboratories, systems engineering, and program management; and ensures requirements are properly allocated, verified, and covered throughout the product lifecycle. The role also oversees test configurations, setups, instrumentation plans, Test Readiness Reviews, anomaly resolution, data interpretation, and formal customer-facing reporting. The Test Qualification Lead provides technical guidance on qualification strategy and compliance, supports test risk, schedule, cost, and resource planning, and mentors junior engineers in environmental testing and verification methodologies. The position is onsite in Tucson, Arizona, and requires U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain the required U.S. government security clearance before starting.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Math, or another related engineering discipline.
- At least eight years of technical or engineering experience.
- Experience with environmental qualification requirements or equivalent military or industry standards, such as MIL-STD-810.
- Experience leading test activities including random and sine vibration; thermal and thermal-vacuum testing; temperature and humidity profiles; altitude and pressure testing; mechanical shock; and E3, including EMI/EMC, lightning, grounding, and bonding.
- Experience with test instrumentation, data acquisition, and measurement best practices.
- Experience interpreting technical drawings, specifications, and requirement documents.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams in a fast-paced test environment.
- U.S. citizenship is required for security-clearance eligibility.
- Ability to obtain an interim U.S. government-issued security clearance before the start date; an active and transferable U.S. government-issued clearance is required prior to starting.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in engineering or a related discipline.
- Excellent communication and documentation skills, including technical writing and customer communication.
- Experience with aerospace or defense qualification programs.
- Familiarity with systems engineering processes, including requirements verification, verification and validation planning, and configuration management.
- Experience with test facilities, environmental chambers, and vibration/shock tables.
- Active security clearance or ability to obtain one.
Responsibilities
- Lead planning, coordination, and execution of environmental qualification tests, including vibration, shock, temperature, humidity, altitude, and electromagnetic environmental effects.
- Develop environmental test plans, procedures, and reports in accordance with military, industry, and program-specific requirements.
- Serve as the primary interface among engineering design teams, test laboratories, systems engineering, and program management on qualification testing.
- Review environmental requirements and ensure proper allocation, verification methods, and test coverage throughout the product lifecycle.
- Generate environmental test configurations, test setups, and instrumentation plans, ensuring accuracy and compliance with requirements.
- Lead Test Readiness Reviews, ensuring configuration control, safety compliance, and procedural accuracy.
- Manage test anomalies, perform root-cause analysis, coordinate troubleshooting, and drive corrective actions to closure.
- Interpret test data, assess system performance, and document results in formal reports suitable for customer delivery.
- Provide technical guidance on environmental qualification strategy, tailoring, and compliance approaches.
- Support risk management, schedule development, cost estimates, and resource planning for environmental testing activities.
- Mentor junior engineers and foster best practices in environmental testing and verification methodologies.
Benefits
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Short-term disability
- Long-term disability
- 401(k) match
- Flexible spending accounts
- Flexible work schedules
- Employee assistance program
- Employee Scholar Program
- Parental leave
- Paid time off
- Holidays
- Potential annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation, depending on position level and collective-bargaining coverage
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
