Senior Systems Engineer (Test Analyst) - Huntsville, AL

Davidson Technologies•Huntsville, AL

About The Position

Davidson is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer Test Analyst in Huntsville, Alabama, to support the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), Directorate for Systems Engineering - Enterprise Analysis & Technical Innovation (DE-SEA), and the MDA Joint Analysis Team (JAT) User Acceptance Testing (UAT) mission. The role performs system-level and element-level analysis of Missile Defense System (MDS) test data and provides objective, technically rigorous analysis for MDA test assessment and reporting. Analysis will primarily use data from MDA Ground Test and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) events, with possible support for flight tests, real-world events, and Golden Dome for America test activities. The analyst develops methods, approaches, and tools to evaluate complex MDS behaviors and assess performance against test objectives and technical intent. The position collaborates with Systems Engineering and test organizations, Warfighters, and MDS Element Program Focals to ensure activities address intended objectives and to evaluate system capabilities and characterize system and element behaviors. The analyst supports analytical products for official SEA/MDA reports, presents findings to stakeholders, and contributes to improving analysis processes and tools. The position also supports emerging initiatives involving data science, automation, modeling, visualization, and other advanced analytical techniques, as applicable.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in systems engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Data Science, or a related technical discipline.
Approximately 15 years of relevant engineering, test, systems analysis, or analytical experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Demonstrated experience performing technical analysis of complex systems or test data.
Demonstrated ability to develop analytical approaches and independently solve complex technical problems.
Experience working with engineering, test, or operational datasets and translating data into meaningful technical findings.
Proficiency with analytical tools, programming languages, scripting environments, or data-analysis platforms such as Python, MATLAB, SQL, R, or equivalent tools.
Ability to develop and maintain analytical scripts, data-processing tools, visualizations, and technical products.
Understanding of Systems Engineering principles and system-level performance assessment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical findings to engineering and program stakeholders.
Ability to work effectively independently and as part of a multidisciplinary, geographically distributed team.
Currently holds an active DoW Secret Clearance.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting MDS, Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD), DoD test and evaluation, or other complex defense systems.
Experience with HWIL, ground testing, flight testing, or operational test data analysis.
Experience analyzing sensor, radar, tracking, discrimination, battle management, interceptor, or engagement data.
Experience performing end-to-end kill-chain analysis.
Familiarity with MDA system elements, architectures, interfaces, and operational concepts.
Experience developing analytical tools for large or complex datasets.
Experience with data science, machine learning, statistical analysis, automation, or advanced data visualization techniques.
Experience working with test organizations, Warfighters, Systems Engineering organizations, or program offices.
Experience developing technical reports and presenting analysis results during formal test or mission reviews.
Familiarity with requirements analysis, test planning, verification and validation, and Systems Engineering technical processes.

Responsibilities

Perform system-level and element-level performance analysis of MDS test data, emphasizing end-to-end system behavior.
Analyze data from ground test, HWIL, flight test, real-world events, and other MDS test activities.
Evaluate MDS kill-chain performance, including sensor detection and tracking, target discrimination and classification, battle management and engagement planning, Warfighter interaction and decisions, coordination and interoperability between MDS elements, and interceptor performance.
Develop analytical approaches and methodologies to evaluate complex MDS behaviors and determine whether technical and mission objectives have been satisfied.
Develop, maintain, and use data-analysis tools, scripts, models, and visualizations for test analysis.
Analyze large and complex datasets to identify trends, anomalies, performance characteristics, system behaviors, and issues requiring further investigation.
Integrate data from multiple MDS elements and sources to establish an end-to-end, system-level understanding of test performance.
Translate technical and element-level results into system-level findings and conclusions.
Coordinate with Systems Engineering teams, test organizations, Warfighters, and Element Program Focals to understand test objectives, analytical requirements, and expected system behaviors.
Support analytical products and inputs for official SEA/MDA test reports and assessment products.
Prepare and present findings at mission data reviews, technical interchange meetings, test reviews, and other stakeholder forums.
Identify data gaps, inconsistencies, anomalies, or limitations that could affect interpretation of test results.
Support refinement of analysis processes, tools, and techniques to improve efficiency, repeatability, and quality.
Apply Systems Engineering principles to understand relationships among MDS elements and assess their combined impact on system-level performance.
Work independently on assigned analytical tasks while collaborating with a geographically distributed, multidisciplinary team.
Develop working knowledge of MDS elements, architectures, interfaces, and operational concepts and apply it to system-level analysis.
Support emerging analytical initiatives such as data science, automation, modeling, visualization, and advanced analytical techniques, as applicable.