Target Ground Test Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

10d•Onsite

About The Position

We are in search of a motivated and experienced test lead to plan and perform ground testing in support of flight test programs for air and missile defense systems. This role is focused on the development, planning, and technical execution of several missile development efforts for use as target vehicles within the Missile Defense Agency, US Navy, and other government flight test programs. This candidate will support the existing APL Project Managers to maintain focus on vehicle integration, testing, planning, and execution. You'll be part of a multi-disciplinary team supporting sophisticated ground and flight test planning and execution that addresses evolving challenges in air and missile defense.

Requirements

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related fields.
3+ years of relevant professional experience in Test and Evaluation activities such as: wind tunnel testing, electro-optical testing, environmental testing, or flight testing for missile development programs or similar kinetic weapons.
Demonstrated ability to work on multiple complex program tasks independently with little supervision.
Knowledge and experience with the systems engineering process
Willingness to take on additional work and challenges and to develop new skills.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both verbal and written.
Ability to support periodic travel to sponsor, contractor, and test sites (up to 20-25% time).
Able to obtain Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain Top Secret level clearance. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or related fields.
At least 5 years of relevant professional experience
Experience with missile test ranges, missile or weapon development programs, and test range instrumentation.
Formal Systems Engineering process experience.
Knowledge of APLs quality management processes and procedures
Possess a Top Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

Work to develop ground test requirements, objectives, plans, and schedules in support of target missile development activities
Lead target missile hardware developmental testing through the lifecycle of hardware design, ensuring that testing is adequate to support sponsor and mission execution needs
Serve as integration and test expert and lead for APL-developed target missile hardware, leading technical meetings within APL and external participants to coordinate multiple disciplines into an integrated product, and coordinating necessary documentation with the test range, launch vehicle provider, and other hardware providers
Lead environmental qualification testing of APL-developed target missile hardware. Develop plans for testing and test levels for components, coordinate facility resources, lead test readiness reviews, and oversee execution of environmental testing for missile hardware.
Coordinate test resource usage both within APL and externally, working with all stakeholders to ensure that facilities, personnel, and technical requirements are met
Serve as a point of contact for ground testing within APL and communicate with government program sponsors, US Flight Test Ranges, and various Contractor Organizations
Lead the daily coordination, integration, and synchronization of various types of ground and flight test activities including functional testing, environmental testing, and wind tunnel testing.
Coordinate Test Team working group meetings, and manage Plans of Action and Milestones (POAMs). Support major milestone meetings.
Support hardware Integration & Test activities onsite at CONUS and OCONUS flight test ranges.

Benefits

Robust education assistance program
Unparalleled retirement contributions
Healthy work/life balance
Retirement plans
Paid time off
Medical
Dental
Vision insurance
Life insurance
Short-term disability
Long-term disability
Flexible spending accounts
Education assistance
Training and development
Bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation.
Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance.