Test & Evaluation Manager

Saronic•Austin, TX

About The Position

As a Mission Operations Engineering â Test & Evaluation Manager, you are responsible for leading a team of Mission Operations Engineers in the planning, execution, and reporting of testing across multiple mission operations test sites. This role serves as the primary interface between mission operations, software, hardware, and autonomy teams by translating test requests into structured, executable validation plans and coordinating schedules, resources, and platforms to support timely, high-fidelity testing. You ensure software and autonomy testing is aligned with development and release cycles, and that results are accurately captured and communicated to drive follow-on action and inform operational decision-making across the organization.

Requirements

Bachelorâs degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field
5+ years of experience in test & evaluation, validation, or systems testing supporting software-intensive and autonomous systems
Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance

Nice To Haves

Experience testing and validating different sensor configurations consisting of perception, radar, GPS/GNSS, INS/IMU, etc., and assessing their impact on autonomy performance and system behavior
Deep familiarity with software and autonomy testing methodologies, including regression testing, scenario-based testing, and edge-case validation
Experience testing autonomous systems in maritime, robotics, automotive, or defense-adjacent environments
Experience structuring and maintaining reusable test suites with clear traceability between test cases, requirements, and software versions
Familiarity with metrics associated with maritime operations and autonomy systems, including DoD requirements and standards for autonomous systems
Experience managing test execution and analysis across multiple software and autonomy builds, including regression comparison and version-to-version performance assessment
Experience using version control platforms (GitHub) to manage code reviews, pull requests, and change tracking in support of test development, validation, and issue resolution
Experience supporting software or autonomy release decisions through structured test results, regression analysis, and readiness indicators
Experience supporting field or mission-based testing under real-world operational constraints (platform availability, environmental conditions, limited test windows)
Experience with test management platforms (TestRail, Nominal, Foxglove) to support test execution tracking and results reporting
Working knowledge of hardware systems relevant to autonomy platforms, including propulsion, power, sensors, communications, or embedded electronics, sufficient to support engine or electronics-focused test requests
Experience with data management and analytics platforms (Databricks) to query large datasets and develop insights
Demonstrated ability to define, track, and evolve autonomy and software performance metrics across software versions to identify regressions, improvements, and readiness trends
Ability to work both autonomously and as a team in a highly demanding and fast-paced environment where test scope, software version, and priorities evolve rapidly
Experience and ability to work with structured and semi-structured data formats in the form of MCAP and JSON files
Experience with project management tools (Linear, Confluence, SharePoint) to support task tracking workflows, prioritization and cross-team coordination
Experience managing a distributed team of engineers across multiple timezones
Strong written and verbal communication skills, ability to make presentations to team members, internal customers and management
Proficiency with documentation and communication tools, (Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Lucidchart) for producing clear reports and briefings
Strong track record for achieving results; must be able to reference wins and quantify impact

Responsibilities

Manage end-to-end test scheduling across mission operations test sites of incoming test requests from hardware, software, autonomy, and growth teams
Partner with software and autonomy teams to ensure test plans account for regressions, edge cases, and failure modes relevant to the software, autonomy, or engineering ability under test
Align software and autonomy testing cadence with development and release cycles to ensure timely operational feedback, regression validation, and reduce iteration latency
Translate broad or over-scoped test requests into structured, executable validation plans with clear objectives and success criteria by collaborating with hardware, software, autonomy, and growth teams and accounting for system understanding, platform capability and operational constraints
Act as the primary escalation point during test execution for scope changes, conflicts, or anomalies to minimize downtime and maximize throughput
Coordinate with test site managers and depot technicians to assess current platform readiness and mission capability, proactively identifying options to mitigate hardware, configuration, or logistical constraints impacting test execution
Develop, maintain, and refine test cases across software, autonomy, and hardware test suites to ensure unambiguous execution steps and measurable pass/fail criteria tied to each test request
Manage a team of Mission Operations Engineers across multiple test sites and time zones to ensure test alignment and timely execution of test objectives
Ensure test results are fully and accurately captured and reported back to their respective teams following execution to support follow-on actions and re-test coordination
Identify gaps in test coverage, including regressions, edge-case and scenario-based testing, and recommend improvements to test strategy or execution
Refine test reporting schema based on test request specifics, mission objectives, and autonomy performance indicators to provide actionable feedback and improve data quality for requesting teams
Own the tracking and handoff of bugs and issues surfaced during testing, ensuring they are recorded, visible, and actioned by the appropriate engineering teams
Define, track, and maintain testing metrics across platforms and sites, including autonomy performance, test coverage, pass/fail outcomes, regressions, and readiness indicators
Provide visibility into testing progress, bottlenecks, and outcomes for Mission Ops, Engineering, and Leadership stakeholders
Tailor reporting depth and format for different audiences, ranging from detailed engineering and autonomy analysis to leadership-level summaries focused on readiness and operational risk

Benefits

Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services
Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check-ups, orthodontics, and vision care
Saronic pays 100% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents
Time Off: Generous PTO and Holidays
Parental Leave: Paid maternity and paternity leave to support new parents
Competitive Salary: Industry-standard salaries with opportunities for performance-based bonuses
Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan
Stock Options: Equity options to give employees a stake in the companyâs success
Life and Disability Insurance: Basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage
Additional Perks: Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office