Senior Test Engineer

Stellar Solutions, a nationally recognized “Great Place to Work”, has exciting opportunities providing Engineering solutions for innovative new-entrant space companies, as well as established space systems manufacturers, commercial space system operators and service providers, and other industry stakeholders including investors.  

At Stellar Solutions, we offer talented, energetic, and immediately productive resources to satisfy our customers’ critical needs in systems engineering and integration, mission operations, program management and strategic planning. We are a leading service and expertise provider for high-tech commercial ventures, spanning communications, earth observation and remote sensing systems and data products, to the infrastructures that support earth orbiting and beyond earth orbit businesses.

Stellar Solutions has an opportunity for a  Senior Test Engineer (TE) to support development of first-of-kind space vehicles and missions. This handpicked candidate must possess technical expertise and experience with developing, designing, building, and integrating space hardware and software.  

In this position, you will provide System Engineering Technical Assistance (SETA) to the Space RCO at Kirtland AFB, NM. The Space RCO is one of three US Space Force acquisition organizations, and is the one specializing in delivering first-of systems to fill quick-turn needs to deliver operational capability to the USSF. For each project, they set up small, agile, and empowered teams to include program manager, technical specialists, contracting, finance, security, and the use right acquisition strategies to set the effort up for success. You will work in one of these small, highly empowered teams where every team member is directly responsible for the success of the program.

Role and Responsibilities:

• Serves as program advisory lead for extremely time critical technical projects, test projects, or tasks requiring appropriate level technical and project management expertise
• Coordinates and facilitates with internal and external stakeholders to identify and verify program needs and develop solutions and timelines to meet project goals
• Assists acquisition planning, market research, and drafting technical requirements and documents
• Helps the government assess the technical sufficiency, cost, quality, and timely delivery of program deliverables
• Confers with engineers to provide technical advice and to assist with problem resolution as needed
• Supports management and execution of programs consisting of multiple projects--ensures overall program is properly coordinated and efficiently accomplished with the best available resources
• Drafts, reviews, and edits final program reports, documents, and briefings
• Supports acquisition planning and development of documents required for systems acquisition
• Coordinates with external agencies to include operational units, higher headquarters, Combatant Command (COCOM) staffs, other acquisition activities, and research and development functions. This will include producing, tracking, coordinating all agreements and documentation necessary for SpRCO systems to transition seamlessly into a framework for organizing, training, and equipping the United States Space Force
• Supports and advises acquisition and program management functions, advises government management on design challenges, delivery, and integration, and supports system program reviews
• Works on high-visibility or mission critical aspects of a given program and performs all functional duties independently
• Translate complex ideas and data into simple, actionable recommendations or easily differentiated courses of action
• Communicate clearly, concisely, and with technical accuracy—oral and written

Required skills:

• Minimum fifteen (15) years DoD/IC, or relevant industry work experience
• Proven experience and/or qualifications in testing satellite systems
• Understanding of operational environment and corresponding mission user needs
• Knowledge of space system engineering, development, and manufacturing
• Experience with Developmental Test or Operational Test at Service or Command level
• Experience in DoD program management including program development and transition
• Experience with Integrated Master Schedules, and risk management
• Experience with Statements of Work (SOW) and Performance Work Statements (PWS)

Desired skills:

• Graduate from formal test and evaluation long course (USAF TPS, USN TPS, EMPIRE, EPNER)
• System Engineering Technical Assistance (SETA) to Government program office
• Experience with rapid prototyping
• Experience with integrated air, space, and cyberspace capabilities
• Experience developing, deploying, and maintaining ground mission planning architecture and software
• Experience with DoD ACAT I/II level acquisition programs
• Experience with Developmental Test and Operational Test at Service and Command level
• Experience in planning and executing test campaigns for space systems
• Fluency with IC organizations

Education

• An applicable engineering degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) 
• Relevant MA/MS/ME degree

Clearance:

• Active TOP SECRET clearance with sensitive compartmentalized information (SCI) and special access program (SAP) eligibility
• No less than two (2) years total SAP and/or SCI environment experience and 1-year total within last 5 years
• Candidate must maintain a TS/SCI clearance as a condition of employment and willingness to submit to a Counter-Intelligence polygraph

Location

• This position is full-time, on site at Kirkland AFB and will require travel up to 25% of time within the continental United States
  
  
  

The typical pay range for this position is USD $165,000 - $225,000 per year, total package. Individual pay is determined by many factors including work location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. This position is also eligible for a discretionary annual performance bonus, retirement plan and other benefits (all included as part of package).

Be at the forefront of space innovation with Stellar Solutions! Join our elite team to lead the assembly, integration, and testing of groundbreaking satellite missions, delivering cutting-edge capabilities for the U.S. Space Force.