Lead Test Operations Engineer

Leidos currently has an opening for a Lead Test Operations Engineer to oversee the design, development, and implementation of space based sensor test equipment and test processes for our customers at Leidos’ Huntsville offices. In this role, you will perform a wide range of subsystem and system test activities on the electrical and mechanical systems that form the backbone of our IR Payloads, integrate and troubleshoot subsystems, design / build test stands / test fixtures, write test procedures, perform tests and analyze data, and create test automation software. Further, you will be an integral part of a cross-functional engineering team where there are overlapping roles and opportunities for cross-over skillsets to develop and contribute across a range of technologies. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter, and will thrive in a hands-on learning environment that encourages leadership and technical growth.

The selected individual must possess a strong desire to lead and coordinate design efforts, and must be familiar with electrical, mechanical, and opto-mechanical test techniques.

Primary Responsibilities

This position will be responsible for overseeing test equipment design activities for space-related systems and sensors within a digital and analog engineering environment. Primary responsibilities will include supporting requirements, decomposing high-level requirements, verification requirements management, integration and interface activities, documentation of design and development plans, decomposing and developing test requirements and technical performance metrics, and developing test artifacts for the execution of testing.

• Work from established system requirements and subsystem designs, and use established engineering processes, to develop subsystem and system test operations.
• Enforce engineering, lab, and safety standards and assist engineers in system test and documentation efforts; develop test plans and procedures, and contribute to refinement of best practices.
• Develop operational work instructions for test equipment that ensures testing is traceable, repeatable, and adheres to current safety standards.
• Support the planning of functional, electrical, mechanical, environmental, and requirements verification tests at subsystem and payload system level.
• Ensure test equipment designs are traceable to required data sets and required verification methods.
• Integrate, troubleshoot, and debug subsystems and the payload system using modern tools and techniques, to include electronic, electro-mechanical, and software-based technologies.
• Create, maintain, and configuration control test automation software.
• Work with Hardware and Software Design Engineers to design, build, and verify custom Automated Test Equipment.
• Identify potential roadblocks and develop solutions where the solution is not always well defined but always considers the customer first.
• Lead test set-up and manage the availability of test stands and test support equipment between different projects.
• Collaborate with managers and leads to provide input to schedules and other project artifacts as required; lead and/or support test readiness events.
• Participate in manufacturing readiness reviews to ensure the test equipment is appropriately utilized during manufacturing.
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends and advancements in spacecraft testing.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Computer Engineering from an ABET-accredited university and 12+ years’ experience.
• At least 5 years of experience in system and sub-system testing including test planning, design, procedure definition, procurement, fixture assembly, execution, analysis, and reporting.
• At least 5 years of hands-on integration and test experience in one or more of the following areas:Optical AssembliesElectro-Mechanical Actuation SystemsHigh Speed Digital ElectronicsPower ElectronicsElectrical and Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (GSE)
• Ability to generate / interpret mechanical drawings and layouts, and/or electrical drawings.
• Strong electrical and mechanical systems engineering intuition and critical thinking; comfortable with ambiguity and turning high-level requirements into clear test objectives.
• Possess strong, demonstrated leadership and the ability to work with personnel from diverse backgrounds and disciplines both internal and external to the organization.
• Ability to accurately estimate complexity and duration of subsystem and/or system test tasks.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD SECRET clearance. (U.S. Citizenship is required)
• Ability and willingness to work onsite in Huntsville, Alabama.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with test automation
• Experience leading teams as a Test Conductor.
• Experience testing electro-optical systems or other complex multi-disciplinary systems.
• Previous experience working with thermal chambers, vibration tables, vacuum chambers, or anechoic chambers.
• Experience in an AS9100 Aerospace and Defense manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience working in small engineering teams.
• Current and active DoD Secret clearance.

At Leidos, we don’t want someone who "fits the mold"—we want someone who melts it down and builds something better. This is a role for the restless, the over-caffeinated, the ones who ask, “what’s next?” before the dust settles on “what’s now.”

If you’re already scheming step 20 while everyone else is still debating step 2… good. You’ll fit right in.

Original Posting:

September 11, 2025

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:

Pay Range $112,450.00 - $203,275.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.