Senior Test Engineer

McBride Consulting has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Test Engineer providing support to the Command, Control, Communications (C3C)/Kessel Run Division. This position will support the Maven Smart System (MSS) program.

Kessel Run is an Air Force unit that delivers resilient command and control and targeting software capabilities that provide warfighters with decision advantage. Under the Department of the Air Force Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communication, and Battle Management (DAF PEO C3BM), Kessel Run technologies make up the DAF BATTLE NETWORK, the systems-of-systems designed to help the Joint Force make operational decisions faster than our adversaries. The Division architects and acquires the means to connect weapon systems with warfighters and decision makers to enable the warfighter to win against the pacing challenge in an era of great power competition.

This is a full time position located at Langley AFB Hampton, Virginia or Hanscom AFB Bedford, MA.

The selected candidate will supports support the Maven Smart System (MSS), a high-priority artificial intelligence-powered battle command platform that accelerates intelligence analysis, targeting, and logistics for critical warfighter operations. In this role, you will provide Test and Evaluation (T&E) leadership, develop and execute comprehensive testing strategies, and serve as the primary government representative for testing activities across the program. This position offers significant visibility with senior leadership and the opportunity to shape an integrated testing approach supporting advanced AI, machine learning, computer vision, and cloud-based technologies.

Duties include, but not limited to: 

• Develop and document the program’s overarching Test and Evaluation (T&E) Strategy.
  
• Lead government oversight activities within an integrated test team environment.
  
• Document test concept development, test methodologies, test plans, test execution, test reporting, data reduction, analysis, and operational testing activities.
  
• Validate software capabilities against intended operational outcomes from an end-to-end mission perspective.
  
• Assess the adequacy and coverage of contractor test automation for mission-critical capabilities.
  
• Utilize Design of Experiments methodologies to plan and conduct test programs.
  
• Evaluate test environments to ensure they are properly configured and capable of supporting software release testing, including fault insertion and fault identification activities.
  
• Prepare or advise on criteria, analyses, specifications, cost estimates, test plans, technical reports, and related documentation.
  
• Apply engineering techniques and procedures to analyze complex technical issues and evaluate testing outcomes.
  
• Review and evaluate the quality, adequacy, and effectiveness of test results and conclusions.
  
• Develop innovative solutions to testing challenges and provide recommendations to improve program execution.
  
• Deconflict testing schedules across multiple software releases and provide recommendations to program leadership.
  
• Serve as the primary testing lead for MSS leadership and manage interactions with external testing organizations, including Air Combat Command and other stakeholders.
  
• Ensure testing activities comply with DoD and USAF regulations while supporting agile and streamlined testing processes.
  
• Support Integrated Test and Evaluation (IT&E) efforts to increase testing velocity, reduce costs, and accelerate capability delivery to the warfighter.
  

Citizenship: Must be a US citizen

Minimum Required Qualifications

Clearance: Must have and be able to maintain a Top Secret Level Clearance

Preferred Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's or Master's Degree in related field

Years of experience: 10 years of directly related experience with 4 years of experience in a DoD setting

Technical Skills

• Expertise in Test and Evaluation (T&E) planning, strategy development, execution, and reporting.
  
• Experience with Agile software development methodologies.
  
• Experience supporting CI/CD pipelines, DevSecOps, and DevOps environments.
  
• Strong understanding of DoD Test and Evaluation processes and methodologies.
  
• Knowledge of Design of Experiments techniques and their application to testing programs.
  
• Experience evaluating system architectures, requirements, integrations, and technical risks.
  
• Understanding of cloud architectures and their impact on testing methodologies.
  
• Familiarity with DoDI 5000.87 and applicable DoD acquisition and testing regulations.
  
• Ability to assess software testing automation and operational effectiveness.
  
• Experience supporting mission systems, operational users, and warfighter-focused capability development.
  

Interpersonal Skills

• Partnership-oriented with the ability to foster collaboration between government and contractor teams.
  
• Strategic thinker capable of translating operational needs into measurable and testable outcomes.
  
• Strong communicator able to provide clear feedback and effectively brief senior leadership.
  
• Mission-focused mindset with the ability to evaluate technical solutions from an operational user perspective.
  
• Ability to operate independently while managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  

Additional Information

Location: Langley AFB Hampton, Virginia or Hanscom Air Force Base Bedford, Massachusetts

Travel: 10%

Onsite