Job DescriptionWe are seeking a Lead Systems Engineer - Test to support verification and validation (V&V) activities for Force Life Management (FLM) software supporting the F-35 Lightning II program.
This role combines hands-on systems/test engineering with leadership responsibility, managing and guiding a small team while also actively contributing to testing activities yourself. You will not be a purely managerial lead; instead, you will be expected to independently execute verification activities while coordinating the work of the wider team.
The FLM capability uses Prognostic Health Management (PHM) data to generate diagnostic and prognostic insights that support improved operational decision-making and reduced unplanned maintenance. The software is developed through the full lifecycle, including requirements definition, implementation, verification, and validation.
You will play a key role in ensuring that all software is rigorously tested within an F-35 ALIS emulator environment and meets customer and program expectations.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading, guiding, and coordinating a small team delivering verification activities
- Executing systems and software verification and validation activities within an F-35 ALIS emulator environment
- Developing, maintaining, and executing test plans, test cases, and verification procedures aligned to system requirements
- Supporting requirements validation and ensuring full traceability from requirements through to test evidence
- Planning, tracking, and delivering test activities across multiple workstreams to meet program milestones
- Acting as a key interface with customers for external verification and integration activities
- Ensuring adherence to configuration management, quality assurance, and governance processes
- Working closely with systems and software engineers to ensure requirements are testable and correctly implemented
- Identifying, investigating, and raising risks, issues, and anomalies discovered during testing
- Providing clear reporting on test progress, outcomes, and quality status
This role requires strong technical test expertise and the ability to operate as a hands-on contributor while also providing day-to-day coordination and leadership of a small team in a delivery-focused environment.
Required Skills and Education- Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)
- Experience in systems engineering or software testing, with a strong focus on verification and validation
- Experience working in a hands-on testing role, executing test cases and verification procedures directly
- Experience developing and executing test cases, test procedures, and structured verification activities
- Understanding of the systems engineering lifecycle (requirements, design, integration, verification, validation)
- Experience working in controlled engineering environments with configuration management processes
- Ability to interpret system and software requirements and translate them into test activities
- Experience tracking test execution and reporting outcomes against delivery plans
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, particularly in identifying and diagnosing system or software defects
- Effective communication skills for working within engineering teams and with stakeholders
- Demonstrated ability to work with a high degree of structure, accuracy, and accountability
This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.Preferred Skills and Education- Experience on the F-35 Lightning II program or similar aerospace/defense systems
- Familiarity with Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) or related logistics/mission systems
- Exposure to Prognostic Health Management (PHM), diagnostics, or condition-based maintenance systems
- Experience with Common Desktop Environments (CDE) and System Test Tools
- Experience leading small engineering teams or work packages
- Experience working with external customers or prime contractors
- Experience in automated testing, simulation-based testing, or emulator-based verification environments
- Familiarity with Agile or iterative software delivery environments
- Exposure to MBSE tools or structured requirements management approaches
- Experience with Java or Python programming languages
