Job DescriptionTest Solutions Software Section Lead (Player/Coach)In Precision Strike & Sensing Solutions, we design, develop, and manufacture state-of-the-art systems that enable our customers to execute their missions. Our manufacturing lines support critical programs where
build, test, and diagnostic software are foundational to production throughput, yield, and quality. We're creating a dedicated
Test Solutions Software Section to bring technical harmony to how we develop, deploy, and sustain test software across programs-reducing downtime, accelerating change, and developing the next generation of factory-focused engineers.
Your Impact- Technical Stewardship at Scale: Serve as the subject-matter authority for the software powering manufacturing and automated test equipment. Establish a common, reusable architecture that keeps high-volume production seamless and efficient across multiple programs/sites.
- Production Problem Solving: Lead rapid diagnosis and resolution of factory floor software issues. When the line stops, you own the recovery-coordinating across Test Engineering, Manufacturing, Hardware, and Quality to restore flow.
- Player/Coach Leadership: Split your time between hands-on contributions (architecture, code reviews, integration, troubleshooting) and front-line leadership (hiring, performance management, coaching, career development, roadmap stewardship).
The ChallengeYou will stand up and lead a cross-program team of software engineers responsible for the
full lifecycle of manufacturing test solutions-requirements, architecture, coding, integration on hardware, verification, deployment, and sustainment. Today, engineers are distributed under different leaders and embedded within program teams. You will:
- Consolidate and realign reporting for test-focused engineers into a single section.
- Define and execute a technical roadmap that standardizes platforms, patterns, and processes across programs.
- Build cross-training plans to increase bench strength and eliminate single-points-of-failure.
- Partner with Program Engineering Managers and factory leadership to meet schedule/cost objectives without sacrificing reliability.
Roles & ResponsibilitiesLeadership & People- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of test solutions software engineers; establish growth plans, skill matrices, and cross-training rotations.
- Perform staff management including performance reviews, coaching, career development, salary planning, rewards/recognition, and performance management.
- Hire to a balanced skill profile (factory support, software craftsmanship, data/diagnostics), emphasizing player/coach potential.
Technical Execution- Own the section's reference architecture for ATE and manufacturing test software: driver abstraction layers, hardware-interface modules, test sequence orchestration, data logging/traceability, and deployment hardening.
- Lead teams through design, implementation, integration on hardware, and verification-on the bench and on the floor.
- Introduce and enforce standards for code quality, documentation, configuration management, versioning, and release practices for regulated manufacturing environments.
- Champion CI/CD for test software (build, static analysis, automated tests, staged deployments) appropriate for hardware-in-the-loop systems.
- Integrate test software with factory systems (e.g., build records, serialization, calibration data, analytics dashboards) in partnership with Manufacturing/Quality.
Operational Excellence- Establish on-call rotations and escalation paths; track and improve MTTR for production software incidents.
- Define KPIs and report routinely (e.g., uptime, first-pass yield, release cadence, defect density, common-platform adoption, audit findings).
- Plan and manage the necessary staff, facilities, and equipment for successful execution (licenses, benches, instruments, emulators, labs).
- Ensure schedules are planned, resourced, and executed to cost/schedule objectives; manage risk and drive corrective actions.
- Support pursuit activities-bids and proposals-by scoping test software work, estimating, and articulating reuse strategies.
Required Skills and Education- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Computer Engineering, or related field and 10+ years of relevant experience (or equivalent experience).
- Experience deploying and sustaining software in constrained or regulated factory environments: configuration management, release governance, change control, and audit readiness.
- Demonstrated success in factory or production support environments-owning incident response, root cause, and corrective actions for software issues.
- Strong written and verbal communication; effective interface with Discipline Leads, Section Leads, Program Engineering Managers, Program Managers, Manufacturing/Test Engineering, and Quality.
- Proven experience leading projects to successful execution (on time/on budget), including risk management and stakeholder alignment.
Preferred Skills and Education- 4+ years leading a software team (embedded or test solutions) through full lifecycle delivery on hardware.
- Hands-on experience with manufacturing test software:
- Languages/Frameworks: C#/.NET, Python, C/C++, LabVIEW, NI TestStand (or equivalent), shell/Powershell scripting.
- Hardware/Interfaces: DAQ, PXI/VXI, SCPI instruments, GPIB/USB/Ethernet, SPI/I²C/UART, CAN, RS-422/485.
- OS/Platforms: Windows and/or Linux; experience with RTOS (VxWorks, FreeRTOS) or bare-metal drivers is a plus.
- Familiarity with Agile workflows, CI/CD pipelines, static code analysis, automated testing, and software observability (logging/metrics).
- Knowledge of signal processing, guidance & control, or hardware-in-the-loop test techniques.
- Experience configuring and deploying embedded OSs and integrating with production testers.
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.
