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Test Engineer Principal

SAIC San Diego, California, United States

remotefull-time

Salary: $120,001 - $160,000 / year

Posted Jan 22, 2026Apply by Feb 21, 2026

Role & seniority: Cleared Test & Evaluation (T&E) Engineer; mid-to-senior level; may lead a team of Test Engineers

Stack/tools: Developmental/Operational Test planning and execution; Master Test Strategy (MTS), TEMP, IMS scheduling; test documentation (test charter, TEMP, objectives, procedures, installation/administration guides, SRT/RF); data analysis and statistical methods; NAVWAR/OPTEVFOR/JITC/OPNAV interfaces; Information Operations systems; Microsoft Office; SRF/OPS Survey/TRR processes

Top 3 responsibilities

  1. Lead test engineering activities, develop and execute developmental and operational tests (DT/OT/IOT&E), and provide risk mitigation plans

  2. Develop and implement Master Test Strategy, TEMP, and ensure KPPs and requirements are satisfied with proper evidence

  3. Coordinate with external stakeholders and organizations (OPTEVFOR, JITC, OPNAV, NAVWAR) and produce/testing documentation for peer review

Must-have skills

  • TS/SCI clearance (with ability to obtain SSBI); 9+ years’ experience (or 7+ with a Master’s; 4+ with PhD)

  • 2+ years as a Test Engineer or OPTEVFOR T&E; strong data collection/analysis and systems engineering knowledge

  • Experience drafting/test documentation and planning using IMS, TEMP, MTS; ability to work independently

Nice-to-haves

  • DAU T&E Level I certification; Navy/NAVWAR C4ISR domain knowledge; prior military (Navy) experience

  • Familiarity with OPTEVFOR publications and Navy acquisition documents

  • Location &

Full Description

Job ID 2600547

Location SAN DIEGO, CA, US

Date Posted 2026-01-21

Category Engineering and Sciences

Subcategory Test Engineer

Schedule Full-time

Shift Day Job

Travel Yes, 10 % of the Time

Minimum Clearance Required TS/SCI

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain None

Potential for Remote Work No

Description

SAIC is seeking a cleared Test and Evaluation (T&E) Engineer in San Diego, CA. T&E Engineer will support PEO C4I Programs and Projects and has an active Top Secret / SCI clearance to start work. The candidate will lead a team of Test Engineers and serve in multiple roles as Tester, including technical support liaison. The candidate will also provide support to Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) for design and execution of Initial OT&E and Follow-on OT&E events.

Job Description

Designs, develops, and implements testing methods and equipment. Plans and arranges the labor, schedules, and equipment required for testing and evaluating standard and special devices. Provides test area with parameters for sample testing and specifies tests to be performed. Compiles data and defines changes required in testing equipment, testing procedures, manufacturing processes, or new testing requirements. Responsible for testing all customer samples and for special tests that cannot be performed in the test area.

Job duties and responsibilities may include any of the following

Develop, design, and execute developmental test as well as analysis of test data after operational test criteria satisfied. Support statistical analysis using performance specifications and other requirements/acquisition documentation. Test and Evaluation event support including Developmental Test (DT) and Maintenance Demonstration (M-DEMO) events at contractor sites, as well as Operational Test (OT). Understand and be able to develop a Master Test Strategy (MTS), Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) and associated implementation efforts. Understand and be able to execute a test strategy, ensuring all Key Performance Parameters (KPPs) and lower level requirements are executed correctly with objectives and thresholds results observed and recorded. Execute various levels of tests and evaluate risk, providing risk mitigation and action plans to executive leadership that may impact project goals and/or objectives. Considered a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in drafting and/or reviewing various types of test documentation, such as; test charter, master test plan, test objectives, test procedures, user guide, system installation guide, system administration guide and standard operational verification test procedures for peer review and signature. Understand the requirements to execute multiple test events on a variety of networks within the Navy. Understand the relationship between Operational Test and Evaluation Forces (OPTEVFOR), Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC), and OPNAV, on how the coordination between those organizations apply to Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT&E), Integration Test and Evaluation (IT&E), Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) and Follow-on Test and Evaluation (FOT&E). Understand and be proficient in completing the Service Request Form (SRF), Operational Survey (OPS Survey) and Test Readiness Review (TRR) in support of NAVWAR test events. Understand the relationship with an automated test framework and the objective quality evidence to support T&E objectives. Operate an Information Operations (IO) system and support fleet demonstrations, user engagements, and other testing events.

Qualifications

Required Education & Experience TS/SCI. Bachelor’s and nine (9) years or more experience; Masters and seven (7) years or more experience; PhD and 4 years related experience.

2+ years' experience as a Test Engineer, or OPTEVFOR Test and Evaluation (T&E) experience, and related statistical analysis experience. Understand data collection plans and data analysis, systems engineering concepts and related systems engineering processes. Knowledge of DOD/ U.S. Navy acquisition documents and OPTEVFOR publications. Use Microsoft Office Suite applications.

Required Skills

Ability to operate both independently and without direct supervision. Ability to draft and disseminate meeting agendas and notes. Ability to plan and execute testing activities and actions according to the program’s Integrated Master Schedule (IMS). Ability to collaborate, coordinate, and communicate with external organizations and stakeholders.

Security Clearance

TS/SCI with Current SSBI

Desired Skills And Certifications

Understanding PEO C4I, NAVWAR, US Navy C4-ISR systems and CONOPS T&E Level I certified and a member in good standing with the DAU DAWIA T&E Community of Interest Prior Military (Navy) experience

Target salary range $120,001 - $160,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.

Test EngineeringStatistical AnalysisData CollectionSystems EngineeringMicrosoft Office SuiteRisk MitigationTest DocumentationOperational TestDevelopmental TestTest StrategyPerformance SpecificationsTest Readiness ReviewInformation OperationsCollaborationCommunicationPlanningmulti-location

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