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Test Engineer Principal

Jobs via Dice San Diego, California, United States

remotefull-time
Posted Jan 22, 2026Apply by Feb 21, 2026

Role & seniority: Cleared Test & Evaluation (T&E) Engineer lead; senior contributor responsible for leading a team of Test Engineers and serving as a Tester and technical support liaison.

Stack/tools: T&E planning and execution (Master Test Strategy, TEMP, IMS linkage), Developmental and Operational Test (DT/OT, IOT&E, FOT&E), Navy/OPTEVFOR/JITC/OPNAV/ NAVWAR concepts, Master Plans, SRF/OPS Survey/TRR documents, Information Operations (IO) system, Microsoft Office Suite.

Top 3 responsibilities

  1. Design, develop, and execute developmental and operational tests, analyze data, and implement test improvements.

  2. Develop and implement test strategies (MTS/TEMP), ensure KPPs and requirements are met, and provide risk mitigation plans to leadership.

  3. Produce and review test documentation (charters, plans, objectives, procedures, guides) and coordinate tests across Navy organizations and test events.

Must-have skills

  • TS/SCI clearance (SSBI current)

  • Bachelor’s degree with 9+ years (or Master’s with 7+; PhD with 4+)

  • 2+ years as a Test Engineer or OPTEVFOR T&E experience; data collection/analysis

  • Knowledge of DoD/Navy acquisition docs and OPTEVFOR publications

  • Proficiency in MS Office; ability to work independently; plan/execute per IMS; strong collaboration/communication

Nice-to-haves

  • DAU DAWIA T&E Level I certification

  • Understanding of PEO C4I, NAVWAR, US Navy C4-ISR systems and CONOPS

  • Prior Navy/military experience

  • Locatio

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.

SAIC is a premier technology integrator providing full life cycle services and solutions in the technical, engineering, intelligence, and enterprise information technology markets. SAIC is Redefining Ingenuity through its deep customer and domain knowledge to enable the delivery of systems engineering and integration offerings for large, complex projects. SAIC's approximately 15,000 employees are driven by integrity and mission focus to serve customers in the U.S. federal government. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $4.5 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For information on the benefits SAIC offers, see .

multi-location

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