Principal Test Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Salary: $160-250k Total Comp

US Citizenship is required

Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance may be required

Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering is preferred

Principal Test Engineer

DPG is seeking a Principal Test Engineer to support a mission critical customer in a defense and aerospace environment. This role is best suited for a senior test engineer with deep hands on experience planning, developing, executing, and documenting verification and validation activities for complex hardware, software, RF, EO/IR, radar, or integrated systems.

The ideal candidate is a technical leader who can own test strategy, ensure full requirements coverage, drive readiness reviews, analyze results, lead root cause investigations, and coordinate corrective action across engineering, quality, manufacturing, and program teams. This person must be comfortable working in a dynamic technical environment where test execution, documentation quality, safety, security, and mission delivery all matter.

Job Description

DPG is hiring a Principal Test Engineer to support the planning, development, execution, and documentation of verification and validation activities for deliverable complex hardware or integrated systems. The selected candidate will provide technical leadership across the test lifecycle, ensure full requirement coverage, support test readiness, and drive test excellence across program execution.

This role requires a strong foundation in system and subsystem level testing, requirements analysis, verification methodologies, technical documentation, defect analysis, test instrumentation, data acquisition, and cross functional engineering coordination. The selected candidate will work closely with systems engineering, design engineering, quality, manufacturing, and program leadership to ensure test activities are properly planned, executed, documented, and closed.

What You Will Do

Develop, review, and maintain test plans, test procedures, test readiness documentation, and verification artifacts.

Lead execution of system, integration, functional, performance, and environmental tests.

Support system and subsystem level testing for hardware, software, RF, EO/IR, radar, or equivalent complex systems.

Ensure verification coverage and traceability to requirements.

Close test related artifacts and support formal documentation of test results.

Analyze test results, identify issues, support defect analysis, and perform root cause investigations.

Coordinate corrective actions with engineering, quality, manufacturing, and program stakeholders.

Lead peer reviews, technical assessments, test readiness reviews, and other formal engineering reviews.

Partner closely with systems engineering, design engineering, quality, manufacturing, and program leadership.

Provide technical guidance and mentorship to entry level and mid level engineers.

Ensure test activities comply with safety, security, export control, quality, and applicable program requirements.

Drive process improvements, automation initiatives, and test capability upgrades.

Prepare technical documentation, formal test reports, briefings, and engineering assessments.

Support dynamic program priorities while maintaining strong attention to detail, documentation quality, and execution discipline.

Qualifications You Must Have

8 or more years of experience in test engineering, systems engineering, hardware test, software test, RF test, EO/IR test, radar test, or related technical engineering work.

Experience leading system or subsystem level testing for complex hardware, software, RF, EO/IR, radar, or integrated systems.

Strong understanding of requirements analysis, verification planning, validation methods, and traceability.

Experience developing, reviewing, and maintaining test plans, test procedures, test readiness documentation, and formal test reports.

Experience executing system, integration, functional, performance, environmental, or qualification tests.

Experience with test instrumentation, data acquisition tools, defect analysis, troubleshooting, and technical problem resolution.

Experience analyzing test results and supporting root cause investigations.

Experience coordinating corrective actions across engineering, quality, manufacturing, and program teams.

Ability to lead cross functional teams and drive technical decisions.

Strong problem solving, analytical, and root cause analysis skills.

Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain technical findings clearly.

Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Ability to manage dynamic workloads and competing program priorities.

Ability to work independently and in team oriented environments.

Demonstrated initiative, accountability, and commitment to assigned responsibilities.

Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering is preferred.

Must be a U.S. Citizen.

Qualifications We Prefer

Experience with automated test frameworks and scripting languages such as Python, MATLAB, or LabVIEW.

Experience with design engineering, system architecture, modeling and simulation, or integration and test activities.

Experience in defense, aerospace, or highly regulated product environments.

Experience with environmental test standards, including vibration, thermal, EMC, or EMI.

Experience with RF test, fault isolation, signal analysis, data analysis, or complex integrated system testing.

Experience supporting test activities for mission critical hardware, software, or integrated systems.

Experience preparing formal engineering documentation for customer or program review.

Experience mentoring junior engineers or leading small technical teams.

Experience supporting test readiness reviews, peer reviews, technical reviews, and engineering change activities.

Desired Skills

Strong technical judgment and ability to make sound engineering recommendations.

Ability to translate requirements into practical test approaches and verification methods.

Ability to work across engineering disciplines, including systems, software, hardware, quality, manufacturing, and program management.

Ability to troubleshoot complex test failures and identify root cause across hardware, software, and system interfaces.

Experience improving test processes, automating repetitive test activities, or upgrading test capability.

Experience working in fast paced program environments with shifting priorities and high visibility deliverables.

Familiarity with safety, security, export control, and quality requirements in defense or aerospace environments.

Ability to document technical results clearly, accurately, and professionally.

Self driven, accountable, and comfortable operating with limited oversight.

Work Location

On site at a Raytheon facility.

Location: Andover, Massachusetts.

Work schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Contractor work week: 5/40.

Target start date: June 22, 2026.

Overview of Benefits

Company funded 401k Profit Sharing Plan with 25 percent of base pay deposited every pay period and vested day one of employment.

All health care benefits and premiums paid by the company, with company HSA contribution.

Quarterly equity share bonuses.

250 hours of PTO with up to 40 hours available to be carried over.

Biannual company sponsored events for employees and their families.

Education benefits, including certification reimbursement and tuition reimbursement.