DARC Test Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: DARC Test Engineer

Job Description

This role focuses on supporting the full systems engineering lifecycle for a complex, mission-critical radar and compute system, with an emphasis on requirements development, integration, testing, and verification. The DARC Test Engineer translates customer concepts of operations into detailed system and subsystem requirements, supports functional analysis and trade studies, and ensures that designs are verifiable, traceable, and aligned with program objectives. This position offers the opportunity to work on high-impact technical challenges that directly support national security while collaborating with experienced engineers and mission partners in a fast-paced, results-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Support the development, management, analysis, and traceability of system requirements, translating customer requirements and concepts of operations into clear, actionable system and subsystem requirements.
• Perform functional analysis and systems trade studies to evaluate technical solutions across concept, design, fabrication, test, installation, operation, and maintenance phases.
• Assist in generating well-defined and executable system and subsystem requirements documents, interface control documents, and test and verification documentation.
• Support system and subsystem integration activities, ensuring that hardware, software, radar, and compute components function together as intended.
• Plan, execute, and support system and subsystem test activities, including verification and validation against requirements and documentation of results.
• Support system technical performance measurement by defining metrics, tracking performance against targets, and identifying issues or deviations.
• Prepare and contribute to systems engineering materials and artifacts for formal program reviews such as System Requirements Review, System Functional Review, Preliminary Design Review, Critical Design Review, System Verification Review, and Test Readiness Review.
• Collaborate with cross-functional integrated product teams to coordinate requirements, design decisions, integration activities, and test plans throughout the systems engineering lifecycle.
• Interface with internal stakeholders and external customers to deliver technical briefings, communicate program status, and ensure alignment on requirements, risks, and milestones.
• Utilize requirements management tools and processes to maintain rigorous traceability from customer needs through design, implementation, test, and verification.
• Apply Agile development practices, including participation in PI planning, two-week sprint cycles, and story pointing, to coordinate systems engineering and test activities with software and hardware teams.
• Plan and manage Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) deliverables from inception through completion, providing technical expertise, aligning content with the software architecture, and drafting high-quality deliverable documents.
• Use Atlassian tools such as Jira and Confluence, along with SharePoint and MS Office applications, to document requirements, track work, manage test artifacts, and communicate status.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of systems engineering, integration, and test processes by identifying gaps, proposing solutions, and implementing best practices.
• Travel occasionally, as needed, to support integration, test, reviews, or coordination with partners and stakeholders.

Essential Skills

• Active U.S. Government Secret security clearance at the time of application, current and within scope.
• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with at least 2 years of relevant experience, or a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with 0 years of experience for Level 2 roles.
• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with at least 5 years of relevant experience, or a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with at least 3 years of experience, or a PhD with at least 1 year of experience for Principal-level roles.
• Experience with requirements decomposition and requirements management, including traceability from high-level customer requirements to detailed system and subsystem requirements.
• Experience working with cross-functional integrated product teams across the systems engineering lifecycle.
• Experience working through the full Systems Engineering lifecycle process for system development, including concept, design, integration, test, and verification.
• Experience with requirements analysis, requirements documentation, and validation activities.
• Experience in test engineering, including support for system and subsystem integration, test, and requirements verification activities.
• Experience with the Atlassian tool suite, including Jira and Confluence, for tracking requirements, tasks, and documentation.
• Experience with SharePoint for document management and collaboration.
• Strong proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project, for documentation, analysis, reporting, and planning.
• Experience with Agile software development practices, including PI planning, two-week sprint cycles, and story pointing.
• Demonstrated strong problem-solving skills with the ability to plan projects, manage tasks, and execute to schedule.
• Proven ability to independently plan and organize work while collaborating in cross-functional teams with a strong customer focus.
• Demonstrated ability to manage Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) deliveries from inception to completion, including providing technical expertise, ensuring alignment with software architecture, and drafting high-quality deliverable documents.
• Experienced in systems engineering, integration, or related disciplines supporting complex radar, site activation, or compute systems.
• Experience with integration and integration testing of hardware and systems.
• Active Secret clearance suitable for working on national security-related programs.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with technical writing for specifications, technical baseline documentation, and formal engineering deliverables.
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) using tools such as Cameo.
• Familiarity with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools such as Siemens, Windchill, or Teamcenter.
• Familiarity with scaled compute cluster development, including hypervisors and network engineering concepts.
• Familiarity with radar systems and operations, including their integration and performance considerations.
• Familiarity with radar Blake Charts for operational performance analysis and evaluation.
• Experience supporting radar, site activation, or compute-related projects.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly in written and verbal form to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Interest in working on mission-driven programs that support national security and operate at operational scale.
• Motivation to work on technically complex challenges and contribute to high-impact solutions.

Work Environment

This position operates in an on-site, Monday-through-Friday environment located near the Colorado Springs Airport in the COCO-1 building, with no on-base work required. Team members work closely with elite engineers, leaders, and mission partners in a collaborative, fast-paced setting that emphasizes problem-solving, technical excellence, and rapid transition from concept to deployment. The work involves regular use of systems engineering tools such as Atlassian Jira and Confluence, SharePoint, and the Microsoft Office suite, along with exposure to radar systems, compute clusters, and integration and test environments. The program offers long-term stability, mission-driven work, and opportunities for accelerated professional growth as part of a high-impact national security effort. Minimal travel is expected, and the dress code is typical of a professional engineering and office environment.

This is a Contract position based out of Colorado Springs, CO.

The pay range for this position is $110000.00 - $130000.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a hybrid position in Colorado Springs,CO.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 6, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.