Systems Test Engineer IV

Who we are:

Fuse builds innovative communications, networking, and computing solutions that improve the sharing of information, video, text, and voice among operators distributed throughout the airborne, maritime, and ground environments.  We are a technology firm creating in-house software, network and hardware solutions that support our noble cause of advancing warfighter capabilities with elegant, user-focused communications, networks, and software systems. 

About This Role:

Fuse is seeking a Systems Test Engineer IV to lead integration, validation, and operational evaluation activities across complicated tactical communication systems. This role is responsible for reducing uncertainty through evidence generation and ensuring delivery decisions are informed by validated system behavior rather than assumptions.

Working within Fuse's Define–Design–De-risk–Deliver iterative development model, the Systems Test Engineer IV transforms mission intent, architectural hypotheses, and integration risks into structured validation strategies that produce actionable evidence. This role collaborates across software, networking, RF, cyber, hardware, and systems engineering disciplines to mature system readiness and support mission success.

Integration and test are treated as learning activities—not cleanup phases. Successful candidates will be comfortable operating in environments where architecture evolves through experimentation, progressive integration, and operational feedback.

Key Responsibilities

Define

• Contribute to Design Reference Missions (DRMs) by identifying mission-critical behaviors, operational stressors, and validation objectives
• Help translate mission intent into measurable system outcomes and readiness criteria
• Participate in identification of mission risks, integration uncertainties, and validation priorities

Design

• Lead development of validation strategies aligned to mission threads, architectural intent, and system risk posture
• Define integration and operational evaluation approaches that progressively reduce uncertainty
• Collaborate with Systems Engineers to ensure architectural hypotheses can be validated through evidence-producing activities
• Define test objectives, success criteria, and expected system behaviors

De-risk

• Lead integration, modeling, simulation, experimentation, and operational evaluation activities
• Design learning-oriented integration events that validate or invalidate system-level assumptions
• Identify architectural gaps, interface mismatches, and operational risks through evidence-based analysis
• Evaluate expected versus observed system behavior and communicate resulting insights
• Produce evidence-based assessments supporting system maturity and readiness decisions
• Coordinate cross-discipline troubleshooting and root-cause analysis efforts
• Drive integration learning cycles that reduce mission and architectural uncertainty

Deliver

• Establish readiness criteria supporting integration and delivery decisions
• Ensure validation evidence is traceable to mission intent and operational objectives
• Support mission demonstrations, operational assessments, and customer-facing evaluations
• Communicate system readiness, residual risk, and confidence levels to technical and program leadership
• Recommend delivery readiness based on evidence generated through integration and validation activities

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, or related technical discipline, or equivalent experience
• 8–12 years of experience supporting development, integration, validation, or operational evaluation of complicated systems
• Experience leading integration and validation activities across multiple engineering disciplines
• Experience analyzing system behavior and identifying integration risks through test, simulation, experimentation, or operational evaluation
• Experience developing validation strategies, readiness criteria, and evidence-based recommendations
• Demonstrated ability to operate in iterative development environments where architecture and implementation evolve through learning
• Strong technical troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills
• Active U.S. Secret Clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with tactical communications, networking, RF, SATCOM, cyber, or C4ISR systems
• Experience with modeling and simulation environments supporting system validation
• Experience with Jira, Jama, DOORS, or similar traceability and engineering management tools
• Experience supporting flight test, operational demonstrations, or military experimentation events
• Experience with digital engineering, MBSE, SysML, Cameo, or related methodologies
• Experience defining readiness criteria for complex integrated systems
• Experience operating in environments where integration and test are used as primary mechanisms for risk reduction and architectural learning

What Success Looks Like (12 Months)

• Establishes validation strategies aligned to mission intent and architectural risk
• Reduces late-stage integration surprises through early evidence generation
• Improves confidence in readiness decisions through objective validation criteria
• Enables delivery decisions based on demonstrated system behavior rather than assumptions
• Elevates organizational integration and validation maturity through evidence-based practices

More about Fuse: 

Founded in 2010, Fuse is a veteran-owned, rapidly growing small business. Our San Diego-based company has earned recognition as an emerging leader in airborne, maritime, and ground networking.  Placing the warfighter at the center of every design process, Fuse delivers intuitive, agile, and resilient products that go beyond national security requirements—providing lasting utility and game-changing results.  We take pride in our brilliant and talented team as well as our dynamic environment and collaborative, creative, environment.  We build cutting-edge hardware and software products that solve complex national security challenges for our warfighters at the tactical edge.  

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Employee coverage is fully funded; a portion of dependents' coverage is funded as well
• 11 paid Federal Holidays
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Date of hire through second year: 10 days/year (accrued)
• After two years: unlimited
• 40 hours of paid sick leave per year
• 401k with employer matching
• Annual bonuses
• Cell phone reimbursement: $100/month