Principal Software Test Engineer (Contractor)
Sierra Space9 months ago
Centennial, CO, USAStaff+
Responsibilities
- Architect and lead large-scale software testing campaigns for complex aerospace software systems.
- Oversee the design, development, and execution of test plans, test cases, test procedures, test scripts, test harnesses, and test reports.
- Lead automated testing framework development, regression testing, release testing, acceptance testing, and qualification testing.
- Define test strategies, risks, opportunities, roles, responsibilities, cost impacts, and schedule impacts across multiple campaigns.
- Direct defect lifecycle management, test-result analysis, issue investigations, root-cause analysis, and closure activities.
- Review software design descriptions, interface control documents, and requirements with software development teams.
- Lead test trade studies involving test management tools and continuous integration testing techniques.
- Provide technical leadership, mentorship, code-review guidance, and strategic direction to software test engineering teams.
- Collaborate with software developers, systems engineers, program management, flight operations, and senior internal and external stakeholders.
- Develop enterprise best practices and continuous improvement initiatives for software testing processes and methodologies.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or equivalent work experience in lieu of a degree, or a master’s degree plus 10 years of experience.
- Typically 12+ years of related experience.
- Extensive expertise in multiple programming languages, software development principles, software testing methodologies, and testing best practices.
- Ability to design, architect, and implement complex software systems and automated testing tools and frameworks.
- Strong leadership, project leadership, strategic decision-making, problem-solving, and stakeholder communication skills.
- Experience with Agile, Scrum, Kanban, software development life cycle practices, and continuous integration and continuous deployment processes.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance; U.S. citizenship is required for employment.
- Preferred experience with spacecraft flight software, ground command and control software, or other aerospace applications.
- Preferred proficiency with Linux, Windows, containerized environments, Python, JavaScript, Shell, JIRA, and TestRail.
- Preferred experience with security testing, cloud-based testing environments, software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop testing, spacecraft simulation, discrete-time simulation, fault-tolerant software, and safety-critical systems.
- Preferred advanced degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
- Preferred experience leading software testing teams or complex testing campaigns and mentoring junior and mid-career engineers.
Benefits
- Contractor role with an hourly base compensation range of $86.60-$119.08.
- Position remains posted until a qualified candidate pool is identified.
- Requires U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Security Clearance.
- Sierra Space offers professional development, collaboration, and opportunities to contribute to space and defense missions.
Tech Stack
Categories
About Sierra Space
Sierra Space is a privately held aerospace company founded in 2021 and headquartered in Louisville, Colorado. It develops spacecraft, satellite platforms and subsystems, propulsion, and space infrastructure, including the reusable Dream Chaser spaceplane and the inflatable LIFE habitat. The company serves U.S. national security and civil customers and global allies; Dream Chaser is contracted to deliver cargo to the International Space Station for NASA.