On-Site Flight Systems Test Engineer; Hill AFB, Utah

Description

Do you want an exciting opportunity to represent APL on-site at Hill Air Force Base (AFB) in Utah on a significant program of national importance while working directly with Sponsors, industry peers and other APL team members?

Do you have a passion for working in a fast-paced, high impact environment with a focus on testing in-development flight systems?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.

We are seeking a systems test engineer to help evaluate the various flight systems of the Sentinel strategic missile system. This will be an on-site position, working at Hill AFB alongside other on-site APL personnel, our government sponsor, other government mission partners, and the Sentinel prime contractor.

• Your primary responsibility is to serve as part of APL’s HAFB-based team supporting the Sentinel program, enhancing APL’s ability as an organization to support our government sponsor. In doing so, you will maintain regular communications with APL’s program and project managers, line-side leaders and organizations in Laurel, and fellow members of the APL on-site technical team to increase awareness of Sentinel activities, developments, decisions, areas of concern, and opportunities where APL can help the Sentinel program.
• You will interface directly with the sponsor to understand their needs, and work with APL’s Sentinel key leaders and fellow members of APL’s on-site technical team to recommend, support, and execute work in support of the Sentinel Program Office’s desire to “own the technical baseline.”
• You will work on problems across the systems engineering V that span the full program lifecycle, from sponsor requirements through system integration, flight test execution and data validation and be able to translate sponsor needs into verifiable system and sub system requirements.
• You will support system‑level trade studies including aerodynamics, propulsion, GNC, and structures with a focus on missile flight test operational envelopes, release parameters, safe‑separation criteria, and trajectory constraints, and ensuring compliance with safety and performance limits.
• You will support live flight test activities including knowledge of test hardware, instrumentation, data acquisition, and range safety requirements.
• You will participate in milestone reviews, test readiness reviews, mission briefings, and sponsor Technical Interface Meetings (TIMs) to keep all stakeholders aligned on objectives and risks.
• You will synthesize complex engineering data into concise briefings and generate recommendations that enable sponsor decision‑making and highlight opportunities for further APL support.

• Have a B.S. in Engineering, Mathematics or Physics (or closely related technical field), with 2+ of relevant technical professional experience.
• Have experience in test engineering, flight test analysis, or the development of flight system.
• Have a strong sense of curiosity to understand how and why a system works and the ambition to follow up on that curiosity.
• Are a thought leader with a keen ability to influence others.
• Are able to effectively shape the day-to-day tasking to meet sponsor needs, multi-task, and adapt to changing demands with minimal guidance.
• Have exceptionally strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills, and ability to interface with senior military and civil service personnel.
• Are willing to relocate to Utah in the vicinity of Hill AFB, with periodic travel to APL, contractor sites, and to other locations.
• Are willing and able to travel occasionally (potentially 5-6 trips per year of duration one week or less, including travel back to the APL Laurel campus).
• Hold an active Secret security clearance and are able to obtain a Top Secret/SCI level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

• Have an M.S. (or above) in Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics (or closely related technical field)…