Early Career Test Operations Engineer - Propulsion

Job Title: Early Career Test Operations Engineer

Location: Arnold AFB, TN

Job Family Code: O--Engineering

Function/Branch: Engineering / Propulsion

Directorate: Test Operations

Position Type: Regular, Full-Time

Pay Type: Exempt

Sponsorship: Position Not Sponsored

Grade: L06 (OA0614) - L07 (OA0713)

Salary Range: Grade 06: $80,000 - $97,000;
Grade 07: $83,000 - $105,000 / year

Beyond New Horizons, LLC (BNH) has an exciting opportunity for a Test Operations Engineer in our Propulsion Test Group, supporting the Test Operations and Sustainment contract at Arnold Engineering Development Complex at Arnold Air Force Base, TN. The Test Operations Engineer will be working as a member of an integrated team in Propulsion responsible for operating and maintaining ground test facilities used for development and evaluation testing of propulsion systems such as turbojet and turbofan air breathing engines and ramjets in support of the United States Air Force Test Operations and Sustainment efforts.

The selected candidate for this requisition must be available to work any shift to support test needs as mission requires.

We are looking for a Mechanical Engineer or Aerospace Engineer who wants to work in a multi‑disciplinary team that plays a key role in supporting national defense. The engineer hired into this role acts as the “quarterback” in one of the control rooms responsible for planning and execution of test plans for testing. This position does require shift work to support testing as test load demands.

Our Test Operations Engineers provide technical direction for safe and reliable operation of test equipment and integration of a customer’s test article to an Arnold Engineering Development Complex test bed. This work involves practical application of engineering principles of mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, hydraulics, pneumatics, and materials of construction. These principles are applied through the use of engineering tools including generating risk assessments, test plans, work instructions, and other engineering documentation in support of testing.

As part of a multi‑disciplinary team, test operations engineers interface with other engineering teams across the complex including plant operations and systems, controls, instrumentation, design, facility data analysis, and modeling and simulation engineers as well as a cadre of skilled labor to ensure reliable operation and ability to meet future test needs.

Test Operations Engineers also provide system engineer capabilities as part of a team of mechanical and electrical engineers whose job it is to oversee installation, operation, sustainment, and troubleshooting of their assigned test cell equipment and systems. Some examples of test systems in various facilities include thrust determination and force measurement systems, fuel systems, icing systems, combustors, nozzles, water systems, gaseous nitrogen systems, hydraulic systems, lubrication oil systems, high pressure air systems, service air systems, liquid nitrogen systems, various sensors, etc.

that are needed to reliably provide test data to our customers.

• Learn and understand test systems; respond and make decisions quickly to alarms and alerts in fast‑paced, high‑pressure situations, ensuring safety of the test crew, facility, and test article.
• Respond when systems malfunction during a test, troubleshooting and directing corrective maintenance activities or calling in the appropriate systems engineer for additional support.
• Coordinate work with the appropriate area superintendent, craft supervisor, and/or work planner and provide technical leadership to the craft workforce in execution of work orders and operational/maintenance procedures (work instructions), Lock‑Out/Tag‑Out, critical lifts, etc.
• Ensure proper test/operations reporting (Ops Center, test resumes, Operating Test Logs, Test Unit Status Logs, Test Article Activity Logs, unplanned event reporting, etc.).
• Perform facility characterization and calibrations, monitor facility performance, and maintain system capability/performance maps and envelopes.
• Operate assigned test…