Early Career Test Operations Engineer-Wind Tunnels

Early Career Test Operations Engineer – Wind Tunnels

Location: Arnold AFB, TN

Function/Branch: Engineering / Flight

Directorate: Test Operations

Position Type: Regular, Full-Time

Pay Type: Exempt

Grade: L06 (OA0614) – L07 (OA0713)

Salary Range: $77,000 – $104,500 per year

Current U.S. Citizenship is required.

Beyond New Horizons, LLC (BNH) has an exciting opportunity for a Test Operations Engineer supporting the Test Operations and Sustainment contract at Arnold Engineering Development Complex at Arnold Air Force Base, TN in our supersonic and hypersonic wind tunnel group operating three mid‑sized continuous flow wind tunnels to provide high quality flow. The Test Operations Engineer will work as a member of an integrated team responsible for operating and maintaining ground test facilities in support of the United States Air Force Test Operations and Sustainment efforts.

Open to external candidates only. The selected candidate must be available to work any shift to support test needs as mission requires.

We are looking for Mechanical Engineers who want to work in a multi‑disciplinary team that plays a key role in supporting national defense. The engineers hired into this role act 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 engineering 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 test carts, model positioning systems, thrust determination and force measurement systems, fuel systems, captive trajectory systems, various sensors, etc.

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

• Operate test bed systems and provide system engineering support for equipment within or directly supporting the test bed facility.
• Develop test operational requirements (test period directives, detailed run programs, etc.) ensuring test article mounts are structurally sound to withstand expected test loads.
• Direct test system checkouts and testing as required.
• Collabor