Mission Planning Test Engineer, Flight Performance Model (FPM) Test

The team is searching for a mission planning software tester to support the 45th Test Squadron and the United States Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The Mission Planning Systems Test Team conducts independent assessments on Air Force mission planning systems to determine if the software is suitable for operational use.

If you enjoy working in a fast-paced, “Agile” software development environment, directly supporting warfighter mission planning, this is the team for you. This position evaluates the integration of the aircraft flight performance models (FPM) for use with the Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) and JMPS Open Mission System (JOMS) environments. If you have the desire to ensure the mission planning software, meets the expectations of the Major Commands (MAJCOMS), this job is for you.

We are looking for military aviation professionals (Pilots, Navigators, Weapon System Operators (WSO) and Flight Engineers) with experience computing aircraft performance data (climb, cruise, descent, takeoff and landing (TOLD) from flight manuals. You will be evaluating digitized data files to ensure they match the performance depicted in manual charts within specified tolerances. Additionally, you must ensure that applicable warnings, cautions and notes are applied correctly in the FPM. Test experience (requirements, test planning, test execution and reporting) is desired but not required. Professional interaction and communication with non-collocated team members (developers, program managers, Major Command representatives, military users, other test agencies) is essential.

This position normally doesn’t require travel and is generally performed in unclassified environments; however, there could be exceptions.

This position provides the following mission planning test support directly to the 45th Test Squadron at Eglin AFB, FL:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Provide mission planning domain expertise and frequently serve as the final authority on software integration, test, and deployment

Provide mission planning domain expertise in questions/issues of critical importance to the customer

Plan tests, establish criteria, assess program effectiveness, and investigate/analyze unusual testing conditions, problems, or questions. Work facilitates software development, production, design, or procurement, and affects the efficiency or productivity of a test facility or test activity. Software evaluations may result in new testing techniques or involve assessments, which are often the decision basis for large expenditures

Plan, coordinate, and monitor test projects that frequently require significant modifications of standard practices or adaptation of instrumentation to obtain valid results. Plan, monitor and evaluate tests, and assess the feasibility and soundness of proposed evaluation methods. Make recommendations and commitments to program management leadership/personnel

Demonstrate software experience in the Windows 10 or newer environment

Demonstrate strong aviation planning experience with flight performance functions provided by the software, including operational use of comparable systems.

Maintain a working knowledge of the software or class of software being tested, to include experience with the existing software, previous versions, future versions or any associated software used in conjunction with the software being tested

Maintain testing/test methodology experience, including testing of software/hardware, such as unit, integration, system, or acceptance testing, and familiarity with Air Force directives, processes and procedures

Maintain experience in the developmental/operational testing of any research, development, or test and evaluation software associated with aircraft, weapons, range instrumentation, or other computer systems

Maintain experience in the use of automated mission planning software

Be able to travel to attend required meetings (such as Program Management Reviews, Engineering Design Reviews, Formal Qualification Tests, and other mission planning enterprise/program meetings) CONUS

Normally work 40 hours per week. Must be willing to work extended hours, including weekends and holidays, when required, to meet mission requirements.

At COLSA, people are our most valuable resource and centered at our core value. We invite you to unite your talents with opportunity and be a part of our “Family of Professionals!” Learn about our employee-centric culture and benefits here.