Job Descriptions:
GENERAL JOB SUMMARY:
Kratos TDI is a military-grade turbojet manufacturer seeking a Test Engineer with a multidisciplinary background, and an interest in participating in a variety of supplementary technical activities as the cyclic nature of engine testing schedules dictates. The ideal candidate will have a substantial background in performance and development testing of gas turbine engines or similar turbomachinery such as turbochargers, auxiliary power units, or the like. Experience instrumenting and testing automotive IC combustion engines may suffice. Individuals who complement their prior testing experiences with aptitudes as a technical generalist, and a willingness to participate across multiple disciplines in a team environment will thrive with Kratos TDI.
This position is responsible for the planning, execution, documentation, and reporting of internal and external testing for TDI's product line of turbine engines. The Test Engineer will work with TDI engineering, industry primes, and DoD customers to successfully plan, document, and execute acceptance, ground, and flight test activities for multiple programs and applications. The Test Engineer will support the authoring and reporting of TDI's test and evaluation efforts to capture planning and process documentation, conduct data analysis and reduction, and preparing test reports and other engineering documentation to support test activities. The Test Engineer will be responsible for conception, planning, and completion of test events with both internal and external customers, ensuring correct data acquisition requirements are applied and test efforts carried out to meet company/customer objectives.
Tasks include drafting acceptance and ground development test plans and reports for small gas turbine engines, simulated and live flight test plans and reports for industry prime/DoD programs and initiating standards and methods of testing and evaluation to meet all customer specifications and requirements. The Test Engineer will be expected to maintain ownership of all test activities from the planning to execution and reporting phases. Providing test witnessing and technical support at TDI test facilities, government and third-party laboratories, and flight test ranges will be required.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Support the design and documentation of test events to assess the performance of TDI/customer propulsion systems for various unmanned air vehicle applications to include weapon system concepts.
Produce test plans and test reports in accordance with and to meet customer objectives and requirements.
Develop testing requirements and practical methods for evaluating engine and system performance.
Design test scenarios to yield valid and measurable quantitative test results for turbine engine development, acceptance, and performance testing in ground/static test cells, simulated flight facilities, and flight test ranges.
Review program and technical documents, systems engineering, and system-level documentation to provide feedback and recommendations as they pertain to successful test planning and execution.
Participate in test planning, test readiness reviews, and system design and development meetings.
Assesses safety hazards and provide risk mitigation inputs in testing, including Test Hazard Assessments
Coordinate test planning, preparation, and activities in accordance with internal, customer, and facility schedules.
Oversee necessary test assets, hardware, software, and range resources for conducting successful testing.
Design data analysis processes to assess the performance of TDI engines in customer systems over various phases of development and testing.
Define and coordinate data collection requirements (sensor/instrumentation selection and placement, DAQ characteristics and sampling rates, etc.).
Develop test support, instrumentation, and data recording requirements to facilitate collection of critical flight test data on airborne systems and subsystems.
Support the real-time execution of TDI engine and/or customer systems test, assessing, and providing recommendations to test engineering issues.
Develop data analysis tools to streamline and automate data analysis, reduction/processing, and reporting.
Utilize scripting languages to manipulate and draw conclusions from large test data sets.
Analyze test data (real-time and post-mission) to improve understanding of test results, draw conclusions, and assess specific mission results.
Lead and direct test events; conduct pre- and post-test briefings
Regularly interface with engineering, technician, program management, customer and test facility personnel
Keep company management informed of all issues, problems, and accomplishments on assigned programs
OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS:
Work independently and efficiently with minimal direction/oversight.
Must be at assigned worksite during assigned hours 100% of time; less PTO, FML/STD/LTD
Other engineering and technical tasks may be assigned in support TDI's products and line of business.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
- This position has no supervisory responsibilities currently.
LI-Onsite
Required Experience:
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
Knowledge and general familiarization with the aerospace and defense industry
Knowledge of acceptance and qualification testing processes using military and industry testing standards
Knowledge of internal combustion engines, gas turbine engines, propulsion, and air vehicle systems and subsystems
Knowledge of a wide array of measurement instruments including pressure transducers, thermocouples, flow measurement devices, accelerometers
Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills: experience integrating work in a team, interfacing with customers
Skills in developing test requirements/definition, test methodology, and instrumentation selection
Skills in interpreting test and facility requirements, observing safety and other regulatory standards
Skills in data acquisition, data reduction and processing and technical reporting
Skills in Microsoft Office tools and other software applications for technical writing and reporting
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
Ability to maintain sensitive and confidential information as required by government standards
Ability to interact effectively with peers, supervisors, and technical/non-technical customers
Ability to present thoughts, concepts, and program status before customers, leaderships, and colleagues
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Successful candidate must possess 3 to 5+ years' experience and a bachelor's degree in engineering (Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical/Systems). A combination of training/certification and practical experience may be considered in lieu of degree. Advanced engineering degree and/or specialized testing experience a plus.
Experience working in test laboratories, engine test cells, and flight test ranges.
Technical and Hands-on proficiency with instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and software (LabView, etc.)
Strong technical writing, documentation, and reporting skills required.
Experience in PC use, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint required. Programming ability in MATLAB, Python, and/or other industry-standard scripts preferred.
Experience with technical disciplines to include but not limited to: Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Computer Science & Programming, Data Analysis, Flight Testing, and Flight Operations.
DoD MIL Standards and Specifications experience preferred
Experience in ITAR environments a plus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Office, laboratory, test, and production environments
Ability to stand and sit for long periods of time
Ability to adhere to company and industrial safety standards and protocols
Ability to travel to remote
