Senior Test Manager

The Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) Southwest Division (SWD) is looking for a Senior Test Manager with significant experience in leading DOW developmental and operational test (DT/OT) qualification efforts. The Senior Test Manager – Test & Evaluation (T&E) supports the planning, coordination, execution, and reporting of developmental and operational test activities across the program lifecycle using DOD procedures. In this role, you will help ensure test scope, resources, schedules, documentation, and execution align with acquisition strategy, technical requirements, and government guidance. You will collaborate closely with engineering, logistics, contractors, government stakeholders, test organizations, and end users to validate and verify system performance prior to fielding. The ideal candidate is a self-driven test professional with a passion for hands-on testing and field validation. You should be comfortable leading test planning meetings, writing detailed test plans, procedures, and reports while managing test-day operations, and guiding post-test data collection and analysis. Strong communication skills are essential, as you will be expected to produce formal test reports and present findings to customers, internal stakeholders, and government sponsors. You should possess the ability to manage complex test events independently, integrate feedback into test strategies, and support the full test lifecycle from concept through final reporting.

Due to the nature of work performed candidates must be U.S. citizens eligible for a Department of Defense Secret, or higher, level security clearance.

Responsibilities included but not limited to:

• Assist in developing Test and Evaluation Master Plans (TEMPs), test plans, test procedures, and data collection requirements to support developmental and operational testing across the program lifecycle.
• Coordinate with developmental test (DT) and operational test (OT) agencies to align overall test strategy, schedules, and execution priorities.
• Ensure test documentation and reporting comply with applicable DoD and program-specific test policy and guidance.
• Develop and maintain integrated master schedules (IMS) for T&E activities; track milestones, risks, issues, and dependencies impacting test events.
• Coordinate test readiness reviews (TRRs), test events, and field activities, including range scheduling, instrumentation needs, test resources, and test article configuration planning.
• Support on-site test execution as required and serve as a liaison with test teams to resolve issues quickly and maintain schedule and quality.
• Collect, analyze, and validate test data and results; support test report development, deficiency reporting, and corrective-action tracking with traceability to requirements.
• Participate in program technical reviews (e.g., deficiency reviews, system verification reviews) and support technical studies/analyses to refine test verification methods and approaches.
• Support acquisition documentation and milestone decision activities by providing T&E inputs, schedules, and execution status to stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:

• Must be a United States citizen eligible to receive and maintain a Secret or higher Department of Defense Security Clearance.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Program Management, or related field or equivalent relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
• Experience: 8 years of experience supporting DoD/government acquisition programs. Demonstrated experience supporting developmental and/or operational testing (DT/OT), including test planning, coordination, execution support, and reporting. Prior experience supporting DOD programs in a T&E environment, including use of DOD procedures/policy.
• Strong analytic, written, and oral communication skills.
• Works well in a team environment compromised of other technicians, engineers and scientists.
• Strong understanding of structural mechanics, materials, failure modes, and environmental testing standards (e.g., MIL-STD-810)
• Proven ability to manage testing operations and laboratory equipment with a focus on ensuring strict safety protocols and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to review documentation such as technical data packages, standard operating procedures, quality production documents, and other process documentation of significant complexity.
• Capable of conducting testing in laboratory, hangar, ground, and in-flight environments in accordance with approved test plans and procedures to support verification, validation, and demonstration of system functionality.

Desired Attributes:

• Experience with DoD Systems Safety Boards
• Experience with DoD major range and test facility bases
• Experience supporting field testing at government ranges or proving grounds
• Expert on testing with defense systems
• Previous involvement in DoD test campaigns, test readiness reviews, or technical reporting

Company Information:

Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM in 1979, currently employs over 2,279 professionals and continues to grow. ARA offices throughout the U.S. and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense, civil, and health technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership spawns greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging, and innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please apply at careers.ara.com.