What are the responsibilities and job description for the Principal Test Engineer position at Leonardo DRS?
Job ID: 115295
DRS RADA Technologies, a subsidiary of Leonardo DRS, is focused on proprietary radar solutions and legacy avionics systems supporting the defense industry globally. The company is a global pioneer of AESA tactical radars for active military protection, counter-drone applications, critical infrastructure protection, and border surveillance.
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Business Unit: DRS RADA Technologies
Location: Germantown, MD
Relocation: Available
Career Functional Area: Engineering
Schedule: 9/80
Shift: 1st
About the Role
We're hiring a Principal Test Engineer to lead our test engineering team and drive the validation of radar hardware and software — from the lab bench to the field. This is a hands-on technical leadership role for someone who can own test strategy end-to-end, mentor engineers, and ensure our radar systems perform reliably under real-world conditions.
What You'll Do
Lead & Mentor
- Lead and coach a team of test engineers, setting technical direction and elevating team capability
- Serve as the technical authority on test strategy, methods, and standards across programs
Design & Execute Test Programs
- Design, develop, and execute test programs to validate the functionality, integrity, and reliability of radar hardware and software
- Write test procedures and protocols that verify products meet performance specifications
- Conduct testing in both lab and field environments, adapting plans to real-world operating conditions
- Debug test hardware, software, and instrumentation to resolve issues quickly and keep programs on schedule
What You'll Do
Own Outcomes
- Drive test activities to completion on time and within budget
- Analyze test data and designs to identify risks early and recommend corrective action
- Build prototypes to retire key technical risks before full-scale development
- Provide budget, cost, and schedule input for test and design assignments
- Document component, subsystem, and system-level test specifications and requirements
Collaborate Across the Business
- Partner with manufacturing, supply chain, program management, and customers to align on requirements and resolve issues
- Evaluate supplier components, subsystems, and services against program needs
- Support design-to-cost and design-for-manufacture goals
- Contribute technical content to complex, high-value proposals
- Represent test engineering in customer, program, and business reviews
What You Bring
- Master's degree in Engineering or a related technical field
- 8 years of relevant engineering/test experience, ideally with radar, RF, or defense systems
- Demonstrated mastery of test engineering methods and strong domain knowledge across multiple disciplines
- Proven ability to lead technical projects independently and mentor other engineers
- Strong written and verbal communication skills across technical and non-technical audiences
- Willingness to test in field/operational environments, not just the lab
U.S. Citizenship required. This position requires an active DOD security clearance or the ability to obtain such clearance within a reasonable time after commencement of employment.
The salary range for this position is $119,940.00/year-$161,919.00/year. This range reflects the good faith estimate of pay the employer is willing to offer at the time of posting. Several factors can influence the pay scale, including but not limited to: Federal contract labor categories and contract wage rates, collective bargaining agreements, geographic location, business considerations, scope, and responsibilities of the position, local or other applicable market conditions, and internal equity. Other factors include the candidate’s qualifications such as prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education/training, and certifications. In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible for: annual performance-based bonuses, equity awards, and overtime pay (for non-exempt employees as applicable. Our benefits package includes comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), employer matching 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off including vacation, holidays, and sick leave (including ant state-mandated paid sick leave), parental leave benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional development support, and life and disability insurance coverage.
Taking care of our people is a top priority at Leonardo DRS. We are proud to offer competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a company contribution to a health savings account, telemedicine, life and disability insurance, legal insurance, and a 401(k) savings plan. We champion wellness programs that focus on physical, emotional, and financial well-being. We develop our talent by offering programs and activities to support career-growth, professional development, and skill enhancement. And we understand there is more to life than work, and the importance of offering flexible work schedules with our 9/80 program, competitive vacation, health/emergency leave, paid parental leave, and community service hours.
*Some employees are eligible for limited benefits only
Leonardo DRS, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Salary : $119,940 - $161,919