Job Title: DARC Systems Test EngineerJob DescriptionThe DARC Systems Test Engineer plays a key role in translating complex customer concepts and operational needs into clear, testable system requirements for a mission-critical radar and compute environment. In this role, you support the full systems engineering lifecyclefrom requirements development and functional analysis through integration, test, and verificationensuring that technically complex solutions operate reliably at operational scale. You collaborate with cross-functional teams and mission partners to solve challenging problems, influence critical technical decisions, and help transition capabilities rapidly from concept to deployment in support of national security.Responsibilities
- Support system requirements development, management, analysis, and traceability to translate customer requirements and concepts of operations into clear, actionable system and subsystem requirements.
- Perform functional analysis and systems trade studies to evaluate technical solutions across concept, design, fabrication, test, installation, operation, and maintenance phases.
- Assist in generating well-defined and executable system and subsystem requirements documents, interface control documents, and test and verification documentation.
- Support system and subsystem integration activities, including integration test planning, execution, and requirements verification and validation.
- Contribute to defining and tracking system technical performance measures to ensure solutions meet operational and performance objectives.
- Prepare and deliver system engineering materials and technical artifacts for key program reviews, including System Requirements Review, System Functional Review, Preliminary Design Review, Critical Design Review, System Verification Review, and Test Readiness Review.
- Interface with internal organizations and external stakeholders to provide technical briefings and communicate program status clearly and effectively.
- Apply test engineering practices to validate system performance against requirements and support site activation or compute-related activities as needed.
- Use requirements management tools and processes to maintain rigorous traceability from high-level customer needs down to detailed implementation-level requirements.
- Collaborate with cross-functional integrated product teams, including hardware, software, systems, and operations personnel, to drive alignment and resolve technical issues.
- Support Agile development activities, including participation in PI planning, sprint planning, and backlog refinement, to ensure systems engineering and test needs are addressed.
- Manage Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) deliverables from inception to completion, providing technical expertise, ensuring alignment with software architecture, and drafting high-quality deliverable documents.
- Organize and prioritize work independently while maintaining a strong customer focus and meeting program milestones and review deadlines.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of systems engineering, integration, and test processes to enhance efficiency, quality, and reliability.
- Travel minimally as required to support program reviews or integration and test activities at other locations.
Essential Skills
- Active U.S. Government Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope.
- For Level 2 roles: At least 2 years of relevant experience with a Bachelors degree in a STEM field, or 0 years of experience with a Masters degree in a STEM field.
- For Principal roles: At least 5 years of relevant experience with a Bachelors degree in a STEM field, 3 years of experience with a Masters degree in a STEM field, or 1 year of experience with a PhD.
- Hands-on experience with requirements decomposition and requirements management, including traceability from customer needs to lower-level requirements.
- Experience working with cross-functional integrated product teams in a systems engineering or test environment.
- Experience working through the full Systems Engineering lifecycle process for system development, from concept and requirements through integration, test, and verification.
- Experience with integration and integration testing of complex hardware and radar or compute systems.
- Background in systems engineering and hardware integration in mission-critical or complex technical environments.
- Experience with Atlassian tool suite, including Jira and Confluence, for tracking requirements, tasks, and engineering artifacts.
- Experience with SharePoint for collaboration and document management.
- Expert-level proficiency with MS Office tools, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project, to create technical documents, presentations, and schedules.
- Experience with Agile software development practices such as PI planning, two-week sprint cycles, and story pointing.
- Strong problem-solving skills and demonstrated ability to plan and execute projects effectively.
- Proven ability to independently plan, organize, and prioritize work while collaborating within cross-functional teams and maintaining a strong customer focus.
- Demonstrated ability to manage Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) delivery from inception through completion, including providing technical expertise, ensuring alignment with software architecture, and drafting deliverable documents based on a comprehensive understanding of the systems software architecture.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelors, Masters, or PhD in a STEM discipline such as engineering, computer science, mathematics, or related field.
- Experience with technical writing for specifications, system requirements, and technical baseline documentation.
- Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) using tools such as Cameo.
- Familiarity with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools such as Siemens, Windchill, or Teamcenter.
- Familiarity with scaled compute cluster development, hypervisors, and network engineering concepts.
- Familiarity with radar systems and operations, including integration and site activation activities.
- Familiarity with radar Blake Charts for operational performance analysis and assessment.
- Background in validation, requirements analysis, requirements documentation, and test engineering in complex technical systems.
- Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Interest in mission-driven work that supports national security and high-impact, real-world operations.
Work EnvironmentThis role is based onsite Monday through Friday in a modern facility located near the Colorado Springs Airport in the COCO-1 building, with no work required on military bases. The environment centers on high-impact, technically complex radar and compute systems, where engineers collaborate closely to deliver operational capabilities at scale. You work with a range of engineering and collaboration tools, including Atlassian (Jira, Confluence), SharePoint, PLM platforms, MBSE tools, and the MS Office suite, within an Agile development framework featuring PI planning and sprint-based execution. The culture emphasizes meaningful mission impact, accelerated professional growth, and long-term program stability, providing opportunities to work with elite engineers and leaders, influence critical decisions, and see your work move quickly from concept to deployment. Minimal travel is expected, and attire is typically professional business casual suitable for an onsite engineering and technical program environment.We reserve the right to pay above or below the posted wage based on factors unrelated to sex, race, or any other protected classification.Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. This temporary role may be eligible for the following:
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- 401(k)/Roth
- Basic/Supplemental Life & AD&D
- Short and long-term disability
- HSA & DCFSA
- Transportation benefits
- Employee Assistance Program
- Company Paid Time off or State Sick Leave
Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Colorado Springs, CO. Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $110000.00 - $150000.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:
Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Colorado Springs, CO. Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Nov 16, 2026. Workplace TypeThis is a hybrid position in Colorado Springs,CO.About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.