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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Sr. Principal System Engineer - Test Architect - **Company:** RTX - **Location:** Tucson, AZ, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $132,400.0 - $251,600.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Systems Engineering, System Testing, Systems Integration, Technical Data Management Systems, Strategies of Testing - **Published:** September 4, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.clearancejobs.com/jobs/9142830/sr-principal-system-engineer-test-architect ## About the Role * Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 10 years of prior relevant experience. * Experience in systems engineering, systems integration, systems testing, verification, or validation. * Experience with integration lab, test facility, or in the field. * The ability to obtain a Level 3 Test Architect certification. Qualifications We Prefer * Strong systems engineering or test architecture background with experience in production-scale test solutions. * Experience with execution of technical and schedule performance * Experience interfacing with customer representatives * Ability to lead and align cross-functional teams in complex environments. * Expertise in test systems, process automation, and design-for-producibility methodologies. * Experience with Development and Production test strategy and architecture throughout a product lifecycle * Experience in developing and/or testing missiles * Experience developing Engineering and Production Test Equipment to meet established test requirements * Experience with transition to production of missile program * Currently Certified as a Level 3 Test Architect or higher ## Description The Effectors group under Systems Engineering Test Capabilities (SETC) is currently searching for a Transition to Production (TTP) Test Architect (TA) for the Next Generation Short Range Interceptor (NGSRI) program in the Land and Air Defense Systems (LADS) Strategic Business Unit (SBU). The Transition-to-Production (TTP) Test Architect is responsible for leading test solutions to improve producibility to meet the average unit cost goal for the NGSRI program while scaling to 200-500 missiles per year in LRIP and ultimately achieve full-rate production (FRP) capacity of 1100 missiles per year. What You Will Do: * Provide technical and strategic oversight across cross-functional Operations, Engineering, and Test Equipment (TE) teams. * Lead the development and deployment of innovative test solutions, process automation initiatives, and design/process improvements that enhance producibility and reduce cycle time. * Craft and co-own the end-to-end strategy for production test architecture, including conceptual design, detailed design, implementation, integration, and verification phases. * Partner closely with Operations (factory and program) and program Engineering leadership to ensure test capabilities meet production scale, reliability, and compliance requirements. * Reports directly to the Production Program Manager with a dotted-line connection to OCE and Operations leads to maintain cross-organizational accountability and technical alignment. * Influence and support IRAD and capital investment planning to ensure future capabilities, infrastructure, and technologies align with long-term production strategy. * Communicate technical direction, risks, tradeoffs, and decision rationale clearly to stakeholders at all levels. * Ensure the technical integrity of program work products including the Technical Data Package (TDP) related to Test Strategy execution. * Travel up to 25% What You Will Learn: * Gain knowledge and technical exposure to a fast-growing, modern product line. * Develop the test strategy through the production lifecycle of an effector system. * Gain an understanding on how the Production Test Strategy aligns and interacts with the overall NGSRI Test Strategy across user operations, development and production testing. ## Related Videos - [SMART Test Automation - the experience of legacy transformation](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100215-smart-test-automation-the-experience-of-legacy-transformation) - [How To Test A Ball of Mud](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/173-how-to-test-a-ball-of-mud) - [Model Based Systems Engineering in an Agile Product Development Process](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/68-model-based-systems-engineering-in-an-agile-product-development-process) - [AI Agents & Agentic AI](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2017-ai-agents-agentic-ai) - [How I Built QA from Scratch in a Scaling Startup - no fluff real life story](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2041-how-i-built-qa-from-scratch-in-a-scaling-startup-no-fluff-real-life-story) - [Automated Driving - Why is it so hard to introduce](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/628-automated-driving-why-is-it-so-hard-to-introduce) ## Related Articles - [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again) - [What is a Test Plan: Guide to Test Planning](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/191-what-is-a-test-plan-guide-to-test-planning) - [The 8 Best Code Testing Tools](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/402-the-8-best-code-testing-tools) - [What’s the Difference between a Junior, Mid, and Senior Developer?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/238-what-s-the-difference-between-a-junior-mid-and-senior-developer) - [From developer to manager – what does it take to become an engineering manager?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/42-from-developer-to-manager-what-does-it-take-to-become-an-engineering-manager) - [The 12 Best Jobs for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/401-the-12-best-jobs-for-software-engineers)