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# Test Director

- **Company:** Nabout Leidos
- **Location:** Gaithersburg, MD, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $131,300.0 - $237,350.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Software System Penetration Testing, Systems Engineering, Configuration Management, Software Documentation, Continuous Integration, Software Engineering, Verification and Validation (Software), Test Management, Safety Critical Systems, Test Scripts, Information Technology
- **Published:** October 22, 2026
- **Apply:** https://jobs.military.com/career/372948/principal-test-director-maryland-md-gaithersburg

## About the Role

* Bachelor's degree (or higher) in an appropriate discipline such as Systems Engineering, Electronic/Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical/STEM field (Master's preferred); a minimum of twelve (12) years of total professional experience in the test, verification and validation and/or engineering of large, complex systems and subsystems, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.\n
 * A minimum of seven (7) years in a test leadership or test-management role, directing test managers and test engineers in the planning and execution of a coordinated test programme (forming part of the twelve (12) years of total experience).\n
 * Demonstrable prior involvement, in a senior test role, in at least one delivery of a comparable mission- or safety-critical system carried through formal acceptance to operational service-ideally an ATM/ANS or equivalent real-time, high-availability system.\n
 * Working knowledge of verification & validation (V&V) practice for large, complex, safety-critical systems, including requirements-to-test traceability (RTM/VRTM) and traceability-matrix management.\n
 * Competence with industry-standard test management, requirements-management, defect-tracking and configuration-management tooling, and with continuous integration / automated build-and-test environments.\n
 * Awareness of cybersecurity acceptance testing (including penetration testing) sufficient to direct and integrate System Security Acceptance Testing (SSAT) within the overall acceptance programme.\n
 * Excellent written and verbal communication in English, including authorship and presentation of test documentation, readiness assessments (e.g., Pre-Test Reviews) and Test Reports to a customer-approval standard.\n
 * Strong leadership, planning and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to direct multidisciplinary test teams and interface confidently with the customer, operational stakeholders (ATCOs, ATSEPs, SYSOPs), and quality/safety assurance functions.\n
 * Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship (U.S.-based position, Gaithersburg, MD).\n
 * Willing and able to work on-site as required during installation, acceptance, transition, shadow operations and the operational verification period, and to travel internationally (Iceland) between factory and site locations.\n, * Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust (desired, not required).\n
 * A Master's degree in a relevant engineering, computing, or systems discipline.\n
 * A recognized test/quality certification-for example ISTQB (Foundation/Advanced Test Manager) or an equivalent industry test-management qualification.\n
 * Familiarity with recognized quality and assurance frameworks such as ISO 9001 / AS9100, and with safety and software-assurance standards applicable to ATM systems (e.g., EUROCAE ED-109A / RTCA DO-278A software assurance levels and EASA-aligned certification evidence).\n
 * Prior senior test experience on ATM/ANS or comparable real-time, high-availability, safety-critical systems carried through formal acceptance to operational service.\n
 * Experience supporting customer-side and co-development teams, including a Local Development Centre and development-partner integration.\n
 * Familiarity with safety-critical software engineering and safety-assurance activities, including Safety Case development through V&V evidence.\n
 * Experience directing test and evaluation in a regulated, milestone-driven environment with formal customer witnessing and acceptance.\n