Principal Software Test Engineer (Contractor)

About the role

The Principal Software Test Engineer is a recognized expert in software testing, providing strategic direction and technical leadership over large and complex software testing campaigns. You will lead the development and implementation of innovative testing solutions, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and ensure alignment with industry best practices. Your role will involve managing complex, high-impact projects, collaborating with senior leadership, and influencing the overall software test engineering strategy. This position requires a deep understanding of software development principles, software testing tools, methodologies and process, and strong technical leadership skills. This role also requires the ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences and present to executive leaders and senior customer representatives. As a senior technical team member you will help establish company best practices, mentor both junior and mid-level career software test professionals and liaise with other senior technical leaders performing engineering functions across the whole software development life cycle. You will help lead the way in fostering a culture of continuous improvement and technical excellence while contributing to the success of complex space missions. In this role, you will oversee the design, development, and execution of comprehensive software test plans, test cases, and test procedures to ensure the functionality, performance, and reliability of complex software systems. You will architect and oversee the technical aspects of large-scale test campaigns for complex aerospace software systems, providing leadership in the innovation and adoption of new software test technologies and methodologies. Collaborating with software developers, systems engineers, and other engineering functions, you will design effective test strategies and direct others in overseeing the defect lifecycle from discovery to resolution, ensuring fixes meet requirements. You will lead the definition of software test risks and opportunities while managing cost and schedule impacts, guiding teams of software test engineers and providing mentorship to ensure high-quality deliverables. Additionally, you will review, analyze, and contribute to the development of software design descriptions, ICDs, and requirements in coordination with software development teams, oversee software test trade studies such as test management tools and Continuous Integration Test techniques, and direct the development and execution of formal verification and qualification tests. Managing test result analysis, generating test reports, and addressing issue definitions, investigations, and closures will be key, along with collaborating closely with cross-functional peers such as Program Management, Software Development, and Flight Operations to ensure quality throughout the software development lifecycle. You will coordinate and define test roles and responsibilities across multiple simultaneous test campaigns, direct continuous improvement initiatives, and develop enterprise best practices in testing processes and methodologies. Architecting and designing sophisticated automated testing tools and frameworks to optimize testing processes will be a critical focus, along with directing the development, peer review, and management of test plans, test harnesses, test cases, test scripts, test procedures, and test reports for aerospace software systems. You will liaise with senior-level internal and external stakeholders to clarify requirements and discuss testing strategies, oversee team execution of software release tests, acceptance tests, and qualification tests, and champion the use of commercial software standards to ensure all test artifacts adhere to Sierra Space quality standards. Leading regression testing efforts to ensure new software updates do not negatively impact existing functionality or performance, orchestrating initiatives to improve automated testing tools and frameworks, and developing critical test artifacts such as test plans and reports are essential aspects of this role. You will provide leadership in code reviews, offer feedback on software quality and testability, and stay up-to-date with new